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Anyone who works near underground services should be properly trained

in safety precautions related to hazards & safe work practice in

excavations. This information is usefully supplement to Excavation

hazards & control Measure as captured in JSA.

Translator required for non-English speaking workers.

1) Underground services, particularly electricity, telecommunication water andirrigation water line, can be dangerous. Damage to electricity cables can cause a

flash, leading to severe burns or even death.

2) Accidents have happened because people have mistaken one service foranother, Check before you act.

3) Report any damage to a cable, pipe or pipe coating. Even if there is noimmediate danger; damage could cause danger at a later date. Do not attempt

repairs.

4) Work should not be undertaken in the vicinity of a damaged cable until theRasGas has investigated its condition;

5) Exposed cable more than I m and they cross a trench, support should beprovided. Where advice and help is needed to do this, the cable owner should be

6) If the exposed cable length is shorter than 1 m, support should still need to beprovided cable is vulnerable to damage.

7) Suitable precautions should be taken to prevent damage from ongoing work inthe excavation.

8) This may involve for example the use of physical means (e.g. timber boards,sandbags etc.) to prevent mechanical damage. Cables should not be moved

aside unless the operation is supervised by the cable RasGas

9) Materials or equipment which could damage or penetrate the outer sheath of thecable should not be used.

10) Damage to the services can result from excavation or penetration of the ground.Underground services may be found in garden, footpaths and almost anywhere

on sites.

11) Always assume that they are present. Treat all services as LIVE, despite theirapparent physical condition.

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Before starting work

12) Make sure you have all the required documentations e.g. drawing, scanningreports of the underground services in the area. Remember that some

underground may not be shown.

13) Permit Holder with guidance of Electrical Supervisor must refer to cable- andpipe-locator report (attached to PTW) to identify electricity cables, water pipes,

telecommunications cable or other services.

14) Permit Holder should have been trained how to do this. If in doubt, or if youhave any difficulty, ask your RasGas Supervisor for advice.

15) Mark the positions of the cables and pipes using paint or other waterproofmarking on the ground.

16) Clearly mark 500 mm distance from the exposed cable or underground cableknown to present where mechanical excavator must not involve in any

excavation.

17) Hand dig trial holes (as many as necessary) to confirm the position of services inthe area of your work. This is particularly important if there are irrigation pvc or

plastic pipes, which cannot be found using a locator

When you start work

18) Wherever possible, hand dig near buried services. Spades and shovels are saferthan picks, pins or forks.

19) Check that any cable which is embedded in concrete and has to be broken outhas been made dead before work starts, or that another safe way of working

has been agreed with the cable owner (Consult RasGas Supervisor of Safety

Officer).

20) Watch out for signs of services as work continues. Repeat checks with the cable-and pipe locator as the excavation progresses.

21) Backfill around services with a fine material. Do NOT use flints, bricks, massconcrete or similar material.

22) Do not use hand-held power tools within 500 mm of the marked position of anelectricity cable (if the number of services present or surface obstructions makes

this impossible seek further advice from RasGas Supervisor).

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23) Do not use hand-held power tools directly over the marked line of a cableunless: you have already found the cable at that position by careful hand

digging beneath the surface and it is at a safe depth (at least 300 mm) below

the bottom of the surface to be broken; or physical means have been used to

prevent the tool striking it.

24) Do not use a mechanical excavator within 500 mm of a known or exposedunderground service.

25) If an excavator is used near this 500 mm radious of known or exposedelectricity cable keep everyone clear of the bucket while it is digging.

26) Do not use exposed services as a convenient step or handhold.27) Do not handle or attempt to alter the position of an exposed service.28) No planting of any tress close to an existing service, even as per approved

drawing. Ask your supervisor to tell you what the separation should be.

29) Do not uses concrete for protect underground service.