Underground and concealed services

How to control underground and concealed services

1. Get current plans from Before You Dig Australia and the asset owners, and request a site meeting where services are complex or critical.
2. Plan the job to avoid digging near services, and relocate or de-energise services that cannot be avoided before work starts.
3. Locate services on site with an electronic locator, and confirm their position by potholing with non-destructive methods such as vacuum excavation before using mechanical plant.
4. Mark service positions on the ground and on plans, and keep a record of them for any future excavation at the same location.
5. Dig by hand or with vacuum equipment near marked services, and use a spotter to watch the excavation while plant is working.
6. If a service is struck, stop work, keep everyone clear and call the asset owner and emergency services, and never repair or cover the damage yourself.

Typical controls, most effective first. Your SWMS sets the controls for your own job and site.

SWMS by trade

• Civil Works13 templates
• Concreting13 templates
• Carpentry11 templates
• Concreting10 templates
• Earthmoving & Mobile Plant10 templates
• Civil Works8 templates
• Carpentry6 templates
• Concreting6 templates

Hazards that come up alongside it

• Environmental contamination100 templates
• Mobile plant and vehicles100 templates
• Personal injury, property damage or environmental incident100 templates
• Unauthorised access100 templates
• Hazardous chemicals99 templates
• Manual tasks99 templates
• Slips, trips and falls99 templates
• Adverse weather98 templates

Legislation these templates cite

• WHS Act 201170 templates
• WHS Regulations 201170 templates
• OHS Act 2004 (Vic)67 templates
• OHS Regulations 2017 (Vic)66 templates
• Code of Practice: Construction work62 templates
• Code of Practice: First aid in the workplace62 templates
• Code of Practice: How to manage WHS risks58 templates
• Code of Practice: Work environment and facilities58 templates