Working Near Utilities Safety

Aim: Managing the risk of working near overhead, above-ground or underground utilities (electricity, gas,
water, sewerage and telecommunications

Working Near Live Utilities – 27 June 2020 2

 Steps to avoid utility incident.

1) Obtain utilities drawings/layout and important guidelines from relevant authorities.

2) Survey work to be done and utilities to be clearly marked and identified.
3) Suitable barrier and signage to be put in place.
4) Coordinate with the authorities, if utilities/ cables are not found or there is some
deviations/discrepancies with the design/drawings.
5) Approved Method Statement and Risk Assessment to be in place and briefed to all the workforce
prior to commencing the work.
6) Safe system of work (permit system) to be strictly followed.
7) Guidelines from the relevant authorities and statutory requirements to be strictly followed and
implemented as applicable.
Note:- In case of any doubt please CALL concern Authority immediately and /or JV stakeholder team.

Working Near Live Utilities – 27 June 2020 3

Lesson leant from utility incidents.

Working Near Live Utilities – 27 June 2020 4

Lesson leant from utility incidents.

Working Near Live Utilities – 27 June 2020 5

 Identifying Utilities

The presence of above-ground, overhead and underground utilities near roads and footways is widespread,
and it should be assumed that these services will be present at worksites unless proven otherwise.
Work should be designed and planned to avoid utilities wherever possible, or to manage the risk associated
with them.

At the planning stage, identify the presence of all underground, above-ground or overhead utilities or services,
including redundant or disused services at the intended site using:
• Dial Before You Dig
• Site surveys (including of underground cable or utility locations)
• Checks with all utility providers.

The location, clearance distance, alignments and other relevant information relating to identified services must
be shown on utilities drawings for the work before work begins on the site.

Working Near Live Utilities – 27 June 2020 6

Assets we may encounter from:

1) ADDC
2) Transco
3) ADNOC
4) ADSSC
5) ADM
6) Etisalat
7) Du
8) Dolphin
9) Military cables
10) Irrigation networks
11) Etc.…..

Working Near Live Utilities – 27 June 2020 7

Compliance Requirements

Working Near Live Utilities – 27 June 2020 8

ADDC Requirements

Working Near Live Utilities – 27 June 2020 9

Prior Commencing Work Activity

Work activity to be commenced

only after complying with below
requirements
• NOC & Permits
• Competent Person approved by authorities
• Approved MS/RA
• Readiness Review With Jacobs
• Safety inducted personnel
• Adequate welfare arrangements (Including
Firefighting & first aid arrangements)
• Inspected Plant & Equipment
• Colour Coding Requirements
• Mandatory Personal Protective Equipment
• STARRT Briefing - Daily

Working Near Live Utilities – 27 June 2020 10

Working Near Underground Services

Working Near Live Utilities – 27 June 2020 11

Working Near Underground Services (Utility Marking)

Working Near Live Utilities – 27 June 2020 12

Safe Digging Practices

Where an excavation is carried out near cables, the work must be conducted in a way that prevents damage to
the pipes or cables.
➢ Manual tools must be used near a pipe or cable:
▪ Spades and shovels with non-conductive handles should be used rather than other tools
▪ Star pickets and hand tools, particularly picks, should not be driven forcefully into the ground. They should
be eased in with gentle pressure
▪ Picks, pins or forks should be used with great care and only when it is necessary to free lumps of stone or to
break up hard layers of ground
▪ Picks should not be used in soft clay or other soft soils near underground services.

➢ Digging must be done alongside the service rather than above it

➢ Continued observation of service-locaters must be made to pinpoint the services as the digging proceeds
➢ Any indication of the presence of services must be noted (eg marker tapes, marker tiles)
➢ Final exposure of the service, if required, must be done: − Carefully by removing the spoil
▪ Using manual methods
▪ Digging in a horizontal, rather than a vertical, direction.

Working Near Live Utilities – 27 June 2020 13

Working Near Overhead lines

Working Near Live Utilities – 27 June 2020 14

Working Near Overhead lines

Working Near Live Utilities – 27 June 2020 15

Working near OHL

Working Near Live Utilities – 27 June 2020 16

Working Near OHL

Working Near Live Utilities – 27 June 2020 17

Upon Work Completion

Working Near Live Utilities – 27 June 2020 18

 Emergency Plan
First aid
➢ Do not move a casualty unless they are in direct danger.
➢ Take care not to touch exposed cables or tools and equipment which
could be live.
➢ Any electrical burn or electric shock injury must be given medical
attention however minor it may seem.
➢ Call an ambulance if necessary.
Gas strikes
➢ Call emergency number 999.
➢ Evacuate workers and others to a safe distance.
➢ Warn local residents and businesses.
➢ No smoking or naked flames.
➢ Keep vehicles and members of the public away from the area.
➢ Warn service users if a service connection has been disturbed as this
may result in a leak within the building.
➢ Co-operate with and assist gas supply company, police and fire
authority.
All strikes
➢ Do not attempt repairs.
➢ Inform utility supplier/service owner as soon as possible.
➢ Report all damage, even if leaks or loss of power are not evident.
➢ Inform service users.
➢ Inform owners of adjacent services if there is a risk of gas or water
ingress or contamination.
➢ Keep members of the public away and post warning signs.
Electric cable strikes
➢ Avoid all contact.
➢ Do not try to disentangle cables from excavator buckets.
➢ Do not attempt to leave the excavator involved unless assured that
the cable is no longer live.
➢ Evacuate workers and others to a safe distance.
➢ Keep vehicles and members of the public away from the area.
➢ Contact service owner and emergency services as appropriate.
➢ Co-operate with and assist cable owner and emergency services
Working Near Live Utilities – 27 June 2020 19
Any Question?

Working Near Live Utilities – 27 June 2020 20