Working Near AusGrid Cables

Working near
Ausgrid cables
Finding out what ’s below the surface can save your life.
Contact Before You Dig Australia @ www.byda.com.au or call 1100
For Official use only

Changes in the Law.
NSW legislation now requires people who are planning to do excavation work to obtain copies of underground electricity
cable plans through Before You Dig Australia (Phone 1100) and to make sure that the plans are no more than 30 days old
when excavation commences.
The aim of the legislation is to ensure that when workers dig near electricity cables, they will establish the exact location
of the cables and thus avoid coming into contact with them or damaging them. This will ensure worker safety and also
prevent disruption to Ausgrid’s electricity network.
This brochure gives you a brief overview of how to prepare for excavation works near or around electricity cables. It is
important that you also consult our guide How to Read Ausgrid Plans and make sure that workers engaged in excavation
works fully understand how to read the plan. If the people actually doing the digging can’t read the plans, it is essential
that the work is directed by a person who has been trained to read Ausgrid’s plans.
You must also consult Ausgrid’s Network Standard NS156, which contains comprehensive information concerning all
the issues that arise when excavating near underground cables (such as safety hazards from asbestos conduits and
organochlorine pesticides).
Excavating near transmission cables.

If any cable plan you receive says “You are working near transmission cables” it is compulsory to notify Ausgrid two
weeks before work is scheduled to begin. Ausgrid will then arrange for an Ausgrid representative to attend the site during
excavation work.
Phone the Ausgrid Transmission enquiries line on (02) 4951 9200 to arrange for an Ausgrid representative in your region.

Be prepared. Wise words for safety at work.
Here are some simple precautions you and your workers need to follow to be as safe as possible.
• Make sure that your Before You Dig Australia (BYDA) plan is less than 30 days old
• Keep a copy of the cable plan on site at all times
• Make sure the excavation work is conducted or directed by staff who are trained to read the plan
• Hand dig until the exact location of the cable has been established
• Have on site at all times a first aid kit and a person trained in resuscitation
• Wear protective clothing, including safety footwear and safety helmet
• Have emergency contact numbers on site
• Set up safety barriers, witches hats and warning lights to reduce the risk of injury to the general public
• Comply with all SafeWork NSW requirements and codes.
See also:
• SafeWork NSW Guidelines: Work Near Underground Assets

• SafeWork NSW Code of Practice: Excavation Work
• SafeWork NSW Code of Practice: Work Near Overhead Powerlines (if applicable).
Before you start. Complete the checklist. Stop and look around.
Before you start excavating, consult the flow chart and fill in the checklist at the end of this brochure.
Then, be sure to look for clues where cables might be located on the site: for example, pits, distribution pillars
(green and other colours), cables attached to the side of poles, street lights without overhead wires.

Do all power cables look the same?
No. Power cables come in different sizes, colours and coverings. They may be covered in black plastic sheath,
steel wires in a sticky bitumen like material, or even a simple lead or steel wire/tape sheath.
What else should I look for below ground level?

Cables may also be buried in orange PVC or PE conduits or even in earthenware or steel pipes. A bank of cables
may be covered with electrical bricks, plastic warning markers or protective covers, or they may not be covered at
all. If they have been buried close to the surface, they may be covered by concrete slabs or steel plates.
When in doubt, ask Ausgrid.

If you have any questions about excavating near Ausgrid cables, read NS156 (available at ausgrid.com.au).
For further information call 13 13 65.
You’ve taken every precaution, but accidents still happen. What now?
If you damage an electricity cable, it is compulsory to notify Ausgrid on 13 13 88.
Striking power cables can cause serious damage to the cables and endanger the lives of anyone who comes in
contact with them. Machinery and hand operated plant such as jack hammers can become alive if it is in contact
with electrical cables or equipment. Keep people well away from machinery and the work site if contact is made
with a cable.

Flow Chart for work near Ausgrid Cables
START
Read and complete the checklist on

the last page of this brochure
Before commencing underground work Contact Before You Dig Australia

have you contacted BYDA and identified Phone - 1100
NO
any Assets
Note: Ausgrid plans valid for 30 days www.byda.com.au
yes
Are you working in the vicinity of

underground cables? NO
BEGIN WORKS
YES
All works must comply with NS156

Please read prior to commencing
work
Ausgrid Representative required.

Are transmission cables in the YES Contact Ausgrid 2 weeks Prior to
vicinity of the work site? work onsite (02) 49519200
NO
Will boring or explosives be used YES Contact Ausgrid BYDA 2 weeks

prior to work onsite (02) 49510899
NO
Works in an area other than Please contact relevant Roads

YES
public street? Authority and Police Department
to obtain their requirements
NO
Ensure easement/cable route is

identified and cable location marked
accurately
Ensure a copy of Ausgrid plans are on site

and persons involved in excavation or
boring works are aware of necessary
precautions
BEGIN WORKS

Ausgrid Checklist for work near or around underground cables
It is the responsibility of the Constructor to ensure that underground pits, ducts and cables are not damaged as a result of
construction work. It is also your duty to protect your workers from harm or injury. This Checklist is intended to be used as a guide
to what Constructors should do to make sure they have satisfied the minimum requirements to minimise damage to underground
networks.
PLANS, LOCATION and NOTIFICATIONS Completed

All relevant utilities plans obtained from Before You Dig Australia? (call 1100 – allow at least 5 working days for plans).
Checked issue date on all the above plans to ensure issue was within the last 30 days?
Examined plans and assessed all possible impacts on Ausgrid’s network?
Do you have both Underground Distribution and Transmission Plans (if applicable), on site at all times?
All cables and conduits shown on the Ausgrid plans been located and marked on the ground?
If you are planning to use a bore, have you ensured that the equipment is calibrated?
Have you read and understood the requirements of NS 156?

(For copies of NS 156 visit Ausgrid’s Website or phone Ausgrid BYDA Office (02) 4951 0899)
www.ausgrid.com.au
Have you notified Ausgrid as specified by NS 0156 and complied with requirements?
Where an Ausgrid representative is required, two weeks notice is required before work commencing on site.
Contact phone number for Transmission cable enquiries is (02) 4951 9200. For all other cases contact Ausgrid
BYDA Office: (02) 4951 0899.
INSPECTION OF WORK BY Ausgrid’s REPRESENTATIVE

Is the Ausgrid representative on site for any work near or around* any transmission cable before you start?
(*Refer to NS 156.)
For proposed work near or around* cables other than transmission and/or conduits, are any requirements specified by
Ausgrid’s representative clearly understood and ready to be applied before you start the work? (*Refer to NS 156.)
PROTECTION
Check that all people on-site have been made aware of the presence and location of ALL Ausgrid underground cables
and/or conduits; especially boring, drilling and trenching machine operators?
Is there any asbestos or asbestos containing material in Ausgrid’s underground network assets?
Have you checked for the presence of any Organo-Chloride Pesticides (OCP) in transmission trenches?
Is the site supervisor monitoring all machine operators working near or around Ausgrid’s underground cables and/or
conduits?
Are the requirements specified by Ausgrid’s representative being followed?
Are Ausgrid’s requirements in place for any exposed cables and/or conduits to be supported and protected?
Have you marked all exposed underground cables and/or conduits with flags that are clearly visible from within all
machinery used on-site?
Have safety barriers, fencing or para-webbing been erected to protect staff and the public as well underground cables and/or
conduits in areas that are at risk?
Have safety barriers, fencing or para-webbing been erected to protect staff and the public as well underground cables and/
conduits in areas that are at risk?
In the event of DAMAGE to Ausgrid’s cable or conduits, call 13 13 88 immediately.

PROCEED with CAUTION
It is your responsibility to protect Ausgrid’s cables and conduits from damage and your Duty of Care to protect your workers
from harm or injury.
Signed: Date: / /
Responsible person on site
For more information call 13 13 65 or visit www.ausgrid.com.au

Working Near AusGrid Cables

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Working near

For Official use only

Excavating near transmission cables.

For Official use only

• SafeWork NSW Guidelines: Work Near Underground Assets

For Official use only

What else should I look for below ground level?

When in doubt, ask Ausgrid.

For Official use only

Read and complete the checklist on

Before commencing underground work Contact Before You Dig Australia

Are you working in the vicinity of

All works must comply with NS156

Ausgrid Representative required.

Will boring or explosives be used YES Contact Ausgrid BYDA 2 weeks

Works in an area other than Please contact relevant Roads

Ensure easement/cable route is

Ensure a copy of Ausgrid plans are on site

For Official use only

PLANS, LOCATION and NOTIFICATIONS Completed

Have you read and understood the requirements of NS 156?

INSPECTION OF WORK BY Ausgrid’s REPRESENTATIVE

In the event of DAMAGE to Ausgrid’s cable or conduits, call 13 13 88 immediately.

For more information call 13 13 65 or visit www.ausgrid.com.au

For Official use only

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