What the law says?
Damage to underground electrical cables can cause fatal or severe injury and the law says you must take precautions to avoid danger.
What you need to know
Damage can be caused when a cable is cut through by a sharp object such as the point of a tool or crushed by a heavy object or machine.
When underground cables are damaged, people can be killed and injured by electric shock, electric arcs (causing an explosion) and flames. This can often result in severe burns to hands, face and body, even if protective clothing is being worn.
Cables that have been previously damaged but have not been reported or repaired can cause incidents.
What you need to do
If you are digging or disturbing the earth, you should take care to avoid damaging underground services.
Underground cables can often look like pipes and it is impossible to tell if they are live just by looking at them.
Excavation work should be properly managed to control risks, including planning the work, using cable plans, cable locating devices and safe digging practices.
Planning the work – if you are excavating near cables you may need to ask someone from an organisation to come and accurately locate them for you. You may need to make the cables dead in order to proceed.
Using cable plans – symbols on electricity cable plans may vary between utilities and advice should be sought from the issuing office.
Cable locating devices – locators should be used frequently and repeatedly during the course of the work.
Safe digging practices – once you have determined cable positions and routes, excavation may take place, with trial holes dug using hand tools as necessary.
Summary
Most service cables belong to a Distribution Network Operator. If you suspect there are underground cables, ask for plans to confirm their location.
Plans or other suitable information about all buried services in the area should be reviewed before excavation work starts however, they only give an indication of the location. It is essential that a competent person traces cables using suitable locating devices.
Before work begins, underground cables must be located, identified and clearly marked.
Excavation work should be carried out carefully and follow recognised safe digging practices.