Public Safety: Demolition

 

Almost every house, office, factory, industrial unit, school, streetlight, bus shelter and road sign has an electricity supply running to it, so make sure you consider the risk from electricity on every demolition job.

The first thing to do before starting work is to have a good look round the site and obtain a copy of the local cable records from the electricity distribution company.

At the planning stage of any demolition activity, the local electricity distribution company should be contacted for advice on how to establish the position and depth of any of their electrical services in the vicinity of the work. If any of the electricity services identified need to be disconnected or de-energised then a formal request
needs to be submitted to the relevant electricity distribution dompany well in advance of the work being undertaken.

Consider including a specific check item on any risk assessment forms, work instructions or quotation pads to draw your staff’s attention to power line safety. It is very difficult to judge the height of overhead lines, so do not attempt to do so. Ask the electricity distribution company to
measure them and provide advice.

It is dangerous to dismiss any overhead line or underground cable as merely a telephone wire - It is very difficult to tell telephone and electricity wires apart.

Do not start work stripping out any electricity distribution equipment, and do not demolish the structure in which it is located, until the electricity distribution company has positively confirmed that their equipment has been made safe and / or removed.

Please remember that, even after supplies to premises have been disconnected, there may be other cables or overhead lines that run through the site that may remain live. Make sure you have drawings or cable records from the Electricity Distribution Company on site. Refer to HSE publications GS6 and HS(G)47 for further advice on reducing the risks of contact with overhead lines and underground cables. Make sure you know where these are located and place markers and yellow danger signs along the route to warn others.

Make sure that everyone on site is briefed and aware of the location of all live electricity equipment.

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