USAG Video Resources
Linewatch - Hazardous Pipelines Safety Videos
Linewatch is an organisation of high-pressure oil and gas pipeline operators acting to raise awareness of our networks existence and encourage safe working practices when planning and undertaking work around them.
A list of Linewatch members and their associated information can be found here.
Playlist
SGN - Working Near High Pressure Pipelines
With tens of thousands of kilometres of high-pressure gas pipelines operating around the country, these are a critical part of the UK’s national infrastructure which keep the country running. It is inevitable that work will need to be carried out near them at times.
Pipeline owner SGN has put together a video demonstrating the most common cause of incidents involving their gas network is damaged by others. There’s a risk of damage whenever land, such as farming land, is disturbed. This includes excavation, ditching, drainage work, fence installation or anything else within the proximity to the pipelines. Not only is damaging a pipeline illegal, but the consequences can be catastrophic.
This video is applicable to all gas network owners although the method of contact will be different., Always use LinesearchbeforeUdig when planning and before starting works to ensure you find out if there are any high-pressure pipelines in your area of works.
Think Before You Dig - Energy Networks Association safety video
- In the last five years, 354 people have suffered life-changing injuries after striking a live underground electricity cable
- Construction workers were identified as an extreme risk with 4 out of 5 reported incidents involving a tradesperson
- Research reveals nearly a third (31%) of tradespeople do not always check for underground cables
- Incidents of cable strikes have increased by 46% since the national lockdown ended
Since 2015, an average of 70 people a year are seriously injured as a result of contact with underground electricity cables. Nearly half of all cases (47%) were reported on public highways, construction sites and industrial buildings making tradespeople at extreme risk of serious injury in the workplace.
When surveyed, 93% of construction workers and industry professionals believe they always dig safely, yet almost a third (31%) admitted to not always checking for underground electricity cables before beginning work. Despite the threat to life, the main reasons tradespeople fail to check for underground electricity cables is because they don’t believe it’s their responsibility (15%), or they don’t think they’ll dig deep enough to hit anything (24%). Underground services can be found and disturbed during street works, road works, excavations, drilling and piling, demolition and site remediation, site investigations and any other work that involves penetrating the ground. These cables can run at any depth below surface level and carry voltages ranging from 230 volts (domestic voltage) and upwards.
Worryingly, almost one in six (15%) say if they uncovered an underground electricity cable encased in concrete, they would attempt to break them out, which could put them at immediate risk of life-threatening injuries. This failure to check for underground services during these excavations has led to a 20-30% increase in incidents across the UK. These strikes to cables and pipes can lead to a significant risk to those working on the affected sites.
To help prevent the number of fatalities and injuries amongst tradespeople, ENA has launched a new emotive safety film, urging those working in construction to ‘Think Before You Dig’. The thought-provoking film showcases the dangers of working near underground electricity cables, following the story of a construction worker and the devastating emotional and physical impact an accident can have.
Energy Networks Association - Dial Before You Dig safety video with Ground Force star Tommy Walsh
A-one + - A Hidden Danger safety video provided by Highways England contractor partner
Underground cables are a hidden danger, watch this short safety film to find out why what could happen if you don’t follow the risk assessments put in place to protect you.
Energy Networks Association - The Accident
Wales and West Utilities - Can You Dig It
AMEY Utilities - Know What's Below
UK Power Networks - Be Bright/Stay Safe
Blu-3 are a world class, fully integrated infrastructure provider delivering expertise to the UK and Europe’s largest construction projects.
Here is a video from their YouTube channel about digging safely and why avoiding Utility services that are active are so important.
