PROTECTING PEOPLE, NOT JUST PIPELINES
The importance of asset protection and its impact on worker safety
There is no doubt that the construction industry is committed to the safety of its workers. Stringent measures, protocols and policies are in place to ensure that on-site teams are safeguarded against risks when working on critical construction projects. However, there is still more to do. According to the latest research, the construction industry continues to face a safety epidemic, ranking second-highest in the UK for the rate of fatal accidents. Due to this, companies are now facing heftier fines if they fail to uphold safety and, in some cases, jail time. So, how can construction firms better ensure the safety of their workforce?
Well, underground asset protection is an excellent place to start. Whilst there has been excellent progress made by the safe digging community over recent years, there is always more than can be done. With more and more construction projects being actioned, there is more digging taking place than ever before.
If one of these ‘corners’ is ‘digging blind’ or with no knowledge of what is beneath them, people are putting themselves and others at significant risk.
With speed of the essence and other jobs to start, there is a risk that contractors and workers will cut corners to get the job done in time. If one of these corners is ‘digging blind’ or with no knowledge of what is beneath them, people are putting themselves and others at significant risk.
Our latest Digging Up Britain report, which provides a comprehensive overview of the UK’s digging activity, paints a picture of just how much excavation work is being conducted across the country. In the last year alone, LSBUD’s central system received four million search enquiries. This equates to one every 1.88 seconds during the average working day. This means people up and down the country are operating in the knowledge that they know exactly what pipes and cables are under the ground. They know they will be safe on site.
With new cables and pipelines being laid each day, the asset map of the UK is continually growing and in densely populated areas like London, this is greatly intensified. With this in mind, the risk of shifting an underground asset increases year-on-year, especially if assets are not registered.
And this is a significant safety concern. It might sound obvious to say, but shifting a pipe or cable can have severe consequences, including significant injury, risk to life and irreversible environmental damage. Indeed, some assets, like gas and chemical pipelines, are extremely volatile and can result in major damage when struck.
Yet, even in 2026, and with all the collaborative, educational work being run by the safe digging industry, there are people still underestimating the impact of a strike and continuing to ‘dig blind’.
Yet, even in 2026, and with all the collaborative, educational work being run by the safe digging industry, there are people still underestimating the impact of a strike and continuing to ‘dig blind’.
Safety
In June 2022, fencing contractor Elliot went viral after his post knocker hit an underground gas pipeline on a farm in Derbyshire, resulting in a serious explosion. Luckily, Elliot came away with no serious injuries. For a few seconds, Elliot simply thought that his time was up and was more than incredibly lucky to walk away with not so much as a scratch. After he recovered from the initial shock, his only thought was that he didn’t want anyone else to go through that.
In the construction sector, this risk is heightened even further. Frequent digging, often around densely populated areas, puts construction professionals at a higher risk of an asset strike than other industries. With this in mind, we must work to ensure greater awareness is spread amongst the industry to best protect workers from fatal accidents.
Expensive delays
Hitting an asset can lead to expensive delays, both financially and in time. Future projects are often dependent on the previous one finishing on time. If you are delayed, a competitor might pick up that contract you are after. On top of delays, there are significant costs associated with shifting pipes and cables.
Whilst it is commendable how committed companies are to on-site safety, asset protection cannot afford to be overlooked in worker safety.
The first, and most obvious, is repairing the damaged asset. However, there are indirect costs to factor in too, such as traffic disruption, the loss of production, damage to equipment and machinery, disturbance to utility services and the impact on reputation in the local area.
Safe digging works best when you have companies and workers being transparent, collaborative and following best practice. For construction professionals, that means performing an underground search before every digging project, no matter how big or small. Those who fail to do so could risk serious fines and charges due to the legal obligations laid out in The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. For those looking for best practice, I highly recommend reading HSE’s HSG47 guidance, which outlines the best practice when it comes to underground mapping and digging.
Commitment to worker safety is an ongoing priority for the construction industry. Whilst it is commendable how committed companies are to on-site safety, asset protection cannot afford to be overlooked in worker safety.