THE DEPARTMENT of Mines and Petroleum has issued an official safety warning on excavating near cables buried in the ground.
The authority says that three recent incidents involving excavator buckets contacting buried electrical cables at mineral treatment plants raise obvious concern and serve to remind responsible persons of their obligations to safeguard against this hazard. One incident involved a “bobcat” doing regular clean-up, and the others involved larger machines excavating new cable trenches.
The Department says that risk assessments to identify the hazards and necessary controls had not been conducted. An established “excavation permit” system of work was either not in place or not adhered to. Also, plans showing the locations of buried services had not been updated.
The group recommends that prior to commencing any excavation work deeper than 300mm, always consider the potential for impacting buried services (risk assessment). “Excavation permit” procedures must be established and maintained at all mine sites in accordance with Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 5.13 and 5.31.
Most importantly, employers have a duty to ensure all employees involved in excavation work have been properly trained and assessed in the system of work, and records of that training and assessment are maintained.
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