New Zealand Institute of Highway Technology - NZIHT

Overview

LOCATION, IDENTIFICATION, EXPOSURE AND PROTECTION OF UNDERGROUND UTILITY SERVICES

Civil construction sites are inherently dangerous places of work.  Where excavations are present or where the work requires ground penetration, particularly by metal pegs, rods, stakes and the like, there is an immediate opportunity for potential conflict with existing utility services located underground. 

These conflicts have caused many seriously harmful and fatal accidents to workers, resulting in criminal prosecutions and financial penalties imposed by the courts on individual workers, employers and principals. The resulting disruption to services continues to cause considerable inconvenience and costs to affected service users such as ratepayers, commercial enterprises, hospital and emergency facilities.

Since 1 October 2000 Telecom charge commercial contractors for their previously free 124 cable tracing service - and they only find Telecom assets!  It is conceivable that other utility owners will also introduce charges for underground location services. 

This course incorporates the new OSH guide for Safety with Underground Services.  In addition, this course offers a systematic approach to location, identification and protection of underground utility services.

Length

1 day course.

Facilitator

Chris Shaw

Cost

$420.00 per person + GST

(Minimum numbers apply before a course is confirmed)

Topics include

• Establishing presence and status of services
• Locating, identifying, exposing and protecting underground utility services
• Reinstating utility services
• Updating of plans showing service location and depth, and production of as-built record drawings
• Safe operating procedures
• Follow up

On completion of this course participants will

Target Outcomes

• No damage of underground (or overhead) utility services
• No loss of services to the consumer
• No damage to property of the asset owner
• No harm to people, workforce or public
• No contract delays and associated costs due to disruptions to utility services
• No increases in insurance premiums due to claims made for damage to underground utility services

National Qualification information

This course will address theoretical and knowledge requirements related to the below unit standard. It will not cover assessment and practical requirements unless specifically stated under course costs.

• 6479 - Locate and identify services on civil construction sites

Who should attend

Employees and self employed: forepersons, supervisors, inspectors, safety officers and work team members engaged in operations which involve potential conflict with underground services, such as excavation, trenching, poling, piling and thrusting.  Principals, employers, and persons in charge of a place of work: Road Controlling Authorities, contractors/sub-contractors.