BUR/Specific Services/TBT-BUR-011

Working Near Fuel Pipelines

Buried Services & Utilities › Specific Services › Working Near Fuel Pipelines

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Fuel pipelines carry petroleum products, aviation fuel, and ethylene under high pressure across the UK.
Pipeline operators including CLH Pipeline System and National Grid must be contacted before excavation nearby.
Fuel pipelines are typically steel, buried at depths from 900mm to over 2 metres, and pressurised.
A pipeline strike releases highly flammable fuel under pressure, creating immediate explosion and fire risk.
Pipeline easement strips restrict construction activity within a defined corridor around the pipeline route.
Heavy plant crossing fuel pipelines requires protective slabs and operator approval to prevent crushing.
Pipeline marker posts indicate the route on the surface but do not guarantee the exact pipe position.
HSG47 requires service detection and hand digging within the exclusion zone near fuel pipelines.
The Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996 govern all work affecting the safety of fuel pipeline systems.
Emergency contact details for the pipeline operator must be held on site during all adjacent works.

Explosion and fire	Pressurised fuel pipeline strikes cause massive explosions and fuel fires that kill workers and endanger the public.
Legal obligation	The Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996 make it a criminal offence to damage a fuel pipeline through negligent work.
No second chance	Fuel pipeline failures escalate in seconds. There is no time to respond once a pressurised pipeline is breached.

Don't

Contact the pipeline operator before any excavation or construction near the route.
Obtain written crossing and proximity agreements before work within the easement.
Hand dig within the exclusion zone specified by the pipeline operator.
Use protective slabs where heavy plant must cross the pipeline route.
Identify the pipeline route using marker posts, plans, and detection equipment.
Keep the pipeline operator emergency contact number available on site at all times.
Brief all operatives on the pipeline location and the restrictions on activity.
Monitor for fuel odour and have the emergency procedure ready during excavation.
Follow HSG47 safe digging practices for all work near the pipeline.
Maintain the pipeline easement clear of permanent structures and deep-rooted planting.

DON'T excavate within the pipeline easement without the operator's written approval.
DON'T use mechanical excavation within the exclusion zone near the pipeline.
DON'T drive heavy plant across the pipeline route without protective slab cover.
DON'T ignore pipeline marker posts; they indicate a pressurised fuel line below.
DON'T pile, drill, or drive stakes within the pipeline easement strip.
DON'T assume pipeline depth from records; actual depth may vary significantly.
DON'T store materials or park plant on top of the pipeline route.
DON'T light fires, weld, or use ignition sources near an exposed fuel pipeline.
DON'T touch a damaged or leaking pipeline; evacuate upwind and call the operator.
DON'T plant deep-rooted trees or build structures within the pipeline easement.

See also: Safe Digging Practices (HSG47) | Service Strike Emergency Procedure

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