National Safe Digging Week runs from the 8th of July to the 14th of July and is the ideal time to promote safe digging practices to your workforce. The risk of cable strikes is well-known and they can have a devastating impact on your team and your project. The rise of vacuum excavation as the safest digging method has been hugely beneficial to the construction industry, and this awareness week only serves to highlight the benefits of this excavation method.
July is National Safe Digging Month
Historically National Safe Digging Week was in September, however, it was moved to July, as this was known to be the busiest time of year for digging. The longer day length, combined with better weather conditions encourages many people to focus their digging efforts around this month. Unfortunately, this time of year is also when many people take their annual leave, resulting in a higher quantity of temporary workers being on-site during this time. Whilst you may be confident that your permanent staff have a good understanding of safe practice, you might not have the same oversight of your temporary staff. Using this awareness week to promote safe practice is vital for the ongoing safety of your workforce.
Benefits of Safe Digging
Here at CSE, we promote vacuum excavation as the safest method to clear earth or other debris from your site. This unique method uses suction to gently and carefully clear earth from around cables, reducing the risk when compared to manual digging. Not only is vacuum excavation safer, but it is also quicker and more cost-effective than manual digging, making it the ideal solution in almost every situation.
Safe Digging Guide and Best Practices
Planning Your Dig – Good planning helps to mitigate and manage risk. From choosing the best method for digging to scheduling around the weather, planning is a vital part of a successful project.
Marking and Locating Utilities – Utility plans should show where utilities are placed on your site. However, these plans may be unreliable, and searching the site thoroughly before you start digging is crucial. Once located, ensure that you clearly mark the utilities so that everyone on the site is aware of their location.
Digging Safely – The safest method for digging is vacuum excavation. Choose vacuum excavation to safely and efficiently clear your site.
How to Observe National Safe Digging Month 2024?
Use the National Safe Digging Week as a way to highlight the importance of safe digging. Discuss safe digging with your workforce, and display posters in key areas to prompt your workforce to consider their safety. Explain the risks of manual digging, and the potential repercussions of a cable strike. It is our duty, as ethical and professional employers, to keep our workforce safe. Enhanced awareness and correct training will all help to promote awareness of safe digging and will help to keep people safe.
How Can CSE Excavation Help?
Whether you are managing a large city development, or are looking for urgent earth clearance, vacuum excavation is the best option. Here at CSE Vacuum Excavation, we have an extensive range of vacuum excavators for hire, which can be used in a wide range of locations and scenarios. Our experienced and professional team are always on hand to assist with your project requirements. We are dedicated and reliable, and will always provide the same exceptional standard for which we are renowned. If you need a vacuum excavator to safely and quickly earth from your site, you have come to the right place. Simply call the team at CSE today on 0118 332 0002
