Safety Flash
Live sub-surface power cable inadvertently cut
Live sub-surface power cable inadvertently cut
- IMCA
- Safety Flash
- IMCA SF 24/22
- Control of WorkElectrical SafetyIsolation
- Electrical safetyRisk managementUnderground utility damage prevention
- Electrical isolationExcavation
- Energy and process isolationRisk assessmentStop-work authorityUnderground utility locating and verification
- Construction
Summary
An excavator cut an energised buried power cable during onshore pipeline trenching, without injuries or equipment damage. Incomplete as-built information and misleading drawings left the cable hazard unidentified in risk assessment. The flash highlights isolation, cable tracking during excavation planning and clear communication of stop-work authority.
Classifications: Electrical safety; electrical hazards.
Classifications: Risk management; risk evaluation.
Classifications: Underground utility damage prevention.
Classifications: Electrical isolation; electrical lockout.
Classifications: Excavation; trenching.
Classifications: Energy and process isolation; isolation; energy isolation.
Classifications: Risk assessment; hazard assessment.
Classifications: Stop-work authority; stop work; stop-work intervention.
Classifications: Underground utility locating and verification.
Classifications: Construction; construction industry.
Summary
Excavation work cut an unrecorded energised power cable because the hazard was absent from planning and risk assessments.
IMCA SF 24/22. Themes: control of work, electrical safety, isolation.