There are many things we take for granted in our modern world, turning on the taps and clean drinking water being supplied right into our houses, electricity to keep the lights on, mobile phone signal and pre-site information being available and correct.

OK so those last two are often very patchy. To facilitate the convenience of our lives the country is criss-crossed with utility services, both above our heads and below our feet.
It is vital that before we start work on any site we understand what utility services are present and their location. It is incumbent on the landowner to supply this information. Unfortunately this isn’t always done satisfactorily and so we need to verify information or gather it ourselves.
Utility companies can supply information directly. Local knowledge is helpful for services that might not appear on Utility company drawings.

A final and vital source of information is the world around you, look for infrastructure that will require services, or marker posts for gas mains.
Where you have identified the risk of underground services on site that are within the working area then their exact location needs to be established before breaking ground. This can be done with cable location devices.

If there is a need to excavate around them then trial pits should be hand dug to reveal their location and depth.
Hand digging only 500mm either side of the service. All these checks must be recorded on a Permit to Dig

Learning Points:

• Clients, Landowners, Principal Contractors should provide detailed site service drawings.
• Review supplied drawings for accuracy.
• If drawings aren’t supplied, contact utility providers to obtain copies.
• Don’t forget local knowledge and on site observations.
• Where services identified in work area a permit to dig required.