Product Overview

Summary: This SOP sets out clear, practical safety measures for planning and carrying out work near underground and overhead utilities in Australian workplaces. It helps organisations control the significant risks associated with electricity, gas, water, sewer, telecommunications and other essential services, while demonstrating compliance with WHS legislation and duty of care obligations.

Working near live utilities is one of the highest-risk activities in construction, civil works and maintenance across Australia. Contact with underground or overhead services can lead to electric shock, arc flash, explosions, flooding, environmental contamination, service outages and serious injury or death. This Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, step-by-step approach to planning, authorising and performing work in proximity to electricity, gas, water, sewer, stormwater, communications and other buried or overhead assets.

The document guides businesses through pre‑work planning, including Dial Before You Dig (DBYD/Before You Dig Australia) enquiries, review of utility plans, site inspections, risk assessment and the establishment of exclusion zones and safe work methods. It then details safe excavation techniques, use of non-destructive digging, spotters and permits, as well as controls for mobile plant operating near overhead powerlines and other services. By implementing this SOP, organisations can significantly reduce the likelihood of utility strikes, improve coordination with asset owners, and provide workers with clear instructions that align with Australian WHS legislation, relevant Codes of Practice and utility provider requirements.

This SOP is particularly valuable for organisations that manage multiple sites or contractors, providing a consistent framework that can be applied across civil infrastructure, building projects, maintenance programs and emergency repair work. It supports defensible decision-making, strengthens contractor management, and helps demonstrate due diligence in the event of an incident or regulatory inspection.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of electric shock, explosions, flooding and other serious incidents arising from contact with live utilities.
• Ensure consistent application of DBYD/Before You Dig Australia enquiries, utility plan interpretation and on-site verification across all projects.
• Demonstrate compliance with WHS legislation, electrical safety laws and utility provider requirements during audits and investigations.
• Standardise safe work methods for excavation, non-destructive digging and mobile plant operation near underground and overhead services.
• Improve communication and coordination between principal contractors, subcontractors and utility asset owners.

Who is this for?

• Site Supervisors
• Construction Project Managers
• Civil Engineers
• Excavator and Plant Operators
• Electricians and Lineworkers
• Plumbers and Gasfitters
• Telecommunications Technicians
• WHS Managers and Advisors
• Facilities and Asset Managers
• Local Government Infrastructure Officers

Hazards Addressed

• Contact with overhead or underground electrical cables leading to electric shock or electrocution
• Gas line strikes causing fire, explosion or asphyxiation
• Damage to water or sewer mains resulting in flooding, contamination or ground instability
• Rupture of fuel or chemical pipelines causing environmental contamination and fire risk
• Contact between mobile plant and overhead powerlines
• Unexpected service outages impacting critical infrastructure and public safety
• Ground collapse or subsidence around damaged underground services
• Exposure to confined space hazards when accessing utility pits, manholes or chambers
• Struck-by and crush injuries during excavation near unverified services

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Types of Utilities
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Utility Requirements
• 5.0 Pre-Work Planning and DBYD/BYDA Enquiries
• 6.0 Utility Plan Review, Site Mark-Up and Verification
• 7.0 Risk Assessment and Job Safety Analysis (JSA/SWMS) Requirements
• 8.0 Permits to Work and Authorisations for Working Near Utilities
• 9.0 Controls for Excavation Near Underground Services
• 10.0 Use of Non-Destructive Digging and Service Locating
• 11.0 Safe Operation of Mobile Plant Near Overhead Powerlines and Services
• 12.0 Establishment of Exclusion Zones, Spotters and Signage
• 13.0 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements
• 14.0 Communication and Coordination with Utility Asset Owners
• 15.0 Emergency Response, Incident Management and Utility Strike Procedures
• 16.0 Training, Competency and Contractor Management
• 17.0 Inspection, Monitoring and Review of Controls
• 18.0 Document Control, Records and Continuous Improvement

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth and relevant state/territory variants)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (and state/territory equivalents) – duties for excavation work and electrical risks
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Excavation Work
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing Electrical Risks in the Workplace
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Construction Work
• AS/NZS 3000: Electrical installations (Wiring Rules)
• AS/NZS 4853: Electrical hazards on metallic pipelines
• AS/NZS 4801: Occupational health and safety management systems (superseded but still commonly referenced)
• Before You Dig Australia (BYDA) – Duty of Care Guidelines and Service Location Requirements
• Relevant state Electrical Safety Acts and Regulations (e.g. Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld))