Water & Wastewater Treatment Magazine
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www.wwtonline.co.uk | WWT | XXXX 20XX | 19 www.wwtonline.co.uk | WWT | OCTOBER 2018 | 19 The Works: Utility Strikes WATER COMPANY VIEW BY HOWARD LEWIS NETWORK SERVICES MANAGER AFFINITY WATER " The CAT and genny can have as many as 15 distinct con gurations and techniques to use to locate services, some of which require two utility surveyors to carry out the detection at the same time, and certain conditions – such as the utility service being encased in concrete – can block or interfere with the process. "These complexities of correct identi cation, and the similarities of size and colour between water and electricity service pipes, mean there remains a continued threat of cable strikes to operatives. "The problems associated with inaccurate location of buried pipes and cables, or not knowing their true identity, are serious and are rapidly worsening due to the increasing density of underground infrastructure in major urban areas. "Over 35 per cent of cable strike incidents reported to HSE are attributed to hand tools. This is particularly troubling given that one of the primary reasons for using hand tools over mechanical excavators is to allow more care to be taken around buried services. "I was keen to identify a solution to the complexities associated with excavations and identi cation of utility apparatus and to propose something to assist in the mitigation of cable strike incidents to support A† nity Water's culture of Zero Harm. "In common with many utility companies, A† nity Water uses BS2020-rated shovels for excavation work, which are rated to insulate against 10,000 volts – a last line of defence if an electrical cable is cut. We looked for similar insulated tools for clamping and cutting pipework and were amazed to nd that these apparently did not exist. "We were keen to explore the development of new cable strike avoidance tools, so we worked with PF Cusack and JAFCO, specialists in tool development and supply, to develop two new tools for clamping and cutting pipework. "Two sets were produced as prototypes for trial in the eld by A† nity Water teams and, having been proven as resilient and practical, they went into production with JAFCO with BS8020 approval. "These tools protect the user in a safety- critical situation of an electrical cable being incorrectly identi ed as a water service pipe. We have ordered 200 sets of these new tools and the tools are now available to all utility companies for purchase and use in the eld. "Although there is no substitute for correct diagnosis prior to clamping or cutting a utility cable, this last line of defence will avoid serious injury or death. "Improving safety has been a key part of everybody's everyday activity at A† nity Water since the Zero Harm programme was introduced in 2014 and this initiative included the introduction of a set of common safety standards, based on known risks and key "This last line of defence will avoid serious injury or death" safety behaviours, that were developed through engagement with employees and service delivery teams. "These standards introduced the concept of an enhanced level of safety, with teams working together to identify hazards and reduce risks, and information to raise awareness of hazards that could be encountered by anybody in the organisation. "Since their launch, the lost-time injury frequency rate has dropped signi cantly." A nity Water's cable strike avoidance tools won the Safety Initiative of the Year prize at the 2018 Water Industry Awards A comparison between the old and new clamps (le ) and cutting tools (right) Affi nity Water's Howard Lewis uses the newly designed insulated cutting tools WINNER