Excavation Safety: Preventing Utility Strikes
The Problem
Excavation work presents serious risks—striking underground utilities is one of the most dangerous. Hitting gas, electrical, water, or telecommunications lines can result in injury, death, environmental harm, or major service disruptions. Today, we’ll identify these hazards and outline practical solutions to prevent utility strikes and keep everyone on site safe.
Identify the Hazards
- Striking Buried Utilities: Making contact with live services can cause electric shock, gas leaks, flooding, or data loss.
- Tolerance Zone Damage: Excavating too close to marked services can rupture or damage underground assets.
- Collapsing Exposed Utilities: Once uncovered, unsupported utility lines can sag or collapse under their own weight.
- Heavy Machinery Damage: Using mechanical diggers near utilities without proper clearance increases the risk of damage.
- Unreported Utility Damage: Even minor damage (e.g., scratched insulation) can become a serious safety risk if left unreported.
- Backfilling Risks: Improper backfilling can crush or stress exposed utilities, causing failure.
Safety Practices and Preventative Measures
1. Pre-Digging: Mark All Utilities
Solution: Always request utility location services before excavation begins. In Canada, contact your local “Call or Click Before You Dig” service (e.g., Ontario One Call, BC 1 Call, Info-Excavation in Quebec).
- Allow at least 2–3 working days for utilities to be located and marked.
- Colour-coded markers (flags, spray paint, or stakes) identify different services.
- Do not begin digging until you have verified all markings on site.
2. Tolerance Zones and Hand Digging
Solution: When working within 1 metre of a marked utility (varies by province), use hand digging or vacuum excavation to avoid striking the service.
- Always follow provincial utility location guidelines.
- Consult the Competent Person for site-specific tolerances.
- Never assume the depth or position of a buried service—expose it carefully before proceeding.
3. Supporting Exposed Utility Lines
Solution: Use timber or non-conductive supports to prevent sagging or damage to exposed utilities.
- Support the utility line with suitable materials and tie it securely without creating strain.
- Confirm all support methods with the Competent Person before continuing work.
4. Caution When Digging Near Utilities
Solution: Reduce risk by slowing down and taking extra care when working near marked services.
- Avoid sudden or forceful digging.
- Lower mechanical equipment settings when digging near known utilities.
5. Reporting Utility Damage
Solution: All utility strikes or suspected damage must be reported immediately—even if it seems minor.
- Notify the Supervisor or Competent Person.
- Stop work and evacuate the area if the damage involves gas or electricity.
6. Caution When Backfilling
Solution: Protect exposed utilities during backfilling:
- First, place firm soil beneath the utility to provide full support.
- Then, backfill gently and in layers, compacting carefully to avoid stressing the line.
Real-Life Case or Scenario
A crew failed to submit a utility locate request before starting excavation. Within minutes, the bucket of an excavator punctured a gas main, leading to an emergency evacuation. Authorities shut the site down for several days, and the repair costs were substantial. This incident could have been prevented with a single phone call to a “Call Before You Dig” service and proper planning.
Employee Responsibilities
- Always request utility locates through your local “Call or Click Before You Dig” service before beginning excavation.
- Use hand digging or non-destructive methods within tolerance zones.
- Immediately report any signs of damage—don’t assume it’s minor.
- Take care during backfilling and when working near marked lines.
Employer Responsibilities
- Provide training on safe excavation practices and utility strike prevention.
- Ensure all utility locations are completed and marked before work begins.
- Provide guidance on safe working distances and tolerance zones.
‚Äç - Assign a Competent Person to manage utility risk and approve work near live services.
Discussion & Questions
- Has anyone here had a near-miss or strike with a buried utility? What happened?
- What do you find most challenging about working near underground services?
Encourage everyone to share experiences and raise concerns—they help the whole team learn.
Commitment/Action Plan
Let’s commit to always checking for buried utilities before digging. From today on, we’ll ensure every excavation job begins with a utility locate request through the appropriate “Call Before You Dig” service. We’ll work with care around any marked services. If something doesn’t feel right—stop and report it.
Wrap-Up
Striking underground services is entirely preventable. By making smart choices—planning ahead, digging safely, and reporting issues early—we can prevent injuries, delays, and service outages. Let’s make safe digging standard practice on every site. Thanks for putting safety first.
Standards Overview
Under Canadian workplace health and safety legislation and CCOHS guidelines:
- Employers must identify and manage risks associated with excavation and buried services.
- All underground utilities must be located and clearly marked before excavation work begins—contact the local “Call or Click Before You Dig” service (e.g., Ontario One Call, BC 1 Call).
- Safe digging techniques, such as hand digging or vacuum excavation, must be used when working near identified utilities.
- Utility strike incidents must be reported immediately and investigated according to your company’s incident response procedure and applicable provincial requirements.
Disclaimer
“The information provided in this toolbox talk is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional legal, safety, or regulatory advice. The content reflects general best practices and industry standards but may not be applicable to all workplace environments or jurisdictions.
It is the responsibility of employers, supervisors, and workers to ensure compliance with applicable federal, provincial, and territorial laws, regulations, and standards, including but not limited to those set by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) and relevant provincial occupational health and safety authorities. Site App Pro, its affiliates, agents, or representatives—as well as the authors, presenters, and distributors of this toolbox talk—assume no liability for the use or application of the information provided.
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