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HIDDEN ELECTRICITY CABLE

THINK...

THE DANGERIn 2015/16 over 70,000 trades people suffered injuries at work. This often results in taking time off and losing money. How would this effect you and your family? When you work on jobs, are you aware of the electricity cables hidden behind those walls? Do you know what is buried under your feet? Have you seen the wires above your head? Anyone working close to live cables should take time to read this simple safety leaflet and identify the precautions they should be taking.

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, it is an offence to conduct operations without due care and attention. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, sets out safe working practices for people who carry out work on or near electrical equipment.

WHO IS AT RISK?YOU ARE!People in construction, demolition, trades bodies (plumbers, electricians, heating and gas engineers, renewable energy installers), DIY, landscapers, fencing or driveway contractors or anyone who may work near electricity cables.

Remember, it doesn’t always happen to someone else. Workers in skilled trades occupations have statistically higher rates of injury compared to other occupations. Don’t take the risk.

You could be killed instantly or suffer terrible life changing burns if you come into contact with electricity.

THINK...It’s a sad fact that injuries caused by contact with electricity cables and services are not uncommon.

Touching anything that is in contact with electrical equipment, even the lowest of voltages, can be fatal as electricity can jump gaps.

Whether you’re working inside or outside, you must identify where the electricity service cables are located.

Service cables are not always visible. They can be hidden or out of sight:

• Buried underground • Painted over• Under floorboards • In ceilings• Entering houses at roof level • Behind cladding• Behind cavity walls

HOW ACCIDENTS HAPPEN

Service cable hidden behind cavity wall.

Service cable exposed and visible.

Contact our free advice service Get the basics right. Plan it out and obtain relevant cable plans from UK Power Networks. The cable plans will only show the indicative route and not the route into the property. Ensure they are shown to and understood by those on site BEFORE starting work. Confirm the cable location by using a cable avoidance tool.

For free maps and advice call 0800 31 63 105 or write to:Plan Provision and Cable Watch TeamUK Power Networks, Fore Hamlet, Ipswich, IP3 8AAplans@ukpowernetworks.co.uk

UK Power Networks is committed to safety and actively encourages anyone undertaking work to contact us in advance for advice and free cable locating maps. We can adviseyou on what steps to take if essential work is necessary close to underground or overhead cables and can help ensure safe working practices are implemented.

TAKING THE RIGHT STEPSDo you know what is hidden behind the walls or buried under your feet?

• Complete a risk assessment and ensure it covers electrical hazards.• Identify if the electricity service cable is connected to the property via underground or overhead cables.• Look around for anything in the vicinity that would have an electricity service such as street lights, CCTV cameras, meter box. Identify where the cables are. • Look for electrical wires, cables and equipment near to where you are going to work and check for warning signs and any other hazards.• Identify where it is safe to work. Put up danger notices where there are still live electrical circuits• Make sure everyone who is working at the site is aware of the presence and location of electrical cables.• Include the national powercut and emergencies telephone number 105 in your list of telephone contacts.

THINK AHEAD

Locating and identifying buried or hidden services and cables

REMEMBER• Overhead low voltage service cables can enter properties at roof height and run under the floorboards or in the ceiling.• The depth and location of cables and services shown on the maps may have changed because of subsequent site alterations: • Be aware that not all cables or services may be shown on the records;• Cables do not always run in straight lines. Underground cables may be deflected around underground obstacles and can change depth; cables in cavity walls do not always run vertically.• Wear Personal Protective Equipment. Although this should not be relied on to provide protection from an electric shock or electrocution.

Cable Avoidance Tool A cable avoidance tool (CAT) provides information on the position of the cables. They must be used in conjunction with cable and other utility records (where provided). Buried cables all have to comply with HSG47 service avoidance.

Cable DetectorA hand held cable detector is for internal use only and designed to detect ac voltages, studs and metal.

Service cable painted over.

Low voltage over head service cable entering a roof. These may run within ceilings or floorboards in the house.

• If you damage a cable, stay calm, keep clear and call for help.

• Call the emergency services if anyone is injured or there is a fire. Anyone who has received an electric shock should go to hospital as damage may have occurred to the heart.

• Always treat the cable(s) as live even if they are not sparking. Cables can be re-energised at any time without warning.

• Never remove anything that is stuck or in contact with the cable.

• Keep everyone well away from the area of damage.

WHAT TO DO INAN EMERGENCY

If a main service cable is damaged STOP WORK IMMEDIATELY and Notify UK Power Networks:Dial 105 or 0800 056 105

For a free safety ‘Think before you dig’ sticker and other safety resources visit: www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/safety

The following safe working guidelines can be found at www.hse.gov.uk:

Electricity at Work – Safe Working Practices HSG85 Avoiding Danger from Overhead Power Lines GS6Avoiding Danger from Underground Services HSG47

Working in a shop basement, the contractor drilled through a false wall into the property’s service cable. Burns were received to the hands and face as well as loss of income due to time off work.

DANGEROF DEATHWORK SAFESTAY SAFEGO HOME SAFE

Whether you are digging, drilling, erecting scaffolding or driving a large vehicle, UK Power Networks has a suite of safety leaflets to suit all trades and work.

Visit UK Power Networks safety pages to download your free safety leafletswww.ukpowernetworks.co.uk.co.uk/safety

Contact our general enquiries team:

0800 029 4285(9am to 5pm Monday - Friday)

UK Power NetworksRegistered office: Newington House, 237 Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 6NPRegistered number: 7290590 registered in England and Wales

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USEFUL NUMBERSEmergency and Power Cut: 105 or 0800 056 105Free cable maps and advice: 0800 31 63 105