UPDATED / Underground Services Identification
Health & Safety Alert 061 has been published relating to underground services identification below. Should further information or assistance be required please do not hesitate to contact Danny O’Reilly (danny.oreilly@hutchinsonbuilders.com.au / 0408 920 496).
This Alert has been updated to include a new version of SWMS 07 - Excvation, Trenching & Ground Penetration (Version 10 - September 2018) now available on the Hutchies Doc Library via the below download.
Background
A recent incident occurred on a Hutchinson Builders (HB) controlled project where underground High Voltage services were struck by an auger. Investigations into this incident have identified opportunities for improvement in the risk management processes and training requirements where excavations, trenching, and ground penetration activities are included in the HB scope of work.
The current process requires that ‘Dial Before You Dig’ (DBYD) resources are consulted to locate underground services prior to commencing excavation, trenching, and ground penetration activities. Past experience has demonstrated that the DBYD information has at times been incomplete or inaccurate and therefore unmapped underground services, and existing services locations have been found that were not included in the DBYD records.
Note DBYD does not claim that it is a complete register of all buried services as not all Local Authorities or service providers are contributors to the DBYD network; for example Gold Coast Council is not a contributor to DBYD therefore the water, sewage and other council assets in this location are not registered with DBYD.
Objective
To service the obligation that is owed by ‘a person with management or control of a workplace’ as described in the following extract from the Safe Work Australia Code of Practice for Excavation Work, and that is reflected in Legislation in all States and Territories in Australia;
Accordingly the following risk management instruments have been updated and will be released to the Toolbox when the document review and consultation process has been completed;
| Current Instrument Title | Revised Instrument Title | Summary of Revision |
| SWMS 07 – Excavation & Trenching Version 9 March 2016 | SWMS 07 – Excavation, Trenching & Ground Penetration Version 10 | **NEW SWMS AVAILABLE** Content revised to more clearly reflect identification and documentation of underground service locations. |
| HB-HSEQ-F-078 Excavation & Penetration Permit Version 9 | HB-HSEQ-F-078 Excavation, Trenching & Ground Penetration Permit Version 10 | Title changed to include Excavation, Trenching & Ground Penetration. Content revised to more clearly reflect identification and documentation of underground service locations. |
| 2.0 Work Health and Safety Management Plan – Appendix 1 Version 10.2 | 2.0 Work Health and Safety Management Plan – Appendix 1 Version 10.3 | Excavation Section content revised to more clearly reflect identification and documentation of underground service locations. |
| HB-HSEQ-F-023 Design Risk Assessment Version 5 | HB-HSEQ-F-023 Design Risk Assessment Version 6 | Section 5 expanded to include aspects related to Excavation, Trenching and Ground Penetration, with specific reference positive location of underground services, and the consideration of such services in design. |
Intended Outcome
Effective 1 October 2018 all projects where the scope of works involves excavation, trenching, and ground penetration activities in areas under the control of Hutchinson Builders shall;
At Design Stage (where applicable):
- Undertake a detailed survey and positive location of all underground services in the affected area and develop a detailed underground services plan that provides concise information as to the nature and location of all underground services
- Utilise the information gained in the underground services survey to contribute to a design that addresses the risk associated with working in the vicinity of the services in question
At Construction Stage:
- Utilise the detailed underground services plan, where available, that has been developed at design stage to manage the risk associated with working in the vicinity of underground services
- Where such an plan is not available, undertake a detailed survey and positive location of all underground services in the affected area and develop a detailed underground services plan that provides concise information as to the nature and location of all underground services
- Make available all information related to the nature and location of underground services to any party engaged by Hutchinson Builders to work in the vicinity of underground services.
The location of underground services can be achieved by all, or a combination of the following example activities;
- Referencing ‘Dial Before You Dig’ records for the affected area
- Referencing as installed drawing from existing owner/occupiers
- Undertaking electromagnetic or other suitable scanning process to identify the presence of underground services
- Conducting non-destructive pot-holing to establish concise location of services in question.
Electromagnetic scanning and potholing are cost effective means that can be utilised to achieve the intended objective.
Failure to effectively control the hazards related to striking underground services can lead to
- risk to health and safety,
- damage to asset integrity,
- interruption to community facilities,
- significant cost penalty,
- damage to Company reputation and commercial relationships.
References
Safe Work Australia Code of Practice for Excavation Work – March 2015
State & Territory legislation relevant for the location of the works
More information
If you need additional support, please contact Danny O’Reilly
Phone 0408 920 496