Is there anything more Australian than saying “she’ll be right mate” before partaking in an activity you have no idea on how it will end? The saying often coupled with a semi confident wink of re-assurance that all risks and cause for concern have been accounted for, can be the difference between a good or bad decision.
Like most things in life building and construction projects have their equal share of low and high-risk activities with almost all high-risk activities having measures in place to prevent unwanted costs and injuries. Measures like installing scaffolding/ harness equipment for working at heights or even something as simple as hearing protection when operating machinery can help to reduce the risks at hand.
Modern domestic and commercial construction, be it a simple retaining wall, shed slab or high-rise apartment will often require some form of excavation or ground disturbance. Digging any hole may seem like a simple low risk task but is more often than not a risky process. Many modern (and older) developments have numerous services located underground such as;
- Water pipes
- Gas pipes
- Sewer & storm pipes
- High voltage power lines
- Phone (Telstra) cables
- Fibre optic (used to run your NBN service)
The larger the equipment or project, the higher the risk of accidentally causing damage to a public or private underground service. It’s important to note that any and all damage to these services are at the sole responsibility of the one who caused the damage. So, tell me what I can do to avoid causing unwanted damage? Hire a professional locator.
A professional locator is someone who specialises in the detection and location of underground services and can be considerably cheaper to hire, compared to a damage bill. You can find out more about what a professional locator is here.
With more and more services being located underground and networks becoming more complex, the need for professional utility locating is becoming greater. Even redundant pipes and services can still be hiding underground and without knowing exactly what you are dealing with, a “she’ll be right” attitude could even get you killed. Recently we were called to a job where an electrical conduit ran directly under a steel post for a retaining wall. Imagine if it still contained live wires and the occupants drove a shovel directly through the cable. We believe this used to contain live wires and was damaged when the retaining wall was built, the electricity cables were removed and the conduit was left in the ground.
Far too often far too often DIY-ers do not know what they are dealing with, let alone the lawns and requirements of dial before you dig plans. This is another reason why professional locators should be called prior to any underground work beginning.
You don’t get into cars with strangers and say “She’ll be right” so why would you begin digging without first contacting your local location services. At STS Locating Services We are Dial before you dig certified and have many years’ experience helping homeowners and builders alike, locate their underground utilities.
