Contractors, major clients and the HSE have today launched a new best practice safety “toolkit” that aims to reduce the number of accidents caused by striking underground utilities and services when digging.
Mike Penning, the Department for Work and Pensions minister responsible for health and safety, helped to launch the “Safe Digging is Not Enough” toolkit, alongside Kier chief executive Paul Sheffield, Crossrail chairman Terry Morgan and Barhale chairman Dennis Curran.
The group is part of the Underground Utilities Working Group, which has collaborated on drawing up the guidance, which aims to focus industry efforts on reducing utility strikes and their toll of injuries during digging works.
Other UUWG members include UK Power Networks, National Grid, BAM, Morrison Utilities, Skanska, the UK Contractors Group and the Health & Safety Executive.
Joanne Garwood, central services director of contractor FM Conway, commented: "Many ‘strikes’ can be avoided, as long as operatives on the ground know what to look for, so training is absolutely crucial. In 2011 we embarked on a training-led campaign to reduce strikes and promote safe digging practices, from spotting cables to understanding utility drawings. This has played a big part in helping us reduce the number of strikes by 64% in three years.
She added: "Any initiative that raises awareness of this issue and helps companies and their staff to share best practice is welcome."
The toolkit follows the publication earlier this year of the HSE guidance Avoiding Danger from Underground Services HSG47.
However, when CM asked the HSE for recent statistics on utility strikes, a spokeswoman said that the way it currently “codes” incidents means that there is no readily available data on the issue. But she added that work is being undertaken to resolve the problem and more data should be available soon.
Aimed at all teams that plan, supervise or deliver activity around underground services, the new toolkit outlines the process of designing and planning around live, underground utility services such as gas and electricity. It outlines a process called ERIC – Eliminate, Reduce, Isolate and Control risk.
Paul Sheffield, chair of the working group, commented: “The injuries caused by the inadvertent striking of underground services and utilities can be devastating, even fatal. Importantly these strikes can be avoided, which is why we are calling on the industry to join us in pursuing a step change in safe digging, supported by the launch of this new toolkit.”
The guidance and materials that make up the Safe Digging toolkit will be freely available to view and download.
HSE on blitz against respiratory illnesses
Meanwhile, in a two-week drive beginning Monday 23 June, the HSE is due to make unannounced visits across the country, focusing on ill health on construction sites.
Inspectors will be looking in particular at respiratory risks from dusts including silica materials; exposure to other hazardous substances such as cement and lead paint; manual handling, noise and vibration.
For every fatal accident in the construction industry, it is estimated that a worker is at least 100 times more likely to die from a disease caused or made worse by their work.
HSE chief inspector of construction, Heather Bryant, said: “The construction sector has made good progress in reducing the number of people killed and injured by its activities. We need to tackle where workers are unnecessarily being exposed to serious health risks, such as silica dust, which can have fatal or debilitating consequences.
“This initiative provides a chance to engage with these firms to help them understand what they need to do, so they can put in place the practical measures needed to keep people safe.
“However, let me be clear – poor risk management and a lack of awareness of responsibilities is unacceptable. Companies who deliberately cut corners can expect to feel the full weight of the law.”
