Safety
Duty of Care
It is important to know what the Duty of Care is when it comes to working in and around New Zealand’s utility networks and assets.
What is Duty of Care?
Duty of Care refers to the responsibility of individuals and organizations to avoid actions or omissions that could foreseeably cause harm to others. In the context of utility networks and assets, this means ensuring that all work is carried out safely and responsibly, minimizing risks to workers, the public, and the infrastructure itself.
Below are a set of Guidelines that should be observed:
- A beforeUdig enquiry must be lodged at least two full business days prior to starting any excavation or work site project.
- All plans from registered Members, as noted on the cover sheet, have been received and must be on-site at the project location.
- Ensure all worker(s) onsite understand the instructions from affected assets before work commences.
- If the scope of works changes or validity dates of plans expire, a new beforeUdig enquiry must be submitted.
- Observe the work site closely and look for clues of surrounding utility assets. Such as pits, marker posts, warning signs, meters, etc. Changes may have occurred to the area without the knowledge of the asset owner due to other project works, changing the alignment and / or depth of the utility asset.
- For any excavation project, always proceed with caution and follow The Five Rules of Safe Excavation:
Plan
Plan ahead by lodging your beforeUdig enquiry at least two full business days before starting any excavation to ensure you have the correct information and safety measures in place.
Prepare
Prepare by reviewing the utility plans. Contact the utility if you need help. Look for clues onsite such as pit lids, marker posts and meters. Engage a qualified locator to perform electronic location and marking prior to potholing.
Pothole
To establish the exact location of underground utilities, pothole if permitted using the asset owner’s stated method as specified on the asset owner’s plan and / or information pack - typically, a slit trench, hand dug using a non-conductive shovel.
Protect
If potholing has occurred, protect the infrastructure by using various methods, such as communicating to all working on site, erecting barriers and / or marking the location of the exposed infrastructure.
Proceed
You should only proceed with your excavation work after you have planned, potholed (unless prohibited) and ensured protective measures are in place.
- Once the project is complete, ensure no utility asset(s) have been damaged and that any exposed underground asset(s) uncovered by any excavation has been filled back in.
- If further assistance is required, contact the utility asset owners directly using the numbers provided on the plan(s).
- In case of damage(s) to any utility asset, employees or the community, demonstrate proof of Duty of Care by keeping a record of the beforeUdig enquiry, notes and contacts with the asset owners until the project is complete.
- If damage has occurred to any utility asset, notify the affected asset owner immediately.
At every stage of the project, there are further measures that can be taken to ensure the safety of those involved in the project and others. Please refer to the Safety Practices.