Underground and concealed services toolbox talk

What it is

Striking buried or concealed pipes, cables and other utilities when digging, drilling, piling or breaking into ground, walls or ceilings.

Controls to check, most effective first

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.

Questions for the crew

1. Where could underground and concealed services come up on this job today?
2. The most effective control is: “Get current plans from Before You Dig Australia and the asset owners, and request a site meeting where services are complex or critical”. Can we do that here? If not, why not?
3. Which controls for underground and concealed services are missing or not working on this site?
4. When would you stop work because of underground and concealed services, and who would you tell?
5. How do we report a hazard, a near miss or an incident on this job?