The USAG group was recently featured in an article in the Water and Wastewater treatment magazine. This piece focuses on the risks and scale of the problem and the initiatives that have taken place such as linesearchbeforeUdig, training and advances in technology to better inform and improve the working practices of those excavating near utilities. 

The full story can be found on the Water and Wastewater Treatement website by clicking the following link:
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https://wwtonline.co.uk/features/striking-it-out-how-can-the-industry-cut-down-utility-strikes

IOSH fully supports this proactive industry-led initiative and wholeheartedly agrees that risk assessment, planning, safe systems of work and competence are all essential for ensuring that digging and excavating are safe.

We need to make sure that all workers involved in excavations avoid accidentally striking the myriad of underground services, including electricity cables and gas pipes. Health and safety professionals are committed to helping employers and workers by raising awareness and promoting good working practices.

The latest HSE guidance ‘Avoiding danger from underground services’ highlights the devastating consequences of failing to manage such work properly, with workers being killed or seriously injured from striking live underground cables. These tragedies are preventable and IOSH believes we must act to ensure every worker goes home safely at the end of the working day.

The Institution would urge all organisations involved in commissioning or conducting any ground or excavation work to renew their efforts to raise health and safety standards and to sign up to this Charter. We all need to work together to make sure accidental contact with underground services is a tragedy of the past.

Jan Chmiel

Chief Executive

Institution of Occupational Safety and Health

The Utility Strike Group website has been updated and now includes a series of documents that broadens the scope of the toolkit and further enhances the usefulness of the documents and Charter membership.

We have also added full search function to the website, making it easy to find the document or page you are looking for.

Please take a look around the site and give us your feedback by emailing utilitystrikeavoidancegroup@gmail.com

Thank you

Kelly Group have signed up to the Utility Strike Avoidance Group Charter and have joined the growing group of organisations who are keen to reduce damage and disruption to our utility infrastructure and avoid injuring those who work in the industry.

Welcome on board.

We are very pleased to say that Barhale and Affinity Water have signed up to the Safe Dig Charter

In signing the Charter, they have joined the growing group of contractors and utility asset owners working together to reduce damage, disruption and injury.

We are pleased to announce that Northern Ireland Water have joined the Charter.

Welsh Water, Bristol Water and J K Guest are the latest organisations to sign up for the Charter.and demonstrate their commitment to reducing injury, service damage and disruption.

Are you interested in signing up for the Charter?  Go to the Sign up page and fill in the simple form and someone from the group will contact you.  It's free to join.