BUR/Specific Services/TBT-BUR-017

Hand Digging Techniques and Tools

Buried Services & Utilities › Specific Services › Hand Digging Techniques and Tools

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Hand digging is required when excavating near buried services to prevent cable strikes and pipe damage.
HSG47 (Avoiding Danger from Underground Services) mandates hand digging within the influence zone of detected services.
Spades, forks, and hand tools must be used instead of picks and mechanical breakers near confirmed service positions.
Insulated hand tools are recommended when digging near suspected electrical cables to reduce shock risk.
Hand digging is physically demanding work causing back injuries, blisters, and fatigue without proper technique.
The influence zone around a detected service is typically 500mm either side of the indicated position.
Service positions indicated by CAT scans are approximate — the actual position may vary by 500mm or more.
Trial holes dug by hand confirm the exact depth, position, and type of buried service before machine excavation.
Ground conditions including clay, gravel, and made ground affect the difficulty and speed of hand digging.
Sharp spade edges and picks create laceration and puncture hazards to hands and feet during use.

Prevent service strikes	Machine excavation near buried services causes gas leaks, electrocution, and water mains bursts — hand digging avoids this.
Legal duty	HSG47 requires hand or mechanical alternative methods near buried services — breaking this rule risks prosecution.
Worker safety	Even hand tools can damage services — proper technique and tool selection reduce the remaining risk.

Don't

Use spades and forks, not picks or mattocks, when digging within 500mm of a detected service
Dig trial holes by hand to confirm exact service positions before allowing machine excavation
Use insulated hand tools when excavating near suspected electricity cables in the ground
Adopt correct manual handling posture — bend knees, keep back straight, and take regular breaks
Wear steel-toe-capped boots and gloves to protect feet and hands during digging operations
Mark the confirmed service position clearly once exposed in the trial hole for all to see
Rotate hand digging tasks between workers to reduce fatigue and prevent back strain
Report immediately if a service is exposed that does not match the utility plan records
Support the sides of trial holes deeper than 1.2 metres to prevent collapse onto workers
Backfill and protect exposed services carefully using hand-placed surround material

DON'T use picks, mattocks, or mechanical breakers within 500mm of a detected service position
DON'T machine excavate until hand-dug trial holes confirm the exact service location and depth
DON'T assume CAT scan positions are exact — services may be 500mm or more from the indication
DON'T drive spades forcefully into the ground near electricity cables — use a gentle probing action
DON'T continue digging if you strike something unexpected — stop and investigate carefully
DON'T leave exposed services unsupported in open trial holes where they could be damaged
DON'T dig for extended periods without breaks — hand digging causes significant physical fatigue
DON'T use worn or damaged hand tools with loose handles or blunt edges on site
DON'T enter trial holes deeper than 1.2 metres without trench support in place
DON'T backfill over exposed services without recording their confirmed position on the plans

See also: Safe Digging Practices (HSG47) | CAT and Genny Safe Use

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