Working Near Underground Services
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orki king ng Near Underg Undergro roun und d Serv Servic ice es Wor Health and Safety Study Module Module Ref: OPERC-SM-029 This website stores data such as cookies to enable essential site functionality, as well as marketing, personalization, and analytics. You may change your settings at any time or accept the default settings.
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OPERC SM-009 (Version (Version 3)
Underground und Servi rvices ces Worki ng Near Undergro Healt lth h and Safety Stu dy Modul e (Ref: (Ref: OPE OPERCRC-SMSM-029 029)) Hea
© OPERC 2007 With the exception of research, private study or review, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form, or by any means, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. Applications for reproduction should be made to the publisher. Version 1 July 2006 2006 Version 2 August 2 August 2007 Published d b y: Publishe The Off-highway Plant and Equipment Research Centre (OPERC) PO Box 5039 Dudley West Midlands DY1 9FQ [email protected] Email: +44 (0) 1384 356202 Tel:
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Condit ions of Use The material contained within this module represents general guidelines only and is not necessarily mandatory. The module does not replace any legal obligations upon employers (or employees) to provide (or undertake) basic health and safety training (or any other mandatory requirements, for example, under relevant health and safety legislation). Every work setting provides a unique set of hazards and similarly, every person is unique in terms of cognitive ability, experiential knowledge and so on. For reasons such as these, this module must be accepted by the user solely as providing a basis for learning and nothing more. The module does not for example, expressly state (or imply) that any individual correctly answering the multiple choice self-test questions has achieved a particular level of health and safety knowledge or competence. Such must be appropriately measured via a formal mechanism; for example, by OPERC’s on-line ‘Safetynet’ health and safety test (http://www.operc.com/hstest/). Every effort has been made to ensure that the contents of the module are correct, error freeisand best but no guarantee is made or implied that this the representing case. It is also thepractice; user’s responsibility to ensure that express this version of the module is current. Accordingly, the module is offered without legal liability or responsibility on the part of the authors, the publishers, the distributor or anyone else involved in its production.
Ac c k n o w l ed edg g em emen entt s A This lifelong learning resource was produced in close consultation with members of the Off-Highway Plant and Equipment Research Centre (OPERC). Special thanks are extended to A-Plant, Balfour Beatty Utilities, Cable Detection, Costain, Laing O’Rourke, Morgan Est, Shepherd, Skansa and Speedy Survey for providing invaluable support and/or technical guidance during the production phase. Acknowledgement is also extended to Dr Gary D. Holt, Holt , Miss Philippa G. Spittle and This website stores data such as cookies to enable essential site Mr Geoff Tristram for their contribution to this document. functionality, as well as marketing, personalization, and analytics. You may change your settings at any time or accept the default settings. Privacy Policy Marketing Personalization Analytics Save
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Welc lcom ome e to OP OPER ERC C We The Off-highway Plant and Equipment Research Centre (OPERC) is a non-political, non-profit making international centre of excellence for plant and equipment professionals. Its main objective is to advance off-highway plant and equipment knowledge and share this knowledge among all interested parties. Funds generated by the association are used to produce, publish and make available information (such as this training resource) that would otherwise be too time consuming and / or expensive for a single member to produce in isolation. There are many benefits to be gained from becoming an OPERC member including access to free information and publications, access to teaching, learning and assessment materials, excellent networking opportunities and attendance at OPERC events. A more comprehensive description of these benefits, along with details of how you can join OPERC, can be found on the official website at: www.operc.com.
The Lifelong Lea Learni rning ng Zone OPERC’s lifelong learning resources provide an effective means with which to train employees, at all levels, on a wide range of basic health and safety subjects. This may be in the form of refresher training or as part of Continual Professional Development. All resources are produced in modular format, with each one based upon a particular health and safety subject. They can be managed easily within a worker’s own workplace or used remotely (such as at home or elsewhere), thereby facilitating convenient access. Study modules are available to OPERC members in a variety of mediums, including on-line text versions, Portable Document Files (PDF) for distribution via email or print out and Microsoft Powerpoint presentations for group study. Some of the resources are also available as training DVDs. This website stores data such as cookies to enable essential site functionality, asIfwell marketing, youashave any queries regarding OPERC, or the lifelong learning resources, then personalization, and analytics. You our administration team: please do contact may change your settings at any time or accept the default settings.
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Contents
1
Introduction
1
2
What are Underground Services?
2
3
How to Identify Underground Services
4
4
The Risks Presented by Underground Services
6
5
Health and Safety Legislation for Underground Services
10
6
Working Safely Near Underground Services
13
7
Summary
22
8
Multiple Choice Self-test Questions
27
9
Answers to Multiple Ch Choice oice Self-t Self-test est Quest Questions ions
30
References
31
10
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Working Near Underground Services
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OPERC-SM-029 (Version 2)
Working Near Underground Services
OPERC-SM-029 (Version 2)
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1
Introduction This self-study self-study health health and safety module will introduce you to the subject of working near underground Theother term underground term underground services describes describes underground pipes,services. cables and equipment usedservices by industries whichthe supply services such as water, gas, electricity and telecommunications. Working near underground services can be very dangerous if correct precautions are not taken. Damage to the services, particularly in the case of electricity or gas, may result in fires or explosions which can lead to severe injury, or even fatality, to the worker(s) nearby. It can also lead to the loss of vital services, for example to hospitals or emergency services. The subjects covered in this module will include: q
a definition of underground services and how to identify the various types that may be encountered;
q
identification of the risks that underground underground services can present and how how you may be affected by them;
q
a brief discussion of some health health and safety legislation that applies to working near underground services; and
q
a description of some safe ways of working near to underground services that will help to minimise or remove the risks.
This means that upon completion of the module, you should: q
know how to look out for and identify the different types of service that may be hidden within the ground;
q
recognise the risks of excavating, or otherwise working, near to underground underground services;
This website stores data such as appreciation a basic appreciation of relevant health health and safety law; and q have cookies to enable essential site know how to work more safely near underground underground services (and therefore, know functionality, asqwell as marketing, personalization, andhow analytics. You to minimise your chance of being harmed by them). may change your settings at any time or accept the default settings.
If, having completed this module, you have any queries or concerns regarding underground services, or any other aspect of workplace safety, then you should raise Privacy Policy these concerns with your supervisor, company safety officer or employer as soon as possible. Marketing Personalization Analytics Save
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Undergroun und d Servi Services? ces? What are Undergro
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Utility services, such as water, gas, electricity and telecommunications, are commonly ervices s ) and there are installed and transported below ground level (underground (underground s ervice many advantages to be gained by doing this, which include: q
for reasons of safety – for example, to isolate the services from the general public;
q
for visual reasons – for example, to place unsightly pipes, cables and associated equipment out of view; and
q
to protect the services – such as from vandalism or from freezing conditions conditions in the case of water services.
The description ‘underground service’ includes both: q
the mecha mechanism nism by which t he service is carried carried (such as the cable, pipe,
conduit or duct); and equipment (such (such as a junction box, branch, or q any of its associated equipment siphon valve). Table 1 provides a summary of the different underground services, with their usual carrying mechanisms and associated equipment. Although such underground services are most likely to be found under roads and footpaths, they may potentially be present anywhere, so when excavating at, or below, ground level, it is always safest to assume that they are there. It has been stated that there are over 4 million km of pipes and cables buried underground within the UK, including: q
gas mains - 275,000 km;
q
sewers - 353,000 km;
This website stores data such as water mains q essential cookies to enable site - 396,000 km; functionality, as well as marketing, q electrical cables - 482,000 km; and personalization, and analytics. You may change your settings at any time q BT and telecommunications - 2,000,000 km [ref 1]. or accept the default settings.
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Table 1. Typical underground services and their associated equipment
Service rvice or Provider Se
Gas
Electricity
Water Wa ter (supply )
Water (collection)
Typical Service Mechanism
Typical Associ ate ated d Equipment
Pipes
Valves, branches, service connections, telemetry cables, telecom masts, cathodic protection systems, pressure reduction equipment.
Cables
Ducts, joints, link disconnecting boxes, protective coverings, control cabinets, buried substation equipment, transformers, telemetry cables.
Pipes
Ducts, valves, hydrants, vents, meter chambers, service connections and valves, telemetry cables and masts.
Pipes
Pipes, drains, collection chambers, inspection chambers, rodding chambers.
Telecommunications
Cables
Cable ducts, jointing chambers, control cabinets, telecom masts, access chambers.
Communications
Cables (can be optical)
Ducts, chambers, amplification points, control cabinets, jointing and branch chambers.
Local Authority
Various
Cables (e.g. street lighting, illuminated signage, traffic control equipment), pipes, chambers (e.g. highway drainage).
Fuel (e.g. oil)
Pipelines
Valves, junctions, cathodic protection systems that include cables.
Various
Multi-service or shared ducts, tunnels, traffic (e.g. sensing) equipment, information (e.g. highway) cables and equipment.
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3
How to t o Identi Identify fy Underground Undergrou nd Servi Services ces
To work safely by underground services, you must be able to recognise or identify one kind of service from another once it has been uncovered. To help with identification, ‘modern’ underground service installations should be in coding system system that was agreed between utility supply accordance with the colour coding companies - see table 2. These service equipment colours may be of the pipe (for example, a yellow pipe for gas, a blue pipe for water) or of the ductwork that carries the service (for example, black ductwork for an electric cable). However, as we will see in the next section you should not automatically assume that all apparatus found follows these colour guidelines, particularly in the case of ‘older’ equipment. Table 2. Colour coding system for un derground services
Ser v i c e
Des c r i p t i o n
Gas
Yellow ducts or pipes
Electricity
Black or red ducts and cables
Water
Blue or grey ducts; blue pipes
Sewer pipes
Black ducts; various colour pipes
Telecommunications
Grey, white, green, black or purple ducts; light grey or black cable
Co l o u r
Street Stre et Lightin g Engl En glan and d and and Wale Wales s
Bl Blac ack k or ora orang nge e ducts ducts;; bl blac ack k cabl cables es
Scotland
Purple ducts and cables
Orange ducts; black or orange This website stores data such as Northern Ireland cookies to enable essential site cables functionality, as well as marketing, personalization, analytics. You a service pipe, duct or cable may be laid with an additional coloured Inand some instances, may change your settings at any timetape polythene marker tape installed installed in the ground about 300 mm above it. The tape is or accept the default settings. placed in this way so that it will be uncovered in the event of future excavation and serve as a warning that a service is located beneath it. Most warning tape is yellow with a black legend; two exceptions are that for water services which is blue or blue/black Privacy Policy and that for telecommunications services which may be of various colours. Marketing
Some warning tapes also contain a metallic tracer strip along their length, so that when Personalization
laid above plastic pipes for example, their position can be identified by electronic (metal Analytics detecting) equipment. Example polythene marker tapes, for water and electric services respectively, are shown in Figure 1. Save
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Figure 1. Examples of pol ythene marker tapes
(a) (a) For a water water servic e Because water mains are typically plastic, notice the metallic tracer wire enclosed along the middle of the tape.
(b) electricit y service (b) For an electricit
Similar to the use of marker tapes, electric cables in particular might also be covered with marker tiles or tiles or capping, which may be clay (older method) or concrete (more modern method)– see Figure 2. These give notice that a service is buried underneath them, but in the case of the concrete capping in particular, also offer some degree of physical protection from damage to the cable by excavating equipment. Figure 2. Concrete marker tiles loc ated above above an ele electri ctri c cable
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4
The Risks Presented by Undergroun Undergro und d Servi Servi ces
The Extent of the Risk It has been suggested that each year in the UK more than four million holes are excavated in roads and footpaths to repair leaks in services, provide services to new properties and lay new cables and pipes [ref 3]. Excavating and working near underground services is therefore an extensive activity, so the health and safety risks are ever present and must be controlled. Workers who have to carry out excavation work can potentially come across any, or all, of the various kinds of buried services and equipment and because they are usually laid within footpaths and roads, then workers who excavate on or near the highway are arguably at greatest risk from them. Note however, that this does not mean that other land, for example open land, will not have services buried within it. See Figure 3. Figure 3.
Underground services are often found below open land!
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! excavating.
Al way s ex pec t th at s erv ic es wi ll be p res ent , regar r egar dl ess of wh ere y ou are Personalization Analytics Save
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The Types of Risk The different types of underground service can present very different types of risk to the workers excavating near to them. Table 3 lists the main types of service that are found buried in the ground, along with some of the most likely ways that they may become damaged and the most significant risks that might result from that damage. Table 3.
Types of service, potential for damage and main risks
Ser v i c e Ty p e
P o t en t i al f o r D am ag e
Electricit y cables Electricit cables and associated equipment
q Penetration of the cable by
a sharp object q Exposure of cable
conductors resulting from abrasion q Crushing damage
Gas sup ply pi pes Gas and associated equipment
Water pi pes Water and associated equipment
Mai n Ri s k s q Electric shock q Explosion from arcing current q Fire as a result of explosion q Risk of secondary damage and / or
additional risk (e.g. secondary explosion from simultaneous damage to gas service)
q Penetration, abrasion or
q Asphyxiation
crushing etc., that allows gas to escape q Immediate gas leak, or damage that causes a leak at a later time
q Fire
q Penetration, abrasion or
q Injury from being struck by a high
crushing etc., that allows water to escape
q Explosion q Travel of gas into a duct, chamber or
other property (unseen explosive risk)
pressure water jet and / or physical objects such as stones or soil being carried within the water q Flooding and filling of excavations or
confined spaces, drowning q Secondary risks from contact
with other services e.g. electricity or contaminated substances
Drainage and sewerage systems
q Penetration, abrasion or
crushing etc., that allows contents to escape
q Similar risks as for high pressure
water, in pumped or pressurised sewerage systems q Contamination
Telecomms Te lecomms cables
This website stores such as anddata associated cookies to enable essential site equipment functionality, as well as marketing, personalization,Pipelines and analytics. You may change your settings at any time or accept the default settings.
q Damage to cables as for
electricity q Damage to ducts carrying
cables q Physical damage that
allows contents to spill
q Direct personal risk normally low q Secondary risk of flammable or toxic
gas entering damaged duct and travelling or accumulating elsewhere q Risk dependent upon contents q Being struck (as for water) in the case
of high pressure systems q Fire or explosion for flammable
contents
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q Asphyxiation for gases q Poisoning for toxic contents
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Source: Produced from HSE Guidance [ref 4] Personalization Analytics Save
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How Acci dents Ha Happen ppen Ac ci den tal Damag e The risks listed in table 3 normally occur after physical contact has been made with a service, such as might result if an electric cable were struck by the bucket of a mechanical excavator or a water pipe were punctured with a pickaxe. Other kinds of damage to buried services may occur without excavation having to take place, for example, as a result of penetrating the ground with a gas sniffing bar or a road pin [ref 5]. A service might also become damaged if it moves under its own weight, such as could happen if soil is removed from beneath a steel pipe. Services that are buried in concrete carry similar risks because if the ground supporting the heavy concrete is removed or disturbed, then the concrete may move under its own weight and fracture the service within it, resulting in significant risks – especially if the service is an electric cable or a gas pipe of any kind. Incorrect Identification Identification Many accidents occur during excavation work as a result of a discovered service being wrongly identified and therefore, its real risks not being taken account of. For example, consider what thesupply consequences if you assumed an it exposed service was a ‘dead’ water pipe, andmight while be trying to saw through to remove it, found out it was a ‘live’ high-voltage supply cable.
!
Where there is any doubt about an exposed servic e, always consi der it to be live.
Despite the usefulness of the colour coding system for identification of underground services, it should be remembered that: q
older services may not be colour coded in accordance with this ‘modern’ system;
q
services may be wrongly housed in a duct or other covering that is incorrectly coloured for that particular service (e.g. consider an electric cable that is wrongly sheathed within a white telecommunications duct); and
q
dirty service equipment and / or poor light conditions (e.g. during emergency emergency work
q
these might have become disturbed within the ground over time and therefore not accurately indicate the presence of a service below them; and
q
the absence of a warning tape or capping does not automatically mean that there is no service in the vicinity.
This website stores data such as at night) may make services appear a different colour to what they actually are. cookies to enable essential site functionality, as well as marketing, personalization, and analytics. You With regards to warning tape, tile or capping methods, remember that: may change your settings at any time or accept the default settings.
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5
Health & Safety Health Safety Legis latio lation n for fo r Underground Services There are several items of UK legislation which make provisions for protecting your health and safety at work with respect to working near underground services. Although you do not need to be concerned with all the detail of these, we will look briefly at some of the main laws and regulations as they place legal responsibilities on your employer, on you (as an operative working near underground services) and on the owners, or operators, of the underground services. The Health 1974 4 (HASWA) (HASWA) sets sets out general health and Health and Safety at Wor k etc . Act 197 safety responsibilities for all work activities, which will include work that is near to, and/or will expose, underground services. Your employer has a duty under HASWA to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of all employees and also anyone else who may be affected by the work activities (such as members of the public). This duty includes to: q
provide and and maintain safe equipment equipment and systems of work; and
q
provide adequate adequate information and training (e.g. on the risks of working near underground services and safe working practices).
As an employee, you also have legal duties under HASWA which include: q
to take reasonable care of your own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by your work;
q
to co-operate with your employer on all health and safety matters; and
q
to not interfere with, or misuse, anything provided provided for your health, safety and welfare.
Management of He The Management Health alth and Safety at Work Regulation s 1999 require 1999 require your employer to carry out an adequate risk assessment for any proposed work activity. This website stores This data is sosuch thatasany hazards can be identified and appropriate controls put in place to cookies to enable essential site remove or minimise the risks to people once the work is started. This is especially functionality, as well as marketing, important when working near underground services, because this kind of work must personalization, and analytics. You be fully planned in advance due to the significant risks associated with it. may change your settings at any time or accept the default settings.
Your employer has a duty to inform you of any significant risks associated with a work activity (identified for example, from the risk assessment) and to ensure that you are Privacy Policy instructed on the principles of accident prevention. Marketing Personalization Analytics Save
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The Provi 1998, as amended 2002, Provi sion and Use of Work Equipm ent Regulations 1998, require your employer to prevent or control the risks to your health and safety from using equipment at work. The equipment should be (and in the context of underground services): q
suitable for the work task you have to do (e.g. for the proposed excavation excavation work);
q
safe to use and maintained adequately adequately (e.g. well maintained and calibrated in the case of service detection equipment);
q
used by you only if you have received adequate information and training; and
q
accompanied by appropriate safety controls (such as as safety guarding).
The E Electric lectric ity at Work Regulations 19 1989 89 aim aim to control the risks arising from the use of electricity at work and place duties on both your employer and you to comply with them where it is under your control to do so. The regulations require that any work undertaken on, or near to, an electrical system, is carried out in such a way as to prevent risk of injury. This will therefore be applicable to work involving underground cables. They also require that work with or near live conductors should only take place when it is reasonable under the circumstances and if all suitable precautions are put in place to prevent injury.
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The Gas 1996 6 aim to ensure that the distribution Gas Safety (Management) Regulati ons 199 network for natural gas is safely managed at all times. They require a national telephone reporting system to be available 24 hours a day for the reporting of leaks. Reported gas escapes must be acted upon (e.g. inspected) by the conveyor as soon as reasonably practicable and stopped within 12 hours of their being reported. The Pipelines Safety Regulation s 19 1996 96 are are concerned with the safe design, construction, operation and maintenance of pipelines. They place general duties on the operators of pipelines with respect to this and also require that adequate arrangements are in place in the event of an incident or emergency relating to the pipeline. Additional duties are put on operators of those pipelines which are identified as being the most hazardous (Major (Major Accident Hazard Pipelines [ref Pipelines [ref 6]), such as those carrying gas at a high pressure or containing certain dangerous fluids. The regulations state that pipelines must not be damaged such that danger to persons may result, which includes to those having to excavate near this kind of underground service. To help prevent this, the operators of pipelines must make available information relating to the existence and position of their equipment, including therefore to anyone who has to carry out excavation work near it.
The New Roads Act 1991 imposes imposes duties on those will have 1991 to undertake workand in aStreet road orWorks a footpath. For example, such works mustwho be carried out to certain standards of safety (e.g. with respect to lighting and signage) and quality (e.g. regarding reinstatement of excavations). The act applies to those who install, inspect or maintain services in the highway, but do not apply to road construction itself. Undertakers of such work should give notice of the proposed work (there are some exceptions, such as emergency situations) and ensure that it is adequately planned, appropriately supervised and carried out by competent persons. For the purposes of the act, ‘competent’ is defined as workers being qualified according to the Street Works (Qualifications of Supervisors and Operatives) Regulations 1992. The Traffic Management Act 2004, 2004, combined with its modification of the New Roads and Street Works Act, place a responsibility on utility companies to locate and record the position of all underground services in the UK by 2008. These location records will have to be available for inspection to all relevant parties if required (such as to anyone This website stores data such as withessential authority cookies to enable siteto carry out street works). functionality, as well as marketing, personalization, and Full analytics. You (NB: bibliographic listings of the above legislation are given under Further may change your settings at any time Information at the end of the module). or accept the default settings.
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Work in ing g Safely Safely Near Near Underg Undergrou round nd Servic ervices es
6
Guidance for Safe Work Work ing : How to ‘PACE’ the W Work ork OPERC’s general advice for achieving safe working near to underground services is to always ‘PACE’ ‘PACE’ the the work. That is: Plan the the work before starting; P - Plan A - As As k for information on buried service locations; C - Confirm Confirm the the exact location of buried services; and E - Excavate Excavate using using safe digging practices. Figure 4.
PACE the work f or safe workin g
Plan Plan the work before starting Risk q
assessment Site preparation q Work procedures q Permit-to-work scheme q
As k for information on underground services q Location
plans Site visit scheme q q Local knowledge q Workplace features
Confirm the exact location of underground services Confirm This website stores data such as q Service location equipment cookies to enable essential site Cable Avoidance Tool (CAT) functionality, as well as marketing,q Trial holes personalization, and analytics. Youq may change your settings at any time or accept the default settings.
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Excavate using safe digging practices Excavate
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q Safe
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Plan The The Work Befor e S Starti tarti ng The best way to avoid or minimise risks in any work activity is to plan carefully before starting. Of utmost importance in planning for work near underground services is the accurate identification of the location of all underground service equipment, in order to avoid both damage to the equipment and injury to people. There will of course be some situations where time for planning will be limited, for example, when excavating to make an emergency repair on a service. However, even in such cases some form of planning must take place. 1
assessment ssment of the Your employer should carry out a suitable and sufficient risk asse proposed work and based on the findings of that, design a plan of work that will remove or minimise any hazards identified. This might include doing things like: q
designing formal evacuation or emergency procedures;
q
installing traffic management systems;
q
ensuring protection of the public from the work; and
q
placing earthwork support to excavations.
This is especially important in areas where mobile plant is to be operated. Any underground service, cavity or chamber could be damaged and/or cause a vehicle to overturn due to the loads imposed by mobile plant. It is good practice to visibly highlight the service at ground level but additional barriers/protection may also be needed to prevent damage to services, or vehicles from overturning. 2
‘permit-to-work’ work’ system The work can be further controlled by operating a ‘permit-toprocedure in any area where underground services are present. This is a system whereby the way that the work is to be carried out (the method), in what order it is to be done (the sequence) and who shall do it, is designed and formally recorded in advance of the work starting. The work must then be completed strictly in accordance with the conditions of the permit as a means of closely controlling it (particularly in terms of health and safety). This website stores data such as cookies to enable sitef o r m ati As A sessential k f o r In Inf at i o n o n Un Und d erg er g r o u n d Serv Ser v i c e Lo L o c at atii o n s functionality, as well as marketing, personalization, and analytics. You As settings far as possible, may change your at any timeall the relevant owners and / or operators of services should be contacted to obtain reliable service location information, which is normally in the form or accept the default settings.
plans.. These plans should be clear to read and up-to-date and ideally of location plans show both the position and depth of the services and their associated equipment. Privacy Policy However, plans should only be used as an indication of where the services may be found as they are not always accurate. This may be due to various reasons, such as Marketing 1
Personalization For more detailed guidance on carrying carr ying out risk assessments and using their findings to design risk controls, see S afety Risk Assessments. Asses sments. OPERC self-study module SM-002 An Introduction to Health and Safety
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For more detailed guidance on permit-to-work per mit-to-work systems, see OPERC self-study module SM-022 Safe Systems of Work.
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not having been drawn precisely to scale or the services having been marked on them in convenient straight lines (when in reality they will not follow such perfect straight lines in the ground!). Most utility companies will also provide a site visit service to service to locate and mark the position of their equipment, such as is provided by the British Telecom in their ‘Dial Before You Dig’ scheme [refvery 7]. This is especially useful proves hard to detect, where it would be difficult or expensive to where repair ifa itservice was damaged (such as fibre-optic cables) or where it poses an extreme hazard (such as a high pressure gas or petroleum pipeline). The owner or operator of that service can help to confirm its exact location and may even remain on site (and monitor all excavations) throughout the duration of the work. Personal or local knowledge knowledge of of a particular site or area of land (for example, from the landowner), can help to establish the existence of any underground service equipment workplace can also that might not otherwise be documented. Certain features features of the workplace can give indication as to where services might be located. Things to look out for include: q
street lighting (electric cables);
q
highway lighting, illuminated signs and traffic control systems; q inspection chamber covers; q
drainage access points and rodding eyes;
q
roadside cabinets cabinets (as used by BT and other other telecommunications providers); and
q
roadside (verge) (verge) marker posts (these usually indicate indicate the approximate distance from the post to a service – see Figure 5).
You should not assume, however, that services do not exist in an area, simply because features such as those listed above cannot be seen. Remember: always expect that services will be present, regardless of where you are excavating.
Figure 5.
Marker Ma rker posts to indi cate location location of underground services
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Confirm th e E Exact xact Location of Underground Se Servic rvic es When it is not known whether services exist within the ground (for example, where accurate records do not exist or in the case of emergency excavation work) or when the exact locations of known services are being confirmed on site, then specialist equipment is is used. Note that this equipment must only be operated service location equipment by someone who is fully trained and competent in its use. Some types of locating equipment that might be used include: q
hum detectors – to detect the magnetic field radiated from a live electricity cable;
q
radio frequency detectors – for identifying metallic pipes and electricity cables;
q
transmitter-receivers – where a generator induces a signal into a cable or pipe and a receiver detects it;
q
metal detectors – which can identify identify most metallic objects objects hidden underground (not suitable therefore for detecting plastic services); and
q
specialist ground penetrating radar systems – which build up a ‘picture’ of the substrate to help identify services or other objects such as buried tramlines etc.
One particular service locating device that combines many of the above features is Tool (CAT); often used in conjunction with a signal generator. a Cable Cable Avo idance Tool (CAT); Together, these are often conveniently referred to on site as ‘Cat and Genny’. The CAT can be used in one of two ways: passive mode or active mode. In passive mode, the CAT can either be used in a ‘power’ option, whereby it detects the electromagnetic signals automatically generated by those services that carry power, such as live electricity cables; or in ‘radio’ option, where it is set to detect metallic services that do not carry power (such as metal gas pipes). In active mode, the CAT is used in conjunction with a separate generator, which can convey a signal into a service or a duct so that the CAT can detect it. Figure 6 shows a CAT being used in such a way, with the generator in the background of the picture sending signal This website stores data asuch as into the underground earth cable directly via a connecting lead. Figure 7 shows cookies to enable essential site a generator sending a signal into a copper cored tracer rod that has inserted down a hollow telecommunications duct, in order that the route of this functionality, asbeen well as marketing, personalization, and analytics. You plastic duct can be followed and marked on the surface of the ground. may change your settings at any time or accept the default settings.
Once the service locations have been identified by the equipment, they may be marked-up on the ground either by using (biodegradable) paint or other waterproof Privacy Policy markings on the highway, or by using marker pegs and lines on softer or open ground. However, trial holes holes should should still be dug, using hand tools only, to confirm the exact Marketing position of the services. This is particularly important for locating plastic pipes which may not have been found by the type of location device used. Personalization Analytics Save
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Figure 6. CAT in use with generator directly connected to a service
Figure 7. Ge Generator nerator in use with tracer rod inserted Into a duct
Excavate Usin Usin g Sa Safe fe Diggin Digging g Practic Practices es Safe working practices practices should should always be strictly followed when undertaking excavation work. These will include: q
excavating under permit control;
q
taking extra care when it is known that digging is taking place near to a service;
q
not using mechanical excavators excavators or hand-held power tools near to underground services and following the appropriate advised specific guidelines on the safety margins from each type of service;
q
hand-digging alongside a service and then exposing it from the side, rather than exposing it from above (mainly because greater control over hand tools can be made by working from the side in this way and the service is therefore less likely to be damaged);
q
always assuming an exposed service is live until it is confirmed that it has been This website stores disconnected data such as and it has been proven to be safe at the point of work; and cookies to enable essential site functionality, as well as marketing, q never using using exposed services as hand-holds, foot supports or for any other kind personalization, and analytics. You of physical support, such as to prop-up tools or equipment or as ‘steps’ for helping may change your settings at any time climb out of an open excavation. or accept the defaulttosettings.
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Special care should also be taken with the tools and equipment equipment you you use when handdigging, including: q
using insulated insulated tools, such as shovels with non-metallic shafts, shafts, to stop electricity travelling up them in the event of striking an electrical service (ask your supervisor about these kind of tools if in doubt);
q
using flat-edged tools (such as spades or shovels) in preference to pointed tools (such as bars, picks and forks);
q
not throwing or spiking spiking any any tool into the ground; ground; and and
q
applying only gentle hand or foot pressure to a hand tool, when encouraging it to penetrate the soil that is being dug.
Specialist digging equipment is available that uses water or air pressure jet systems to loosen and dig into soil. Vacuum tools are also available for removal of excavated soil. However, the use of this type of equipment is somewhat limited, for example, its effectiveness is reduced in the case of very hard ground or in soil that contains a lot of stones and boulders. Nonetheless, it is a safer way of working in particularly hazardous excavations. clothing should be used at all times and your Appropriate personal personal prot ective clothing should employer may, depending on your work, require that their work clothing be made only from certain (e.g. fireproof) materials. You should never work bare-chested as this will provide no protection in the case of an explosion or fire. backfilling near near Once excavation work has been completed, then reinstatement reinstatement and backfilling to any service should also be done carefully, to maintain safe practices. This includes: q
working in accordance with any specific requirements requirements of the service owner or operator (such as covering the service with a layer of sand before backfilling with soil – specific utilities will advise of any such requirements);
q
backfilling carefully, for example, by not allowing large boulders to roll into the
excavation or to fall against services; and reinstalling marker marker systems such as warning tape or or tiles. q by carefully reinstalling
This website stores data such as cookies to enable essential site functionality, as well as marketing, Guidance for Sa Safe fe personalization, and analytics. You may change your settings at any time or accept the default settings.
Workin g: Damage to a Se Servi rvi ce
If a service does become damaged:
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q
stop work instantly;
q
report the damage damage to a supervisor (who mu st th en contact the appropriate authority straight away); and
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do not continue until a person authority deems theired. area safe area and/or conf irms work t hat the service hasin bee been n isol ated or repaired. repa
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In the case of damage to gas pipes then this should be reported on the emergency telephone number dedicated to this purpose which is 0800 111 999. In the case of a worker being injured it is helpful if colleagues have a basic 3 understanding of first aid techniques .
Guidance for Safe Working: Service-Specific The following text provides some additional ‘service-specific’ safety advice for working near electricity cables, gas pipes and water pipes respectively, based on HSE Guidance [ref 4]. For Electrical Services and Associated Equipment q
Contact the service service owner to enquire whether whether the service can be isolated. More so than other service types there is often a need to disconnect the supply and ‘make dead’ any service before work begins.
q
Do not rely on marker or warning systems (tape, tiles, mesh) to confirm existence. No warning system does not automatically mean no service.
q
Beware of of coming across cables cables laid laid at at shallow depths.
q
Beware of cables hidden in ducts, pipes or concrete. Excavation next to cables in concrete should not be carried out without advice from the service owner and rerouting or making dead as appropriate.
q
Some service equipment, such such as cable joints, joints, may need temporary support during excavation to avoid them becoming damaged.
Gas s Services and Assoc iated Equipment For Ga q
Beware of shallow pipes pipes and problems of plant running over them.
q
Redundant iron gas services may have live modern plastic services inserted
into them. q The location of plastic gas pipes should always be confirmed by hand-dug trial This website stores data such as holes before any mechanical excavation is carried out.
cookies to enable essential site functionality, asqwell as marketing, Beware of ancillary equipment equipment that may be attached to (and project from) pipes personalization, andsuch analytics. You as valve housings and siphons. may change your settings at any time or accept the default settings. to an exposed pipe could also create unseen damage damage elsewhere, such q Damage
as further up the (unexposed) pipe at a connection or junction. Privacy Policy q Pipe restraints or thrust blocks (etc.) should never be disturbed without advice Marketing
from the service owner.
q
Particular care is necessary if hot work (like welding) is to be carried out.
q
In the case of a suspected leak, evacuate the area and report the leak on the National Gas emergency number: 0800 number: 0800 111 999.
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First aid is beyond the scope of this module, but general advice on the subject is given in OPERC module SM-030 First-aid at Work.
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For Water Water Servic Servic es and Associ ated Equip Equip ment q
Beware of shallow pipes pipes and problems of plant running over them.
q
Some service equipment may need temporary support during excavation to avoid them becoming damaged (larger diameter pipes full of water will be heavy and could fail under their own weight if ground support is removed).
q
Pipe restraints or thrust blocks (etc.) should never be disturbed without advice from the service owner.
q
Risk of exposed services freezing and rupturing in sub-zero weather conditions.
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7
Summary
What are Underground Services? q
The term underground s ervice ervices s describes the pipes, cables and other associated equipment which carry utility services below ground level.
q
The main underground services are electricity cables, gas supply supply pipes, water distribution pipes, sewer and drainage systems and telecommunications cables.
q
Services are installed underground underground to protect them, keep keep them out of sight and most importantly to maintain safety, both of the services and the general public.
q
Workers who have to carry out excavation work in the ground may come across many of these types of underground service.
q
Underground services are frequently laid within the highway, but open land may also have services buried beneath it.
How to Identify Undergroun d Se Servic rvic es q
To work safely by underground services, you must be able to recognise or identify the different types.
q
A colour coding system system is is used on ‘modern’ services to help identify them. The main service colours are:
n
electricity – black or red; n gas – yellow; n water – blue or grey; n telecommunications – gre grey, y, white, green, black black or purple; and n
street llighting ighting – black, orange or purple. tape is sometimes laid in the ground about 300mm above q Coloured warning tape is This website stores data such as the service cookies to enable essential site to provide a warning for anyone excavating that the service is beneath tapes contain a metallic strip so that they can be identified by electronic functionality, as wellit.asSome marketing, personalization, andequipment. analytics. You may change your settings at any time q Electric cables may be covered with a concrete (or clay) marker marker til e (or capping) or accept the default settings.
to both warn of their presence and also provide some protection.
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The Risks Risks Presented Presented by Unde Undergro rgro und Servic Servic es q
Working near near underground underground services is widespread, widespread, as are the accompanying risks to health and safety, with many millions of holes being excavated every year.
q
If you carry out excavation work in the ground ground you may may come across any type of underground service. Most are laid within footpaths and roads, but they can be found anywhere, including open land.
q
Al way s as su me t hat un der gr ou nd ser vi ces wi ll be p res ent , regardless of where you are excavating.
q
Different types of service can present very different types of risk. The main ones are:
n n n n n n
electricity – electrocution, explosion, fire; gas – explosion and fire; water – being struck by high pressure jet, flooding and drowning; sewerage systems – contamination; telecommunications – gases in ductwork; and pipelines – (depends on what is being carried in the pipe and its pressure).
q
Accidents resulting in damage damage to a service normally happen happen through:
n
q
Many accidents occur as a result of a service being wrongly identified.
q
Where there is any doubt about an exposed service, always always assume that it is live live - stop work immediately and seek guidance from a supervisor.
physical contact when excavating, e.g. being struck by an excavator bucket or punctured by a pick-axe; n physical contact by other means than excavating, e.g. penetration by a gas sniffing bar or road pin’; and n the service moving under its own weight (e.g. if soil has been removed from under it).
q
Remember that older services may not be colour coded in accordance with the ‘modern’ and some services may be wrongly housed in a duct or other covering that system is incorrectly coloured.
This website stores data such as q Warning tape, tile or capping may become disturbed over time and not accurately cookies to enable essential site where the service is to be found. functionality, as wellshow as marketing, personalization, and analytics. You q Never assume anything about an underground service. may change your settings at any time or accept the default settings.
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Health He alth and Safe Safety ty Legislation for Unde Undergro rgro und Servic Servic es q
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 1974 (HASWA) (HASWA) requires your employer to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, your health and safety and that of anyone else affected by the work activities. This includes providing and maintaining safe systems of work and providing adequate information and training.
q
Under HASWA HASWA you you also have legal duties to take reasonable care of your health and safety, cooperate with your employer on all health and safety issues and not interfere with, or misuse, anything provided for your health and safety.
q
The Ma Manageme nagement nt of He Health alth and Sa Safety fety at Work Re Regulatio gulatio ns 19 1999 99 requires requires your employer to undertake a risk assessment for each work activity to identify any hazards, take action to minimise the risks from the work and tell you about any significant risks found.
q
The P Provi rovi sion and Use of Work Equipm ent Regulatio Regulatio ns 1998 1998 require your employer to prevent or control the risks to your health and safety from using equipment at work. The equipment must be safe for use, suitable for the work you are doing and only used if you have had adequate training.
q
The E Electri lectri city at Work Regulations 19 1989 89 require that any work undertaken on, or near to, an electrical system is carried out so that risk of injury is prevented.
q
The Ga Gas s Safety (Management) Regulation Regulat ion s 1996 require 1996 require that the natural gas distribution network is managed safely and that there is a 24 hour telephone number available for reporting gas leaks.
q
The Pipelines Safety Re Regulatio gulatio ns 19 1996 96 require require the operators of pipelines to ensure their safe design, construction, operation and maintenance.
q
The Ne New w Roads and Stree Streett Work s A ct 19 1991 91 requires requires utility companies to give notice of planned work to a service on a road or footpath and ensure that it is carried out to the correct level of safety and quality.
This website stores data such as cookies to enable essential site The Traffic Ma Manageme nagement nt Act 20 2004 04 requires requires utility companies to locate and functionality, asqwell as marketing, theYou position of all underground services in the UK by 2008 and to make personalization, andrecord analytics. these at available, may change your settings any time if required, to anyone with the authority to undertake street works. or accept the default settings.
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Working Safely Near Underground Services q
OPERC’s general advice for achieving safe working near to underground services ‘PACE’ the the work. That is: is to always ‘PACE’
P -- As Plan the Plan theinformation work before A k for onstarting; buried service locations; C - Confirm Confirm the the exact location of buried services; and Excavate using using safe digging practices. E - Excavate
q
Plan Plan for for work near underground services by identifying the location of all the service equipment located below ground level so that excavation work can avoid it.
q
Good planning will include a risk assessment of the proposed work and control measures to remove, or minimise, any hazards found, such as creating emergency procedures or protecting the public from the work.
q
A ‘Permit-to-work’ system involves the design and recording of how the work will be carried out and who will do it. The work must then be done strictly according to the permit conditions to ensure health and safety.
q
As k all relevant owners and / or operators of services, in advance of work starting, for service location information and plans, but remember that they may not show service connection cables and pipes from the main to a building.
q
Looking around the workplace can help identify signs of where services are, such as drainage access points, street lighting or roadside marker points.
q
Confirm Confirm the the location of underground services, particularly when in doubt, by the use of specialist location equipment (which must only be operated by competent persons). Types of equipment include:
n
q
The ‘Cable Avoidance Tool’ combines many features of the other location equipment and is often used with a signal generator (Cat and Genny).
hum detectors;
This website storesn data such as radio frequency detectors; cookies to enable essential site n transmitter-receivers; functionality, as well as marketing, n metal detectors; and personalization, and analytics. You radar. n ground may change your settings at any penetrating time or accept the default settings.
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q
Once identified, the location of the services should be marked-up on the ground by using either waterproof marking, such as paint, or by marker pegs and lines, where the ground is softer.
q
The exact location of services should be confirmed by hand-digging hand-digging trial holes.
q
Excavate Excavate and and dig using safe working practices such as:
n
q
Due to the increased risk, if services services are found buried in concrete, then a different excavation route should be found or advice sought from the services provider to confirm that the service is dead or isolated.
q
Take special care with tools and equipment; e.g., use insulated tools and flat-
taking extra care when digging near to a service; n exposing a service by hand-digging alongside it rather than from above it; live until until confirmed otherwise; and n assuming an exposed service is live n never using using exposed exposed services as hand or foot supports, or as an aid to helping climb out of an excavation.
edged, rather than pointed, tools. Avoid throwing or spiking tools into the ground. q
Appropriate person personal al protective equipment (PPE) should always be used; this may sometimes include fireproof clothing.
q
Backfilling should be done carefully to avoid damage to services and marker systems should be reinstated.
q
For electrical services and associated equipment consider equipment consider things such as:
n
q
For gas services and associated equipment consider equipment consider things such as:
the need need to disconnect the supply and ‘make dead’ before before work begins; n cables laid laid at shallow depths or hidden hidden in ducts, pipe or concrete; and n that there may be no marker or warning system.
This website stores data such as cookies to enable essential site n damage to shallow pipes, by plant running over them; functionality, as well as marketing, the importance of locating plastic pipes by hand-dug hand-dug trial holes before using personalization, andnanalytics. You mechanical may change your settings at any time excavation; damage to an exposed pipe causing unseen damage elsewhere; and or accept the defaultnsettings. n
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q
the dangers of hot work.
For water services and associated equipment consider equipment consider things such as:
Marketing
n
damage to shallow pipes, by plant running over them; larger diameter diameter n temporary support for heavy live water pipes, particularly larger ones, so that they do not fail under their own weight; and rupturing to exposed pipes in sub-zero weather. n the risk of freezing and rupturing
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Mult ipl iple e Choi Choice ce SelfSelf-test test Questions Question s
8
Having completed this module, you might now wish to test what you have learned by answering these questions. Simply choose which answer you think is correct for each question below. The answers are given at the end of the module, but try the questions for yourself before looking!
Q1
When Whe n excava excavating ting i n the grou nd, it is s afe afest st to : A. A. Always assume that no services will be present. present. B. be present. present. B. Always assume that services will be C. C. Ignore the risk of services in the ground, unless someone has told you they are there. D. Never use a mechanical excavator. D.
Which of t he followin g IS a direct risk, fro m penetrating penetrating an undergro und electric service cable cable,, during excava excavation tion wo rk?
Q2
A. A. Explosion. B. B. Contamination. C. Asphyxiation. C. D. Drowning. D.
Q3
Which of the followin g IS a direct risk , from ru ptur ing a high pressure water water main, during excavation work ?
This website stores data such as A. A. essential Fire due to the main exploding. cookies to enable site functionality, as well as marketing, B. B. Explosion due to the main catching fire. personalization, and analytics. You may change your settings at any time C. Being hit by a high pressure jet of water. C. or accept the default settings.
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D. by a bolt of arcing electricity, electricity, due to conductors conductors touching each other D. Being hit by within a cable.
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Q4
If you came acros acros s a yellow service pipe in t he ground , what would you expe expect ct it to be carrying? A. A. Medium pressure water. B. Electric cable. B. C. C. High pressure oil or diesel. D. Gas. D.
Q5
If you came acros acros s a blue service pipe in the gro und, what would you expe expect ct it to be carrying? A. Street lighting supply cable. A. B. B. Electricity. C. C. Water. D. Medium pressure gas. D.
Q6
What colo ur are below-ground st ree What reett ligh ting d ucts i n England or Wales? Wales? A. A. Orange or Black. B. Blue. B. C. Yellow. C. D. D. Purple.
Q7
Which of the follo wing st ate atements, ments, re regarding garding servic e location location information, is correct?
This website stores datause suchof asreliable and sufficient service location information should be made at A. Full A. cookies to enable essential site all times. functionality, as well as marketing, personalization, analytics. You B.and B. Service location information should only be used when service location equipment may change your settings at any time is unavailable. or accept the default settings.
C. C. Service location equipment need need only be used for larger jobs. D. Service location information information is only used when the risk assessment has identified Privacy Policy D. existence of electricity cables or gas pipes.
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Q8
Which of t he followin g is NO NOT T sa safe fe digging practice? A. digging alongside it, rather than exposing it by by digging from A. Exposing a service by digging above it. B. B. Using tools with insulated shafts. C. Always throwing or spiking tools into the ground after you have finished using C. them. D. Using flat-edged tools in preference to pointed tools. D.
Why shou ld a larger diameter diameter water carryin g servic e be suppo rted if an e excavation xcavation exposes it?
Q9
A. A. Because it might might contain an electricity cable. cable. B. B. Because it might be damaged by plant running over it. C. Because it will be heavy and may collapse and fail under its own weight. C. D. service owner or operator may make make a surprise visit to site. D. Because the service
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9
An n s w er ers s t o Mu Mull t i p l e Cho Ch o i c e Self Sel f -t -tes estt Qu Ques estt i o n s A
Q1
B
Q6
A
Q2
A
Q7
A
Q3
C
Q8
C
Q4
D
Q9
C
Q5
C
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10
References
1
The Geospatial Location of Buried Services. A presentation given by Brayshaw – Director Ordnance Survey. Available via the Institution ofJames Civil Engineers website at: http://www.icenet.org.uk/knowledge/document_details.asp?Docu_id=1389&intPage=1&faculty=4 (viewed September 2007).
2
Guidelines on the Positioning and Colour Coding of Utilities’ Apparatus. National Joint Utilities Group. April 2003. ISBN: 0-9543641-1-2.
3
Mapping the Underworld: MTU and and VISTA. ‘Mapping ‘Mapping the Underworld’ and ‘ Visualising Integrated Information on Buried Assets to Reduce Streetworks’ research projects, accessible on Leeds University website at: http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/mtu/ (viewed September 2007).
4
Avoiding Danger from Underground Services. The Health and Safety Executive, document ref, HSG47. ISBN: 0-7176-1744-0.
5
Underground Cables. Working Near to Underground Services. Guidance provided by Central Networks. Accessed on Central Networks website at: http://www. eon-uk.com/distribution/607.aspx (viewed September 2007).
6
Third Party Damage to Major Accident Hazard Pipelines. Accessible on the Health and Safety Executive website at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pipelines/ukopa.htm (viewed September 2007).
7
Network Protection. Dial Before You Dig. British Telecom service information, location and marking scheme. Accessible at: http://www.dialbeforeyoudig.com/ (viewed September 2007).
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Further Information
11
The Electricity at Work Regulations (1989). Statutory Instrument 1989 No. 635. ISBN: 0-11-096635-X. Accessible via the web at: http://www.opsi.gov.uk. The Gas Safety (Management) Regulations (1996). Statutory Instrument 1996 No. 551. ISBN: 0-11-054184-7. Accessible via the web at: http://www.opsi.gov.uk. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. London: HMSO. ISBN: 0-1054-3774-3. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999) as amended. Statutory Instrument 1999 No. 3242. ISBN: 0-11-085625-2. Accessible via the web at: http://www.opsi.gov.uk.
The New Roads and Street Works Act (1991). Accessible via the web at: http://www.opsi.gov.uk.
The Pipelines Safety Regulations (1996). Statutory Instrument 1996 No. 825. ISBN: 0-11-054373-4. Accessible via the web at: http://www.opsi.gov.uk. The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (1998) as amended. Statutory instrument 1998 No. 2306. ISBN: 0-11-079599-7. Accessible via the web at: http://www.opsi.gov.uk.
The Street Works (Qualifications of Supervisors and Operatives) Regulations (1992). Statutory Instrument 1992 No. 1687. ISBN: 0-11-024687-X. 0-11-024687-X. Accessible via the web at: http://www.opsi.gov.uk. The Traffic Management Act (2004). 2004 Chapter 18. ISBN: 0-10-541804-8. Accessible via the web at: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2004/20040018.htm (viewed April 2007). This website stores data such as cookies to enable essential site functionality, as well as marketing, personalization, and analytics. You may change your settings at any time or accept the default settings.
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Off-highway Plant and Equipment
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+44 (0)1384 356202
Research Resea rch Centre
E-mail: [email protected]
PO Box 5039
Web:
Dudl ey DY1 9FQ
www.operc.com
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(OPERC) HEALTH AND SA FETY STUDY MODULE Module Ref: OPERC-SM-029
