Groundworks · Practical advice
Work near gas, electricity and water services
What homeowners should discuss before digging work begins.
Provide the information you have
Tell the contractor about meters, inspection covers, outbuildings with power and any known private services. Include records of previous work and mention uncertainty rather than guessing a route. Cables and pipes may serve more than the obvious building, so the absence of a nearby meter is not evidence that an area is clear.
Expect a planned approach
HSE guidance brings together planning, locating services and safe excavation. These steps are connected: a drawing or detection result does not make every excavation automatically safe. Ask who is responsible for coordinating the work and what happens if the site information differs from what is found.
Keep the site separated from everyday use
Agree a safe route to the house and keep children, pets and visitors away from the work area. Do not enter excavations or move barriers to reach a shortcut. Tell the contractor about any access needs early so they can be accommodated in the site arrangements.
Stop when something unexpected is found
An unidentified service or suspected damage needs attention from the responsible contractor and service owner. Do not handle, move or attempt a repair yourself. Before the area is covered, ask how the final routes and any changes will be recorded. Keep those records with your property information for future projects.
Before you book
- What utility and private-service records exist?
- Who coordinates service checks?
- How is household access maintained?
- How will new routes be recorded?
Further reading
Related guides
Discuss your project
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