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Utility Avoidance on National Highways Toolbox Talk: Preventing Utility Strikes in Highways Work
The Utility Avoidance on National Highways Toolbox Talk provides critical guidance on identifying, locating, and avoiding underground and overhead utilities during highways work. This document is developed in line with Raising the Bar 9 (RTB9) and follows UK safety regulations such as the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and HSE guidance on avoiding utility strikes. It helps businesses protect workers, infrastructure, and the public from potentially fatal incidents involving buried services.
Utility strikes pose significant risks to worker safety, project timelines, and public services. Damaging cables, pipes, or gas lines can result in electrical shocks, fires, explosions, or service disruptions, particularly on National Highways projects where complex utility networks are often present. This toolbox talk outlines essential safety procedures such as pre-work utility surveys, safe excavation practices, and the use of cable detection equipment to locate and protect underground services.
The document covers the importance of following the HSE’s HSG47 guidance (Avoiding Danger from Underground Services), which sets best practices for planning, locating, and working near utilities. Workers are trained to recognise common utility markers, understand the limitations of detection tools, and follow safe digging techniques like hand excavation within identified zones. In line with Raising the Bar 9, the toolbox talk also highlights the importance of updating utility records and communicating findings to all site personnel.
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Useful Resources and Links
Traffic Signs Manual – Chapter 8: Traffic Safety Measures and Signs for Road Works and Temporary Situations:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/traffic-signs-manual
Safety at Street Works and Road Works (The Red Book):
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safety-at-street-works-and-road-works
HSE Guidance on Avoiding Danger from Underground Services (HSG47):
https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg47.htm
