Page 1427 - Xmo Strata - Bulletin Archive

Health, Safety & Environmental Bulletin No 530

25 August 2016

Cable Strikes

As a business, we are fortunate that our clients share incidents and near misses in the interest of Best Practice.

Last week’s bulletin referred to the new CAT scanners and Gennys that we have issued and that bulletin has
resulted in more feedback; In the last few weeks, we have been notified of three separate cable strikes on
forecourts in the UK and wish to raise awareness by re-publishing a selection of bulletins about this hazard and
discussing as part of a toolbox talk to highlight the danger. You can see from these bulletins that cables and
underground utilities are a very real and potentially fatal hazard for anyone carrying out an excavation, even if
it’s a shallow one.

If you are carrying out any digging, drilling, or excavation works, always check for services. Services will
include power cables, phone/data cables, gas pipes, water pipes or fuel pipes. Always look at the site utility
drawings, however remember they may not be accurate. If you do not understand the drawing or it is not clear,
contact your line manager.

Always use the Xmo Strata F24.1.4a Ground Disturbance Checklist, carry out a CAT scan to try to identify any
services, even if no services are shown on utility drawings. However, remember even CAT scanning can fail to
identify some services, so always keep a lookout of signs of services, including nearby electrical feeds and
chambers that may indicate cable or services orientation when digging. Hand-dig where you have any concern of
the possibility of services.

If during excavation you come across an unexpected service, stop excavation works immediately and identify the
service before continuing to hand dig only. If a service is hit or damaged, do not touch it and contact your line
manager immediately.

We are all a product of learning. Every skill we have; everything we know; everything we believe and everything we do has
been learned throughout the course of our lives. Some of us learn best by studying graphs and charts, some through visual
presentations, and some by reading detailed text books. It is important that we receive information in a format that works for
us as individuals! That’s why at Xmo Strata we use a variety of communication platforms such as bulletins, newsletters,
videos etc. However, if you feel there is a better way for us to share health and safety information, please let us know.
Ultimately, your safety is in your hands – but we will do all we can to keep you well informed!