It is not just traditional excavation activities that require the use of the Dial Before You Dig service. Energy Safe Victoria has issued a safety alert to warn landscapers, gardeners and others nationally to be aware of the dangers when hammering star pickets into the ground.
The warning follows a recent incident where a dog was killed when it contacted a wire mesh fence that was protecting a recently planted tree. A metal star picket used to support the wire mesh had been driven through protection covering slabs and then through the cable insulation, causing damage to the red phase conductor of the underground cable mains. The wire mesh and three star pickets had become energised at 240 volts.
Victoria’s Director of Energy Safety, Ken Gardner, said many crucial electricity cables laid in road reserves and nature strips are hidden dangers.
“Damaging these cables could not only cost you thousands of dollars, but could result in serious injury – or even deaths,” he said. “People must exercise extreme care, perform a detailed safety assessment and obtain information on the network of electrical cables and gas pipes that may run underneath the area that they work on.”
Ken Gardner provided the following advice to people when digging deeper than 300 millimetres or driving pickets or posts into the ground:
- always use the free Dial Before You Dig service
by telephoning 1100 or lodge your inquiry
via the interactive web service at
www.dialbeforeyoudig com.au
• always carry out a Job Safety Assessment before
starting work - consider using timber posts where suitable
- avoid hammering pickets/stakes deeper than
300 millimetres into the ground by making a
mark 300 millimetres from the ground end of
the picket/stakes - comply with the No Go Zone rules – visit
www.esv.vic.gov.au or www.worksafe.vic.gov.au
or the relevant body in your State - immediately notify the relevant electricity
supplier or the technical electrical regulator
in your State if you have contacted electrical
cables.
For further information on Dial Before You Dig and its services phone 1100 or visit
www.dialbeforeyoudig.com.au.
*Copy supplied by Dial Before You Dig
