Event description:

Prior to excavation works all existing utilities sprayed and marked up as per safe dig drawings.

Initial marking is carried out by Independent 3rd Party specialist. All teams have a hard copy of utility plans at point of work including the Gas utility prints.

Utility plans provided showed a 3inch gas main running down the far side of the road in front of the houses, the plans do not show individual house services.

Surface marking on the road were in line with the gas inlets points as would be expected and in line with standard practice. 

Excavation was carried out with an excavator and banksman. The team did not see any changes in ground conditions as they removed the surrounding ground. The banksman then noticed that a 22mm gas service PE pipe passed the trench at 45 degrees had been damaged as it was rising slightly at one end.

Gas service was over 3 metres away from the line of the gas tap in the footpath.