Permit to dig is used to ensure the protection of utility services and under ground structures through a formal management system. A permit to dig system is critical when working around buried services as it is used to control the methodology of high-risk excavations.

 

Safety is the number one priority on any construction site. Risk to the site workforce is dramatically minimised by ensuring a Sharper utility permit to dig is in place prior to commencing any excavation. In line with full permit to dig procedure an initial PAS 128 survey would be carried out by fully qualified staff and all survey drawings updated. The findings will then be clearly marked on the ground within the dig area. Exclusion zones will then be marked to prevent any mechanical digging in close proximity to high-risk assets. A detailed briefing to the site gang would take place explaining the position of located services and any areas of concern. Dig methods would also be agreed upon as well as any hand dug trial holes that are required to positively identify locations and depths of services.

A presence is recommended throughout the life cycle of the dig to ensure procedure is being followed as well as any respraying of services that may have disappeared during the site movement. As-built information can then be recorded before back fill.

 

Service strikes carry high risks and costs, injury or fatality of site staff, programme delays, high commercial impacts with penalties and repair costs and reputation damage. This risk can be managed and minimised using a Sharper utility permit to dig system. Preventing injury to staff and costly mistakes.

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Contact Sharper Utility Mapping today to discuss how                     we can help your project.