Buried service protection

Always assess if the work can be completed without excavation. Where reasonably practicable, vacuum, or suction excavation methods should be used, with air tools as needed.

Before work starts, check with utility companies and the landowner for the existence of services, and obtain service plans. The free to use Line search safe digging service should be referred to also.

Gas service plans and Line search plans are to be no greater than 28 days old, all other plans must be not older than 90 days.

Determine if live services can be temporarily isolated and obtain written confirmation. Maintain safe digging practices regardless of isolation status.

Thorough risk assessments must be completed for all ground-breaking activities, including emergency plans. Contractors must assess the need for specialised PPE when working near non-isolatable electric services.

Groundworkers contractors are required to identify a competent Buried Services Co-ordinator who will be accountable for briefing their team and overseeing safe digging practices.

Lovell management must issue our Permit to Break Ground, in coordination with the Buried Services Coordinator and work team.

A competent person must perform Genny and C.A.T scans routinely, using calibrated, GPS-enabled equipment.

Non-conductive or non-penetrating road and fence pins are to be used where practical - never use metal pins for marking service routes.

Carefully dig trial holes, spaced no more than 4m apart, to expose services before excavation. Consider vacuum excavation or air tools before using hand tools. All hand tools used must be fully insulated.

Regularly check for indications of services, assume they are live, and stop work if unidentified services are found.

Do not use excavators or power tools within 500mm of known services without additional precautions.
Avoid breaking concrete around services without a thorough risk assessment.

Properly support and protect services, ensuring they are not used as handholds.

Record any new service discoveries, update service plans with accurate data, and apply appropriate markers and covers as specified.