Buried Services Safety

8/19/2019 Buried Services Safety

1/16

BURIED SERVICES SAFETYPRECAUTIONS

1


2/16

2

Safety & Welfare Arrangements

• Fire Alarm

Exits

Assembly point

• WelfareBreaks

Toilets

Please turn off

Mobile Phone Ring Tones


3/16

OBJECTIVE

This procedure defines the requirements for the developmentof a safe system of work to minimise the risk arising fromdamage to and danger from buried services.

To explain procedure for identifying the underground serviceswith the help of cable detector (CAT: Cable avoidance tool)

3


4/16

DEFINITION

CAT scanner: A person who has been trained in the use of aCable Avoidance Tool (CAT), assessed ascompetent and certificated. 4

Responsible Person The person who has the responsibility to ensurethat actions on site meet the requirements laid

down within this procedure. e.g. SiteManager/Supervisor.

Buried Services: The term “buried service(s)” means allunderground electricity, gas, water (includingpiped sewage), signalling andtelecommunications cables, ducts and conduits.They may be live, dormant or disused. The termalso includes these items laid on the surface but

have become partially obscured by ballast,vegetation, etc. It does not include undergroundstructures such as brick sewers, railway tunnels,etc but does include services buried in structurese.g. walls, columns.


5/16

Indian Railway and utilitycompanies have a duty tomaintain records of undergroundservices and plans, and to makesuch information available to anenquirer. The supply of a buried

service search helps toconsiderably reduce the risk of aburied service strike incident.

5

Buried Services along the track


6/16

A buried services search must be requested from the Indian RailRepresentative before commencing work on site.

Charted and uncharted utility identification process for work area to be

jointly verified in presence of an Engineer

This request is to be approved by the responsible person prior to sending

to Indian Rail to ensure that the worksite has been accurately identified.

Where a buried services search has been provided within the contract

documents, responsible person must verify that the search covers the full

extent of ground disturbance works within the project.

If the buried services search is not sufficient, or the scope of works

changes, there must be an additional request, noting the timescales.

6

Procedure for identify the buried services


7/16

7

Hazards from bu r ied services

Utility services below the ground include Indian

railway signal cables, gas, water and drainage

pipes; electricity and telecommunications cables;high pressure fuel and gas pipelines.

Damage to Indian railway signal cables while

excavation work may lead to failure of signal

system of railways and stop the movement of

running trains on track which is against law to

disturb the schedule of railways.

Lifting equipment, excavators,

tipping lorries, or

scaffolding tubes

accidentally disturbing or

striking live underground

cables is a commondanger during

excavations.

Such incidents may result in

severe burns to hands,

face and body or even

death, due to the

explosive arcing current at

the point of contact, or the

fire which may follow


8/16

8

Electr ic i ty cables

Injuries are usually caused by the explosive effects of

arcing current, and by any associated fire or flames

which may result, when a live cable is penetrated by

a sharp object such as the point of a tool. Such

effects can also occur when a cable is crushed

severely enough to cause internal contact between

the conductors or between metallic sheathing and

one or more conductors

Gas pipes

Damage to gas pipes can cause leaks which may lead

to fire or explosion and people being overcome byfumes. There are two types of damage:

that which causes an immediate leak;

that which causes a leak some time later, the damage

may occur at the time the work is carried out or

subsequently: for example poor reinstatement may

leave a pipe inadequately supported or subject to

unequal forces.

Signal cables

Indian railway signal cables are most important system

of smooth & safe running of trains on track as perschedule. The disturbance to these cables will affect

operation of trains which is very serious offense.

Types of Underground utility


9/16

9

Water p ipes and sewers

Damage to water mains can result in the

excavation being flooded, but is less likely to

result in injury. However, water ejected from a

water main can contain stones or other hardobjects ejected from the ground around the

pipe

Leaks of water from underground pipes

can affect adjacent buried services and

reduce support for other structures

Hazardous pipel ines

The danger arising from damage to otherpipelines depends on the nature of the

conveyed fluid. Fluids and their associated

dangers include:

flammable liquids and gases - risk of fire and

explosion;

all fluids at elevated pressure - risk of injury

from sudden release of contents;toxic liquids and gases - risk of poisoning;

Types of Underground utility


10/16

10

Site surveys for identification of utility

Visual surveys

A visual inspection of the site and the surrounding area

shall be carried out after receiving the buried services

information.

The survey should identify any evidence on the site of

buried services not identified in the buried services

records, and to check for evidence that will confirm the

location of the buried services that were identified.

The visual inspection shall always check for the existence

of signalling and telecoms cables as the records of these

often exist only in schematic form, and schematic

drawings are not provided as part of a records search.

Assume that buried services do not necessarily follow

straight lines and are not always at a constant depth

below ground level.

Cable avoidance tool (CAT) sc annin g

CAT scanning is a mandatory requirement in connection

with the identification of buried services. CAT scanning

should be carried out as close as possible to workcommencing on site but preferably not just before work

starts.

It is recommended that it should not be more than 14

days in advance.

Marking the position of

buried services

A person should be

nominated to mark the

positions of the cables andpipes on the ground, over

the full extent of the site.

Areas should be marked on

either side of the location

with chalk or paint.


11/16

11

Know the C.A.T (Cable AvoidanceTool)


12/16

12

Identification of Utility:If signal on screen showing increasing barsand it reaches its maximum level then it is thelocation of underground cable. When youmove forward signal again starts decreasingand the bars in screen too as you are goingaway from underground service.

Direction of Cable:After getting signalof cable twist CATin 360 ‘ ; when youget the maximumsignal bars onscreen then cableis exactlyperpendicular to

the equipmentdirection

Signal Screen of CAT


13/16

13

Then sweep across the width of the excavation site, moving up thelength. If using a Genny in induction mode, position the Genny as

shown. If a cable or pipe is located, first establish the direction of thecable or pipe, then trace it across the area to be excavated,marking if required. Then resume sweeping over the excavation site.

Cable identification using locator by sweepingover work area


14/16

14

Depth Identification of UtilityServices


15/16

15

Permit to Earth Excavation/Boring clearancepermit

Permit to Earth

Excavation/Boring clearancepermit to be taken from respective issuing authority ateach work site whereexcavation work to be donealong side of Indian railway

track.Evidence of permits should bekept and record forverification at any time duringwork/after completion ofwork


16/16

Thank You for your

attention

Any

Questions???

“Let’s go and build a railway

together……safely!!”

16

Documents

Buried Services Safety