04 December 2020

‘Cable strikes jump 20% since lockdown’ – Bad luck or rusty health and safety? asks Associate, Lindsay MacNeill.

The construction industry is recognised as the most high-risk industry in the UK, with a rate of fatalities four times higher than the ‘all industry’ average. The HSE’s ‘Construction Statistics in Great Britain’, published on 4 November 2020 show that 4% of the fatal incidents in the construction industry in the last 5 years were attributed to ‘contact with electricity or electrical discharge’. In the last 5 years, 354 people have suffered life changing injuries as a result of a cable strike, with 4 out of 5 incidents arising in the construction industry.

Underground services can be present and disturbed during any work that involves penetrating the ground, such as road works, excavations or demolition. Services can run at any depth below surface level and carry voltages of 230 volts (the domestic voltage) and above.

Power cable strikes have spiked since lockdown, prompting the supply industry’s trade body, the Energy Networks Association (ENA), to raise a safety alert with the UK construction industry.

Underground powerline strikes from July to September 2020 jumped 20% to 475 incidents UK-wide when compared with the same time last year and incidents are 46% above the April to June 2020 period, during which construction works were severely restricted in Scotland due to lockdown.

The surge in reported incidents will be partially attributable to a rise in utility and roadworks projects following lockdown, but the research carried out this year and published by the ENA in October suggests a link between the rise and the neglect of basic safety procedures, which can only be exacerbated by workers returning from a period of furlough.

The ENA found that 93% of construction workers believed they always dig safely, however, nearly one third admitted to not always checking for underground electricity cables before beginning work. Despite the danger associated with working in the vicinity of service, the ENA found that the main reasons tradespeople fail to check for underground electricity cables is because they don’t believe it’s their responsibility (15%), or they don’t think they’ll dig deep enough to hit anything (24%).

It is important to remember the importance of information, training and supervision for staff working, particularly if they are returning to work from an extended period of absence through furlough.

Employers should carefully consider their over-arching duty to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety and wellbeing of their employees and those affected by their undertaking, under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. With that in mind, toolbox talks covering safety essentials should be put in place for workers returning from furlough and refresher training for high risk tasks, particularly where penetration of the ground is involved, is strongly advised.

To help prevent the number of fatalities and injuries amongst tradespeople, ENA has launched a new emotive safety film, urging those working in construction to ‘Think Before You Dig’, which can be accessed online and used as a training tool for employers. The film follows the story of a construction worker and the devastating emotional and physical impact an accident can have, highlighting the importance of safety when working near underground electricity cables.

BTO’s band 1 ranked Regulatory team can assist with any health and safety training needs you may have and can provide support in the aftermath of a cable strike, whether it results in a RIDDOR reportable explosion, or a serious incident involving injury or death.

Lindsay MacNeill, Associate: lmn@bto.co.uk / 0141 221 8012