Page 1798 - Xmo Strata - Bulletin Archive

Safety, Health, Environmental & Quality Bulletin No 681

18 July 2019

Shallow Buried Cable

We have recently had a safety observation
reported where a buried cable was found only
millimetres below the surface.

The crew was on site to breakout around a MID
in order to survey the footplate, so plans for a
MID replacement can be produced.

The crew LOTO’d the MID supply and CAT
scanned the area to identify the supply cable.
The CAT scanning identified that the cable was
just below the surface.

The crew cautiously started digging 200mm
away from the identified cable, when a large
section of the concrete broke off exposing the
cable which was only 30mm below the surface.

This incident shows the importance of CAT
scanning and the need to be wary of shallow
cables and services when breaking the surface
(digging or drilling).

Ensure you always follow the safe
digging procedures, check the service
drawings, CAT scan and record your
findings on the ground disturbance
form. MIDs will always have at least
one cable going to them, so ensure
you identify it before digging/drilling
around the MID.