In the past year, more and more people have turned to gardening with projects great and small, and as the Easter holidays approach, SSEN has launched its new Safety website in time to give guidance on staying safe in the garden.
While horticultural and home projects increased last year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, so too did safety incidents where underground cables were struck by members of the public digging and driving stakes, with 408 incidents recorded across SSEN’s regions in central southern England and the north of Scotland.
Fortunately, not all of these incidents resulted in an injury, but each of them had the potential for a more serious, if not fatal, outcome.
SSEN is aware that most of its customers will be gardening on a smaller scale, but some projects that involve stakes for fencing or deeper digging for ponds or walls require safety checks to be carried out before any works are started. Ahead of any works, the distribution operator is encouraging people to think carefully about their projects, then ‘click before they dig’ and refer to the guidance on its new Safety website at www.ssen.co.uk/safety/home.
Ian Crawley, SSEN’s Head of Operational Safety said:
“Easter is traditionally a time when many of us pick up spades and think about revamping our outdoor spaces, so we wanted to launch our new website to give advice to anyone undertaking a gardening or DIY project.
“Lighter works, such as planting, turning over or skimming topsoil shouldn’t raise any risks, but if you’re looking to take on a task that requires excavating, deeper digging or driving fence posts, then I’d encourage you to go to www.ssen.co.uk/safety/home for further information and advice, and to check cable locations ahead of works.”
“Gardening has provided much solace in the last year and at SSEN, we want everyone to enjoy working outdoors and admiring the fruits of their labour, so please stay safe and ‘click before you dig’ this Easter.”
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Years ago cables used to be covered in thick, clay tiles, embossed with ‘danger electric cable’, NOW all they use it a thin plastic ribbon, which is of no protection to the cable, and only useful if dug gently and ‘seen’.
Steel armour cables are only safe if properly earthed, and with many the steel corrodes away, meaning no earth connection and thus could be lethal.
I always thought utilities had to lay cables and pipes to a certain depth to allow for homeowners to dig thier gardens with confidence of not causing problems?
Sorry can’t spell their today!
For properties with gardens, the utilities should issue the home owner a plan showing where the service is buried and how deep.
Maybe idea to include with property when you purchase, they charge enough!
Thankfully i know where all my electric, gas and water pipes/cables are.