The Importance of HSG47

HSG47 is guidance from the HSE for all those involved in commissioning, planning, managing, and carrying out work on or near underground services, and is also of use to the owners and operators of such services. It is aimed primarily at health and safety rather than damage to services, but the reduction of risks to health and safety will also have a beneficial effect on services by avoiding damage to them.

Damage to underground services can cause severe or even fatal injuries and could also delay the project incurring unnecessary costs. Striking an underground electricity cable typically causes burns to the hands, face, and body, while an electric shock is possible but not so likely. If other services, such as plastic gas pipes are nearby there is the risk of explosion and fire. 

Damage to gas pipes directly can cause leaks which result in explosion and fire, or can cause the pipe to leak later on with similar effect. Damage to water pipes is less likely to cause injury, although a jet of water of sufficient force can do so, and it may also contain stones from the earth surrounding the pipe. Leaks of water can affect nearby services, while they may also lead to flooding and the possible collapse of the sides of an excavation. Damage to sewers causes risks to workers from exposure to raw sewage.

Damage to other pipelines can cause risks according to the type of fluid flowing through them: toxic liquids and gases can cause risk of poisoning, while inert gases such as nitrogen can cause risk of asphyxiation. Other flammable liquids or gases cause risk of fire and explosion.

All of the above are very sound reasons for HSG47 training. There are companies that specialise in running an HSG47 course to make operatives fully aware of the dangers.