COMMON STANDARD NO. 14 HEALTH & SAFETY …docs.healthandsafetyhub.co.uk/Themisis/Manuals/tamesis-manuals... · HEALTH & SAFETY STANDARDS FOR WORKING WITH BURIED SERVICES ... required

COMMON STANDARD NO. 14

HEALTH & SAFETY STANDARDS FOR WORKING WITH BURIED SERVICES

HS&E Common Standards No.14 – Buried Services Page 1 of 23 July 2010

1. INTRODUCTION

The majority of incidents involving service strikes occur because the service locations are either unknown or their assumed positions are inaccurate.

It should always be assumed services are present until proved otherwise. Poor working practices and the poor condition of some services add to the chances of damage. To minimise chances of a strike, three basic processes must be applied and a ‘Permit to Excavate’ system implemented: 1. Collect information on all possible services from a ‘desktop’ study or use an

independent utilities identification company as appropriate. Test and supplement information through site survey and detection, marking and recording services locations.

2. Assess risk, prepare and brief a Safe System of Work, including the use of excavation permits

3. Manage and supervise work - check work proceeds to agreed methods.

2. SCOPE

This standard applies to all excavations or any ground penetration, e.g.: • Trial holes, • Topsoil or ground strip • Driving of any pins or posts into ground for fencing, barriers, shutter support

or setting out, • Excavation for construction of manholes, service pits or drainage runs • Piling, boreholes • Bulk excavations • Works in the vicinity of exposed services. This standard covers interfaces with all services regardless of whether owned by local authorities, distribution networks, social, private or industrial concerns.

Services could include electricity cables, gas pipes, water and sewerage, fuel lines, telephone fibre optic and other communications cables.

3. APPOINTMENTS & RESPONSIBILITIES 3.1 PRINCIPAL CONTRACTOR

• Principal Contractors must ensure all excavations or ground penetration works carried out in their area of responsibility are properly planned and managed including the consideration of interfaces with adjacent operations.

• The PC should appoint Services Co-ordinators (and any Deputies) as appropriate to the nature of the work and topography.

• The PC must ensure that as-built information is collated and handed over the relevant recipients as soon as possible to avoid damage in the workplace and to ensure an accurate permanent record is available.




3.2 SERVICES CO-ORDINATOR

Pre Start:

• Arrange planning meetings with services owners to agree requirements for required method statement reviews, approvals and inspection schedules.

• Ensure designers collate and supply the latest available services information.

• Review and approve the schedule of services affected for each work package against the latest version of the services information.

• Instruct surveys / trial holes to be undertaken to accurately locate services.

• Arrange use of external utilities identification companies as appropriate.

• Prepare or approve Risk Assessments / Method Statement.

• Approve the Permit to Excavate for exploratory works. Permit App. 07E1

Ongoing Work:

• Authorise work to proceed through ‘Permits to Excavate’ after on-site location and identification of services.

• Determine valid permit durations, review and grant extensions as necessary.

• Maintain a Register of Permits.

• Agree required actions to be taken following the discovery of unidentified services and ensure that additional Risk Assessments and /or Method Statements are reviewed appropriately.

• Hold updated services information on site together with the relevant emergency contact numbers.

• Request inspection of work area by Utility Services Provider (USP) or service owners as required by the nature of the contract and location of the work.

• Audit site teams on a regular basis to ensure that the requirements of this, and related procedures, are fully implemented as agreed in Project Plan.

Before Completion:

• Ensure ‘as-installed’ data is forwarded to the Utility Services Provider within 24 hours of either burying installed works or prior to energising services where required by the nature of the contract and location of the work.

• Forward details of all existing services removed from the ground and those services that have been made redundant but left in place.

• Close Permits to Excavate following submission of ‘as-installed’ data to the Utility Services Provider as appropriate.




3.3 WORKS MANAGERS OR SENIOR SUPERVISORS Training • Trained in the use of service location equipment (Radio Detection/SIT). • Trained to required NRASWA standards.

Pre Start: • Ensure all services are identified by a utilities identification company or using

information supplied by USP or owners, are located and clearly marked. • Inspect work and adjacent areas to note access chambers, evidence of

previous excavations or property service inlets indicating other services. • Scan full area of the work to check for uncharted services.

Planning Risk Assessment and Method Statements: • Be fully aware of requirements for method statement review and approval

and site or works inspections required by owners of critical services. • Plan works so there is adequate time to write, review and approve Method

Statements and manage the ‘Permit to Excavate’ process through the Utility Services Provider and the Service Co-ordinator prior to works commencing.

• As appropriate, ensure detailed sketches of the work area are produced for the benefit of the work team (in plan, section or both (but not 1:500 drawings) that clearly identify distances and excavation methods when hand or mechanically digging around services. Ensure any enlarged drawings have the drawing reference and version number marked.

Trial Holes & Insitu Investigation:

• Draft the Permit to Excavate and present to the Services Co-ordinator. • Arrange for trial holes to be excavated, as required by USP and/or Service

Co-ordinator, or as deemed necessary to identify and locate services. • Investigate uncharted services as required by USP and record locations.

On Commencing Main Excavation: • Draft the Permit to Excavate and present to the Services Co-ordinator. • Brief workforce involved on task in working methods, permit requirements

and control measures including any System Owner Limit of Access (LOA). • Obtain signatures of all operatives to demonstrate they have received and

understood the briefing. This must include any additional/replacement workers who may become involved in the task as it progresses.

• Sweep the area immediately ahead of workface to double check for uncharted services or services which may deviate from charted route.

Ongoing Work: • Respond to any call advising location of uncharted services, inform USP. • Ensure that the validity of the Permit to Excavate is maintained for the

duration of the works. • Monitor and inspect the works regularly to ensure application of approved

methods. If not completely satisfied with the control measures, stop work until any problems have been rectified.

• Assist in any works inspections required by owners of critical services.




• Ensure work is stopped if circumstances require changes to work method, sequence or equipment, and have risks and method statements re-assessed.

• Where the method of work is amended from the original scheme, a new Permit to Excavate must be issued and the workforce re-briefed.

• Ensure backfilling is carefully done with warning tiles or tapes relocated.

Before Completion:

• Ensure all appropriate record information is recorded and passed on.

• Check re-instatement of ground or surfaces, remove signage and material.

• Obtain relevant copies of third party records or inspection certification

• Close out Permit to Excavate

3.4 WORK GANG

All engaged in the work process must: -

• Sign Checklist/Briefing Record to signify full understanding of task to be undertaken and control measures required to be implemented.

• Comply with those control measures required by the appropriate risk assessment, method statement or System Owner Limit of Access (LOA).

• Stop works when uncharted services are discovered or if they are not fully satisfied that existing control measures are adequate. Inform their Supervisor and /or Services Locator immediately.

3.5 UTILITIES PROVIDERS (Exact Requirements Dependant on Provider)

• Ensure all temporary site services are fully recorded and co-ordinated.

• Ensure redundant services are removed where reasonably practical and any retained are properly marked on ‘as-built’ records.

• Maintain the database of information relating to on-site services.

• Liaise with individual Design Teams with regards pooling or sharing of information relevant to services.

• Maintain temporary files of installed services, removed and redundant services pending the issue of As-built drawings from the relevant Site Team.

• Ensure works supervision teams requesting permission to carry out excavation/ground penetration works use the latest available Services Information Drawings. Supplement this with any recently installed or previously uncharted services that are known to exist.

• Maintain a record of new installed services.




4. DATA COLLECTION (DESKTOP STUDY) 4.1 Obtaining Plans

Utilities Identification service providers may be used to make full use of their extensive contacts and their expertise in modern technology and ground radar. Their capabilities range from identifying and marking services on site to providing a full CAD 3D model. Services Co-ordinators (see section 3.2 of this document) may alternatively formally request information from the various utility companies and other service owners regarding existing services on and adjacent to the site. Note that since deregulation, the owner of the service is not necessarily your service provider.

Note that existing records give an indication of the presence of services but these positions are frequently inaccurate due to drafting errors, reference points being changed, drawings not being to scale and services having been relocated etc, so further detail investigation must be carried out.

4.1.1 Water & Drainage

Different companies can be responsible for water supply, drainage or sewerage.

Potential Owners: Private Water companies Company owning site Private Supplies - common in rural areas

How to Identify: Most modern water pipes are blue plastic but cast iron, spun

iron, steel or concrete is common for large diameter pipes.

Iron and Steel water pipes may appear very similar so if any such pipe is uncovered it must be initially treated as a gas pipe.

Drainage pipes are usually brown plastic, clay or concrete.

4.1.2 Gas

Potential Owners: British Gas National Grid (High Pressure Gas Mains) Government Private, e.g. Shell

How to identify: Most modern pipes are yellow plastic, although many are still cast iron. Iron or Steel water pipes may appear similar. If such pipes are uncovered, they must be initially treated as gas pipes.

Notifications: Depending on the size of the pipe, notification of any works adjacent to it is usually required prior to commencement.

If you suspect any leak, inform the owner immediately, clear the area and extinguish all naked flames.

Representatives from British Gas normally insist on witnessing work close to gas lines - thus sufficient notice must be given to avoid delays to construction progress.

Note that different bodies representing distribution and transmission gas lines may have to be called onto site as transmission and distribution operate separately.




4.1.3 Electricity

Potential Owners: Area Electricity Boards - Overhead distribution cables and low voltage underground cables Highway Authorities - Street lighting cables

How to identify: Most electric cables are black.

Red cables are frequently High Voltage (11KV+)

Black ducts are usually used for electric supplies except:-

Orange ducts are used for road lighting in England & Wales and traffic control cables

Purple ducts may be used for road lighting in Scotland

Most underground cables are laid in trenches between 450mm and 1m deep although some HV cables may be deeper but be aware that some cables may be just below the surface or directly under slabs due to poor workmanship or obstacles.

Note: As water pipes and telecommunications cables can also be black, any black services found must be assumed to be electric cables.

Note: At old collieries, beware of electric cables which may be yellow or blue and be mistaken for other services.

4.1.4 Telecommunications

There has been tremendous growth in telecommunications which has increased the number of underground cables and their operators:

Potential Owners: British Telecommunications (BT) - many are still marked as (GPO) or Mercury Communications Ltd (MCL) Cable Television Department of Transport (DTp) Police Local Authorities (Emergency telephones, CCTV & signalling) Railtrack / London Underground etc (Telecom and Signalling) Privately owned services

How to Identify: Most multiple and fibre optic cables are now ducted typically in a 100mm diameter clay or grey or white plastic ducts.

BR & DTp may use shallow covered troughs to route cables

Cable television and some communications have green ducts

4.1.5 Other Services:

Other services could include fuel lines, high pressure steam lines etc.

Continuously welded steel pipes should always be treated as containing hazardous or high pressure liquids until conclusively proven otherwise.




4.1.6 Summary of Service Markings on Site

Standard Colours of Ducts, Pipes, Cables & Marker Tapes

Colour of Duct / Pipe / Cable directly buried in the ground

(75mm outside diameter or less) UTILITY

Duct Pipe Cable

Colour of Marker/ Warning Tape where used

British Gas Yellow Yellow Yellow, black legend

Water Industry Blue Blue Blue

Electricity Supply Industry Black Black (Red for some 11kV) Yellow, black legend

Street / Road Lighting Orange (E&W) Purple in Scotland Black Yellow, black legend

Telecoms General Light Grey / White Light Grey Yellow, black legend

Mercury Telecommunications (MCL)

White or Black with longitudinal stripes

Cable installed in duct

White, blue Mercury logo

Cable TV and local telecoms services other than BT & MCL Green Black or Green

installed in duct Green on yellow with appropriate logo




5. ON SITE SURVEY AND IDENTIFICATION OF SERVICES

5.1 Identification All known existing services within the relevant work area will be marked out using spray paint, wooden pegs or signs (or a combination of all three) by the party who raised the Permit to Excavate.

But beware of driving pegs or pins through shallow services – holes should not be pre formed by pick or pinch bar. Posts should not be driven more than 300mm into the ground.

Services location scans must always be carried out in 2 phases; - Firstly, before works commence and - Secondly, immediately ahead of the work in progress.

5.2 Observation This must be done on site by: • Opening up manholes and access chambers with manhole lifting keys. • Looking for evidence of resurfacing or filled ground • Noting visible tails or services entering adjacent buildings • Presence of lamp posts, control boxes etc requiring supply

5.3 Ground Radar etc

Utilities Identification service providers can deliver a full service of identifying and marking services making full use of their extensive contacts and their expertise in the use of sophisticated techniques and modern technology including ground radar. They can also provide full CAD 3D models of their results.

5.4 Cable Detection CAT & Genny

Buried Services

Specialist Cable detectors will pick up electric and telephone cables but not gas or water unless these are fitted with a Tracer. Clip on signal generators give mixed results and should be treated warily, although they can be very good. All Statutory Undertakers will come to site and mark out the line of their plant but be aware that gas and water providers cannot not trace their own plant accurately either. The position they give will either be a guess from a plan or an "as laid" survey.




Anywhere that there are houses etc, there will be private connections. These are usually small size branches off the main service which serve individual properties. Statutory bodies have no records of their position and no interest in locating them.

Overall the best advice is: 1. Assume there are connections there - use common sense for a rough position 2. Look at the ground in the area. Are there any obvious trench reinstatements? 3. Hand dig as far as possible 4. Some services, e.g. High Pressure Gas mains, require special procedures

when working close to them Even when no excavation is taking place, think about the effects of the works. It is not unheard of for setting out pins to be driven through cables.

The full area within the works boundary described on the Permit must be swept (visually and by scanner) to check for uncharted services.

• A CAT (Cable Avoiding Tool) manufactured by Radiodetection should be available on each site where excavation is to take place. This device can assist in the location of electric and telecommunications cables and when used with a Genny signal generator (also by Radiodetection) can locate metal pipework.

• Users must have received training in the use of the equipment and follow the operating instructions supplied with the CAT. National Joint Utilities Group Publication Number 3 gives further details of Cable Locating Devices.

• Beware that three phase supplies in good balance can diminish signal strength and also that cables running closely together either horizontally or vertically can also give misleading readings.

• If individual location points are joined up to produce an assumed cable run beware that looped cables may have been used to use up excess length.

5.5 Trial Holes

• Trial holes will be dug or formed in accordance with section 9.

• Trial holes will be dug as deemed necessary by the Utility Services Provider, Designer, or the Services Co-ordinator. Additional trial holes will be required where a service is not found in its as-drawn location or an uncharted service is located and requires investigation).

• Frequently there are no surface markers or marker tapes above service runs, especially with old services or where trenchless construction techniques have been used.

• Where tiles or marker tapes are found, they must be treated with great caution as they could have been moved or disturbed and may not indicate the true position of the service.

• As the excavation proceeds, cable locators should again be used to provide more accurate information on the true position and depth of the cable.

• Information gained from the trial hole should be forwarded to Utility Services Provider (and Designer if appropriate) who will update their records and issue an amended services co-ordination drawing.




5.6 Formal Services Identification

• When the services have been exposed, it is essential they are identified correctly. Section 4 describes current colours used but older services may not conform or could be run through coloured ducts or cast iron pipes.

• In light of the above, it is essential that all services are treated as live and assumed to be the worst case service until identified otherwise.

• All black cables, pipes and dusts must be assumed to be electricity until proved otherwise. Pot ended, terminated cables must be treated as live.

• Cast iron or steel water pipes may look like gas pipes and must be treated as gas until proven otherwise.

• The path of the cable between successive trial holes should never be assumed to be a straight line. Electric cables or other services are often looped in an excavation to use the extra cable length and avoid cutting to exact length.

• If concrete is found, take care to check why it is there before disturbing or modifying it. It could be to protect shallow services or if it is near a lamp column it could be a cranked foundation.

• Although relatively uncommon, around 2% of lamp columns could have offset foundations usually due to services congestion. A child was recently killed when a column collapsed after its offset foundation was cut. (HSE Bulletin FOD 5-2010)

Always check with the local authority or asset owner as to whether there could be a non-standard root foundations. Regardless, always take care that excavation works around a lamp column do not compromise its stability.

Typical Non Standard Root Designs




5.7 Marking Services on Site All identified services within the work area must should be marked out using spray paint of the appropriate colour, wooden pegs or signs (or a combination of all three) by the party who raised the Permit to Excavate.

Beware of driving pegs or pins through shallow services – never pre form holes with picks or pinch bars. Never drive posts more than 300mm into the ground otherwise you could hit and damage shallow services.

5.8 Mark up of Plans

• The actual position of all uncovered services must be marked up on the services layout drawing.

• Any previously uncharted services are to be reported immediately to the Services Co-ordinator and Utility Services Provider.

• The Utility Services Provider and Service Co-ordinator are together responsible for identifying the service and deciding on the appropriate course of action after consultation with the designers, System Owners and the relevant authorities.

• The Utilities providers will be responsible for updating their records and recording that information for future use.




6. PLANNING MANAGEMENT PROCESS 6.1 RA & SSOW

Risk Assessments would be undertaken by the Services Co-ordinators or their delegate taking into account known, suspected services and adjacent activities.

Method Statements will be produced for all ground penetration works in line with general method statement guidance. In particular, it must include:

• Required equipment and support methods for excavations, protection or support required for any affected/adjacent services.

• Emergency Contact details for all existing services in or adjacent to the works area must be included within the method statement.

• Any necessary exclusion or Chapter 8 traffic works and any approvals must be obtained prior to proceeding with the works.

6.2 Special Training Requirements - NRSWA The New Road and Streets Works Act (NRASWA) 1991 covers works within a Street by an undertaker exercising a statutory right to inspect, place or maintain pipes, cables, sewers, drains etc. which are laid in carriageways or footways.

• NRSWA requires anyone doing works for, or on behalf of a utility company, is qualified for the activities being carried out. (NRASWA modules)

• Any streetworks site must have at least one qualified operative on site at all times during works, and the site must have a qualified supervisor appointed to the site who can oversee the works.

• The supervisor need not be on site at all times, but must be able to adequately carry out the role. The supervisor qualification does not replace or over rule the operative qualification and one person cannot cover both roles at the same time.

• The process of re-registration is currently under review, at present this is required every 5 years and a new identity card issued.

6.3 Authorisation for Works to Proceed

Following co-ordination with the USP, obtaining the most up to date services information, completion of on-site services identification and obtaining all required approvals of the risk assessment/method statement by the party intending to carry out the works, they will approach the Services Co-ordinator to sign and approve the Permit to Excavate. The duration of the permit validity will be stated at this point.

The working party will sign the Permit as received.

The Utility Services Provider is free to inspect site at this stage, based upon the criticality of affected/adjacent services, in order to verify data recorded on the Permit to Excavate and to inspect services protection measures put in place.




7. WORKFORCE TRAINING and COMMUNICATION 7.1 Briefing & Communication

Sketches attached to method statements and used for Operative Briefings must be detailed and specific to the works in a format easily understood by them.

Immediately before commencement of the works, the Works Supervisor for the works party will brief all operatives/personnel involved with the works. This will include machine operators and their banksmen.

Any additional/replacement workers who may become involved in the works will also require to be briefed in a similar way.

7.2 PPE PPE will be identified by risk assessment, but as burns are the main injuries which would result from damage to a live cable or from fire and explosion following a gas leak, this must be the main area of concern.

The chest arms and legs should be covered but nylon type materials should not be used as they can melt and stick to skin. Similarly gloves and eye protection should be worn as these provide protection against burns and flying debris.

8. PERMITS 8.1 Permit Approval Process

The Permit to Excavate will be raised by the party intending to carry out the physical works. The Utility Services Provider will issue the latest information on existing services which cross, intersect or are adjacent to the intended work area to this party and will counter-sign the Permit to show that this has been done. The appointed Service Co-ordinator will then approve the Permit.

8.2 Distribution of Permit Copies Once signed by the Services Co-ordinator, the Permit Receiver will copy the Permit to Excavate with attached check sheet, services location sketch and method statement and Receiver will: 1. Return Permit to Services Co-ordinator for filing update of Permit Register. 2. Ensure a copy is attached to each machine involved in works. 3. Issue a copy to each of their direct Works Supervisors.

8.3 Close-Down of Works/Permit On completion of the site works, the Services Co-ordinator is responsible for ensuring the installed works are surveyed by the Permit Receiver and the data submitted to the Utility Services Provider.

Permit Receiver will then submit Permit for close out by Services Co-ordinator.

The Services Co-ordinator will not close out a Permit to Dig/Penetrate Ground until the As-Installed data has been submitted and will not release/authorise further work in the area covered by the original Permit to Excavate.




9. EXCAVATION & SAFE DIGGING PRACTICE 9.1 Summary:

• Support materials must be on site and checked before excavation proceeds • Where possible, services must be isolated and/or spiked before proceeding • Power tools should not be used within 500mm of possible services • Hand digging is required adjacent to services • Note evidence of possible uncharted services and review work method • Pipes and encasures can be deceptive. Always assume the worst case

9.2 Isolation of Services

Services marked as isolated may not have been adequately isolated due to changes in switching, backpressure or merely a mistake in identification. Therefore all services should be treated as potentially live.

For example, when there is doubt over whether an identified electric cable has been isolated or not, the service owner may be contacted to spike the cable thus ensuring it is not live.

Other services may require formal confirmation of isolation by the owner or provider of that service on the site.

9.3. Prior to Main Excavation

Works must be carried out strictly in accordance with the approved method statement. Should circumstances require any alteration to the approved method/sequence of working, the works must be stopped until the appropriate risks and safe systems of work have been re-assessed, method statement amended and workforce re-briefed.

Utility Services Providers may carry out ongoing inspection to ensure compliance with Permit requirements and that protection measures are maintained.

After use of locators, trial holes should be carefully dug using hand tools or hydraulic excavation techniques to confirm the position of suspected buried services. Use of hand power tools and mechanical excavators too close to buried services is a major cause of accidents.

9.3.2 Support Materials

Support materials of the specified and correct type must be on site and checked before the excavation proceeds. These will be of a design or type approved by the Temporary Works Co-ordinator and would usually be trench sheets and struts for shallower runs with manholes or drag boxes for deeper runs.

9.3.4 Removal of Surfacing

• Some services may be closer to the surface than recommended, particularly in congested areas where they could be positioned just below the surfacing. Therefore equal care must be taken in removing surfacing, particularly concrete. Hand held power tools must not be used to break up the surface within 500mm of the indicated line of any power cable. Hydraulic / vacuum




excavation techniques (see 9.3.5) cause are safer than hand digging and can be used to locate services up to 2m deep through a 150mm diameter hole eliminating hand digging and trench support.

• Only use a machine for the initial dig if you are 100% certain that the service is too deep to be all hand dug. It is wise to leave at least 1m cover to allow for the vagaries of the initial installation.

• Because of the difficulty of accurately determining the depth of cables, power tools must not be used directly over the surface unless either the cable has been exposed by hand digging or hydraulic excavation at a depth of at least 300mm below the bottom of the paved surface or physical precautions are taken to prevent the tool striking the cable.

Excavation below Surface:

• Excavation should be carried out alongside the service not directly above it and the final exposure of the service should be by horizontal excavation.

• The excavation must be carefully monitored to detect any evidence of disturbed ground, evidence of trenching or backfill which could indicate the presence of services.

• If concrete is discovered, this could indicate a covering to a shallow cable or other service and great care must be taken in breaking the concrete as this action could also break the cable.

(Reminder: All plastic pipes or other non-metallic ducts and services buried in the ground that have been assessed as safety or business critical such as gas, water or fibre optic must be laid with a metallic tracer).

9.3.5 Excavation Methods (Specific Project or Client restrictions may apply)

• Hydraulic / vacuum excavation techniques cause less disruption than hand digging and are considerably safer as they isolate operators from direct contact with the surface and also reduce the potential for damage to services.

These can be used to excavate small diameter holes and narrow slit trenches. They can also allow excavation in areas with limited access or in awkward locations.

The equipment consists of an excavator lance and recovery unit with a hydraulic jet to loosen the material and a vacuum system to recover the material which can then be stored or re used.

A proven supplier of these is the BIRCO company. (See case study Hydraulic Excavation Technique – BPS Stansted C1631)

<< Hydraulic Lance

Power unit generating high pressure water & material recovery system >>

http://igate.web/lor/knowledge/K000481/Documents/Hydraulic%20Excavation%20Technique.pdf

http://igate.web/lor/knowledge/K000481/Documents/Hydraulic%20Excavation%20Technique.pdf




• Hand digging with spades and shovels could be used as an alternative to hydraulic vacuum techniques. Careful use of picks or forks may be necessary in special circumstances to free lumps of stone or break up hard layers of chalk or sandstone but only with the agreement of the services co-ordinator.

• Mechanical hand held Power Tools should not be used within 0.5m of normal services, but may be subject to a wider exclusion zone for high energy or critical services.

• Mechanical excavators should only be used if at least 1m from the service. For HV cables or other services identified as critical, a 2m (or more) exclusion may apply as well as the positioning of physical barriers to avoid incursions.

9.3.6 Evidence during Excavation

Disturbed ground or fill which looks slightly different from that in the surrounding area, may be evidence of services having been installed. It should be noted that if trenchless construction methods such as thrust boring have been used, virgin ground may still conceal services below.

9.3.7 Encountering Uncharted Services

Should an uncharted service be discovered all work must immediately stop and the Supervisor/Services Co-ordinator/Utility Services Provider informed. The Utility Services Provider and Services Co-ordinator will advise which parties should be involved (System Owners for example) and any tests/trial holes required to identify the uncharted service. Before works re-commence:-

• Actions will be agreed or advised by the Utility Services Provider and Services Co-ordinator in conjunction with the service owners and Designers.

• The location of the service will be recorded by the works party and this information passed to the Utility Services Provider.

• Services drawings will be updated and reissued by the USP via hard copy and Asite.

• The Risk Assessment and Method Statement for the works must be re-assessed by the persons/Parties who reviewed/approved the originals.

10. ACTION IN THE EVENT OF DAMAGE In the event of a possible cable strike, the driver should stay on the machine

to avoid acting as an earth in the case of electrical discharge. If they have to dismount they should jump

The Banksman must stay in attendance to keep persons clear of the area

Contact must be made with the project emergency co-ordinator to alert the relevant emergency services

The owner of cable must be contacted to isolate or make necessary repairs.




11. REPORTING OF INCIDENTS 11.1 Definition of RIDDOR Categories for Reporting Service Strikes on F2508

Pressure Systems: (RIDDOR Schedule 2, 2). The failure of any closed

vessel (including a boiler or boiler tube) or of any associated pipework, in which the internal pressure was above or below atmospheric pressure, where the failure has the potential to cause the death of any person.

Overhead Lines: (RIDDOR Schedule 2, 4 a & b). Unintentional incident in which plant or equipment either comes into contact with an un-insulated overhead electric line in which the voltage exceeds 200V or causes electrical discharge from such an electric line by coming into close proximity to it.

Electrical Short Circuits: (RIDDOR Schedule 2, 5). Electrical short circuit or overload attended by fire or explosion which results in the stoppage of the plant involved for more than 24hrs or which has the potential to cause the death of any person.

Pipelines or Pipeline Works: (RIDDOR Schedule 2, 14 a-g)

(a) The uncontrolled or accidental escape of anything from, or inrush of anything into, a pipeline which has the potential to cause the death of, major injury or damage to the health of any person or which results in the pipeline being shut down for more than 24 hours;

(b) The unintentional ignition of anything in a pipeline or of anything which, immediately before it was ignited, was in a pipeline;

(c) Any damage to any part of a pipeline which has the potential to cause the death of, major injury or damage to the health of any person or which results in the pipeline being shut down for more than 24 hours;

(d) Any substantial and unintentional change in the position of a pipeline requiring immediate attention to safeguard the integrity or safety of a pipeline;

(e) Any unintentional change in the subsoil or seabed in the vicinity of a pipeline which has the potential to affect the integrity or safety of a pipeline;

(f) Any failure of any pipeline isolation device, equipment or system which has the potential to cause the death of, major injury or damage to the health of any person or which results in the pipeline being shut down for more than 24 hours; or

(g) Any failure of equipment involved with pipeline works which has the potential to cause the death of, major injury or damage to the health of any person.

Explosion or Fire: (RIDDOR Schedule 2, 19). An explosion or fire occurring in any plant or premises which results in the stoppage of that plant or as the case may be the suspension of normal work in those premises for more than 24 hours, where the explosion or fire was due to the ignition of any material.

Escape of Flammable Substances: (RIDDOR Schedule 2, 20).

(1) The sudden, uncontrolled release –




(a) Inside a building –

(i) of 100 kilograms or more of a flammable liquid

(ii) of 10 kilograms or more of a flammable liquid at a temperature above its normal boiling point, or

(iii) of 10 kilograms or more of a flammable gas; or(b)in the open air, of 500 kilograms or more of any of the substances referred to in sub-paragraph (a) above.

(2) In this paragraph, “flammable liquid” and “flammable gas” mean respectively a liquid and a gas so classified in accordance with regulation 5(2), (3) or(5) of the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations1994.

Escape of substances (RIDDOR Schedule 2, 21). The accidental release or escape of any substance in a quantity sufficient tocause the death, major injury or any other damage to the health of any person.

Any of the above incidents must be reported on and F2508 to the HSE. If in any doubt as to whether any of these categories apply, please contact a member of the Central HS&E team.




APPENDIX 1 – SERVICES OWNER CONTACT DETAILS

System Owner: Emergency Contact No.: Name, Location or other Notes:

Local Authority

Electric

British Gas

British Telecom

British Pipeline Agency

Water Company

etc




APPENDIX 2 – METHOD STATEMENT CHECKLIST

• Have detailed drawings/ sketch(s) clearly showing service line and depth been provided (Not 1:500 service drawings)?

• Has the rescanning frequency during excavation been specified?

• Have the service owner attendance requirements been agreed?

• Have the permits required and hold points been specified?

• Have service isolation checks been agreed?

• Has the plant been agreed?

• Has the excavation method been specified and agreed?

• Have exclusion zones, barriers, Chapter 8 works etc been detailed?

• Has the excavation support method been developed and fully described?

• Is protection and support for exposed services specified to prevent damage?

• Have the method of protection and/or safe limits of approach, to prevent vehicles disturbing or collapsing the excavation been specified?

• Has the appointed, immediate supervisor been named?

• Are the required training and certification levels for the team defined?

• Have the briefing requirements for the work team been agreed?

• Have emergency arrangements been agreed, with means of making them known?

• Have backfilling operations been specified? (the suitability and degree of consolidation of backfill material around the service should be agreed with the service owner)




APPENDIX 3 – SAMPLE WORK GANG CHECKLIST

Six Point Checklist/Briefing Record

Project / Sub-Project:……………………………….. T5 Permit to Dig/Penetrate Number:……………….

1. For works on or near critical services (fuel mains, HV cables, ILS Cables,

NATS & Airfield lights) have you attended the T5 training course ‘Working Near Critical Services?’

2. Have you been briefed on the method statement and ‘Permit to Dig/Penetrate Ground’ for this work?

3. Do you have a sketch showing the location of all services in the area, and the boundaries of your work area, as well as a copy of the Permit and method statement?

4. Have you been shown the location of the existing services and have you been told of the safety zone for each service?

5. Can you see the service markings and are the critical services adequately protected?

6. Have you had the opportunity to ask any questions and are you confident that you can carry out your work safely?

If the answer to any of the above questions is NO, then DO NOT start work. Speak directly to your supervisor/foreman. I have attended the work/permit briefing and fully understand all that has been said to me. I have also had the opportunity to raise any queries and am confident that work can be carried out safely. DATE NAME (PRINT) COMPANY SIGNATURE




APPENDIX 4 - KEY LEGISLATION & GUIDANCE

HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK etc Act 1994

NEW ROADS AND STREET WORKS Act requires utilities and other undertakers to give notice of planned work and keep records of the location of apparatus belonging to them. It also requires works to be under the supervision of a suitably qualified person and a qualified person to be in attendance at all times when work is in progress.

REGULATIONS

Construction Design and Management (CDM) regulations require Clients to provide information pertinent to safety which they have or could reasonably be expected obtain for inclusion in the pre tender Plan or Information pack. This includes the location of all services.

The CDM Co-ordinator Omissions must identify omissions in information to the Client at an early stage to ensure the maximum amount of information is available to contractors and designers.

CDM Reg 34 in part 4 states ‘Suitable & sufficient steps’ are required for safe work near energy distribution’ This would normally require Risk Assessment & Method Statements.

The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations require a suitable and sufficient Risk Assessment to be carried out. The organisation and arrangements for carrying out these works will be referenced in the Project HS&E Plan.

Electricity at Work Regulations do not allow work near live electric cables unless necessary to do so and all Practicable (note: not reasonably Practicable) precautions are taken to ensure safety.

Gas Safety (Management) Regs set framework for reaction to gas leakage.

Pipelines Safety Regulations, PUWER, RIDDOR, Electricity Supply Regs and Fire Services Act are among the other relevant legislation, all of which relate to keeping of records and notifying relevant authorities of work which could affect their services.

OTHER CODES & GUIDANCE Code of Practice – Safety at Street Works and Road Works is issued under the NRSWA and applies throughout the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It covers requirements for signing, lighting and guarding of street works and road works on most roads except motorways and dual carriageways with hard shoulders.

Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual published by the DfT gives authoritative detailed advice on Signage, but does not have the status of a full Code of Practice. Chapter 8 contains information on motorways and dual carriageways with hard shoulders.

Avoiding Danger from Underground Services (HSG47) HSE A4 guidance booklet.




Date Section Page

Nos. Issue No.

Amendment Made Reason for Amendment

13/07/10 4.1.2

5 1 Addition of National Grid to names under Gas Suppliers (High Pressure Gas Mains)

Addition of National Grid

All All New LOR Logo added New Logo

16/07/10 5.6 10 2 Reference to the identification and dangers of offset lamp standard foundations

HSE Bulletin Alert FOD 5-2010 issued July 2010