Beware of buried services

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has warned contractors and their clients to use cable plans before digging near buried services.

This warning follows fines totalling £22,000 being handed down to Network Rail Infrastructure and HW Martin (Fencing Contractors) after spearing an electricity distribution cable with a hand-held spike 16 months ago at Handsworth in Birmingham. Fortunately the subsequent explosion caused only superficial burns to just one man.

The HSE's investigation showed that several elements of safe practice for avoiding cables had been ignored. Most importantly, the men were not provided with plans of cables in the area. HW Martin had not obtained the plans and the client did not provide the plans when the work was authorised.

HSE guidance states four elements for safe working with buried services: planning the work; using cable plans; checking the site with a cable locator; and safe hand digging techniques.

HM principal inspector of railways Allan Spence said: "This was a very near miss. The client bore primary responsibility for what happened in this case. The client had a company standard procedure for providing plans to contractors and even a buried services manager, but the system was not being followed locally."

Guidance can be obtained from www.hse.gov.uk