Cable strikes jump 20% since lockdown

Aaron Morby 3 years ago
Share

Power cable strikes have spiked since lockdown prompting the supply industry’s trade body to raise the alert in construction.

Since 2015, an average of 70 people a year were seriously injured in electricity cable strikes
Since 2015, an average of 70 people a year were seriously injured in electricity cable strikes

Underground powerline strikes from July to September alarmingly jumped 20% to 475 incidents compared with the same time last year.

The figures for Q3 are running 46% above the previous quarter (April – June 2020) total of 325.

It is not clear whether the surge has come from a rise in utility and roadworks or whether workers returning from furlough or shutdown are now neglecting basic safety procedures.

Research released today by the Energy Networks Association reveals 93% of construction workers believed 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 workers did not check for underground electricity cables was because they felt it was not their responsibility (15%), or they would not dig deep enough to hit anything (24%).

Worryingly, almost one in six said 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.

To hammer the safety message home the ENA has released new emotive safety film, urging people to ‘Think Before You Dig’

Peter Vujanic, Chair of ENA’s Public Safety Committee said: “It’s extremely concerning to hear that even though construction workers are one of the most-at-risk groups of injury involving underground electricity cables, more than one in four fail to check for cables before beginning work.

“With the proper education and support, these issues can be addressed and, ultimately, lives can be saved.”

ENA has also released life-saving safety guidelines under the slogan: Plan, Scan, Think Before You Dig

  • Plan ahead – Always be mindful of what services lie below ground when digging or excavating. Ask utility companies for plans in advance.
  • Assess the risks – Identify the dangers and hazards associated with excavations and put controls in place to manage them.
  • Scan and locate – Take care when digging, always locate underground cables before digging with the use of cable avoidance tools.
  • First, use your hands – Before using any electric or mechanical excavation tool, you must consider hand-digging trial holes to expose the services
  • Always assume, that underground cables are live even when damaged.
  • Know who to call – In case of an emergency dial 999 and tell them electricity is involved. Call 105 if you have a safety concern related to the electricity network or if you spot damage to underground cables and substations that could put you, or someone else, in danger.
  • Think Before You Dig

The industry is also increasingly turning to vacuum excavation as a safer alternative to traditional digging techniques.

Leading specialist Vac UK has recently invested £15m in a new fleet of suction excavators to help reduce cable strikes.

Latest news

Lonsdale went down owing £65m to supply chain

More than 600 firms owed money as reduced credit rating sinks M&E giant
2 days ago

Wates only bidder for £80m Cardiff estate rebuild

Council contacted 20 framework firms but received only one bid for 295-home Channel View estate rebuild
2 days ago

£21m legal battle over flawed concrete at Salford flats job

Developer in compensation battle with Arcadis after new concrete core demolished
2 days ago

Abu Dhabi developer Aldar Properties buys London Square

UAE giant swoops on resi specialist in vote of confidence for London market
2 days ago

Hunt for delivery partner to revive New Hospital Programme

Programme delivery partner to get £600m fee to get plans back on track
3 days ago

Green light for new £780m Essex garden village

3,700 homes and four new schools to be built at Dunton Hills
3 days ago

Laing O’Rourke makes a £288m loss

Rampant inflation on fixed-price jobs and problem contracts blow hole in accounts
3 days ago

Keltbray, OCU and Clancy clinch £1bn electricity network upgrade

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks awards biggest ever deals for central southern England
4 days ago

G&T enlisted for commercial review of HS2 main civils contracts

Phase 1 Main Works Civils Contracts to come under cost scrutiny
3 days ago

TClarke order books doubles to top £1bn for first time

M&E specialist on track to exceed £500m turnover this year
3 days ago

Wates signs Government safety remediation pact

Private builder belatedly signs fire safety developer remediation contract
3 days ago

Liverpool all-electric industrial park approved

McLaren and Caddick in chase for Sefton 800,000 sq ft Atlantic Park scheme
3 days ago

Former Buckingham Group MD to join John F Hunt

Simon Hyams is new Managing Director for Contracting
4 days ago

Three in race for retendered £150m A9 dualling job

Bidders take another look after client takes on more risk
4 days ago

Clancy tops £300m revenue in fifth year of growth

Civils contractor delivers £13.5m pre-tax from water and energy sector work
4 days ago

Tower crane collapses on Edinburgh resi site

Jib falls onto apartment block under construction: Video
5 days ago

Salboy drops office space from Viadux Phase Two

Developer to focus on Manchester residential towers of 76 and 23 storeys
5 days ago

Warwick Uni plan for science and engineering campus

370,000 sq ft science and engineering precinct submitted for planning
4 days ago

Morgan Sindall chalks up Greater Manchester schools treble

Bury, Stockport and Wythenshawe school jobs will create 1,600 pupil places
4 days ago

Plans in for £65m Blackpool multiversity campus

Council leads plan for Talbot Gateway learning campus
4 days ago

Laing O’Rourke wins first phase of £700m Oxford R&D district

Landmark Red Hall and two labs to be built in phase 1a of Oxford North scheme
6 days ago

Ardmore wins retrofit deal on £200m Chancery Lane office

Building will be transformed to provide 105,637 sq ft of office space
6 days ago

Construction’s “Leading Lights” recognised

More than 50 winners in latest Considerate Constructors Scheme awards
5 days ago

Balfour Beatty clinches £20m Norfolk coastal defence jobs

Firm will install rock armour at Cromer and Mundesley
5 days ago

Architects join construction union Unite

Section of Architectural Workers forms official branch
6 days ago

Boot to build £20m lightweight aviation composites factory

Work starts on Sheffield University's COMPASS R&D facility
5 days ago

GMI secures £27m Leeds City College job

Site clearance underway for new Mabgate campus
6 days ago

Balfour signs deal with Koreans for UK power transmission jobs

Contractor strengthens large-scale onshore power transmission capability
6 days ago

36 storey south London build to rent flats tower approved

Construction to start next year on £220m Croydon scheme
6 days ago

Hunt for firms for £400m volumetric offsite deal

Procurement for Housing aims to expand its pool of firms on major offsite framework
6 days ago

Contractor services