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Contractors should exercise extreme caution when working in the vicinity of underground cables, using safe working practices such as digging trial holes and digging by hand to avoid any damage to or alteration of the location of the cable.

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Safety Guidelines

Before you start digging you should apply for network maps of the area that you are about to start working in.

Request a markup map

  • Always dig by hand and use cable tracing equipment when working close to underground electricity cables.
  • Cables or pipes may be embedded in concrete. Before breaking concrete you MUST contact us so we can make the cables ‘dead’ or find another safe way of working.
  • Some services can be easily identified as they are protected by concrete, polythene or earthenware tiles or a marker tape. There are also many services that have no tiles, tapes or physical indicator of their presence on site.


Always Think Before You Dig

View our short safety video on the dangers of digging near underground cables and download our contractor safety advice on working in the vicinity of underground electrical cables.

Tippers & Mobile Plant

Find out more important safety guidelines when operating tippers and mobile plant.

Tippers & Mobile Plant