When it comes to electricity cables it could well be one strike and you’re out. UK Power Networks is urging builders to be aware of the dangers. Professional Builder’s Lee Jones investigates.
We’ve all been there. Under pressure to finish the job, or just get home, there’s always the temptation to compromise on safety – but a moment’s carelessness can all too easily lead to a lifetime of regret. Many of the dangers we are accustomed to on site have the virtue of being visible, but underground power networks are hidden hazards and require proper planning to be avoided. Similarly, overhead cables may be well out of our ground-level line of sight, but in each instance an unexpected encounter by a builder can have devastating consequences, with serious burns or even a fatality the result.
For the self-employed that can mean not only life-changing injuries but a prolonged period of recuperation, and the financial implications that inevitably incurs for them and their families. If you’re an employer who has failed to properly protect a member of staff then the legal sanctions could be ruinous, not to mention the reputational damage to your business.
Avoidable issue
UK Power Networks distributes electricity to 8.4 million homes and business across London, the south-east and east of England. Every year it reports that tradespeople, particularly those working on smaller house builds, extensions and refurbishment projects, are involved in wholly avoidable cable strikes – but help is at hand.
Its Be Bright, Stay Safe campaign is urging builders to think before they dig, and to look up and look out for overhead lines. The advice is simple – before any work commences make sure you’ve sourced cable plans for your site, which can be easily obtained from both UK Power Networks itself and Line Search Before You Dig (LSBUD).
The precautions don’t end there, however, because underground cables don’t always travel in straight lines and their depth can vary. Get into the habit of using a cable avoidance tool (CAT) when excavating – or drilling into party walls, floors and roof spaces, where electrical services might be running – and make sure you and your team know how to use CAT equipment properly. If necessary, dig trial holes, don’t use mechanical excavators or power tools within 0.5metres of an identified power line, and make sure cables are clearly marked before digging.
Communicate
Communication is key and every trade working on the job should be made aware of the location of cables and where services enter a building – but don’t take their word for it. Always undertake your own checks and never assume that the power has been disconnected – consider them live until you have established otherwise, and always make sure that the electricity has been disconnected before carrying out any demolition work. Delivery drivers should be made aware of the location of overhead power lines, especially if they are handling long items like scaffold poles, or operating grab lorries or mobile elevated work platforms.
Any builder will know that the success of a job depends in no small part on forward planning. Every year tradespeople are killed or injured as a result of completely avoidable power cable strikes. Putting the necessary procedures in place to avoid the electricity network before you’ve broken ground – or wielded a power tool in anger – will not only improve your efficiency. It could well save a life.
For more information visit – https://www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/
