Page 56 - Visual Guidance Handbook

Let’s all
LOCATING SERVICES get home safely,
every day

The procedure Never start an Identifying services

excavation Electricity
operation
Excavation Electricity - some high voltage cables
planned without a Street lighting in England/Wales and traffic control cables
‘Permit to dig’ Road lighting in Scotland
and an in-date Water
Refertoburied
servicesplans service Gas
drawing. Telecommunications
Cable television and some telecommunications

Uselocating Locating services
devices
• Ensure you have plans of the underground services. This may not always be
possible for emergency works.
Is there a
Services located reasonable • Remember: service connection cables and pipes from the main building or
and confirmed
bytrialholes as NO explanation for NO street lights may not be shown.
notbeing
necessary?
located? • Use cable and pipe locator to trace electricity cables and metal pipes. Training
should be given on how to do this.
NO YES • Mark positions of cables/pipes using paint or other waterproof marking on the
ground.
Didasmany
trialholesas • Look for signs of service connection cables or pipes i,.e. a gas meter, service
necessary by
hand entry into a house or street light.
Obtainmore Other SITE RULES ▪ Watch for signs of services as work ▪ Report any damage to cables, pipes or
information services Services Contact services
and plans if YES evidence? YES exposed? NO owners continues. Repeat checks with cable cable coating, even if there is no
possible ▪ Wherever possible hand dig near and pipe locator as excavation immediate danger.
buried services. Spades and shovels progresses.
are safer than picks, pins or forks. ▪ Do not use a mechanical excavator
▪ Backfill around services with fine within 50mm of a gas pipe.
NO
▪ Check cables embedded in materials. Do not use bricks, flints or
Carry out concrete that have been broken similar materials. ▪ Do not use exposed services, such
excavation near Is work close Usetools out and made dead before works as a step or hand hold into an
services by hand YES to services? NO ofchoice commence. ▪ Do not use hand held power tools within excavation.
digging 500mm of a marked position for an
electricity cable unless physical means ▪ Do not attempt to handle or alter the
have been employed to prevent a strike. position of an exposed service.
Page 56