A short video recently highlighted the serious consequences of hitting an underground electricity cable while installing a fence.
Last year, more than 6,500 excavation enquiries were received by beforeUdig from individuals installing fencing across New Zealand, a nearly 10% increase from the previous year. It is clear that fencing is becoming a more frequent activity.
As more homeowners seek to secure their properties, fencing projects in urban areas have become commonplace. However, these activities bring contractors and homeowners dangerously close to underground utilities, including cables and pipes located beneath footpaths and near property boundaries. Excavating without proper checks can result in costly damage, service disruptions, and serious safety risks.
Meanwhile, out in more rural locations, fencing is a common activity on farms and orchards up and down the country. It’s easy to forget there could also be cables and pipes running right under your feet as you get to work driving postholes into the ground. In many cases, the utilities present could be the riskiest to start work around, such as gas transmission pipelines that operate at extremely high pressure and the outcomes can be catastrophic if damaged.
To address this growing concern, beforeUdig has partnered with the Fencing Contractors Association NZ (FCANZ) to promote safe digging practices. This collaboration aims to raise awareness within the fencing industry about the importance of lodging a beforeUdig enquiry before starting any excavation work. By doing so, fencing contractors and homeowners can identify the presence of underground utilities and take the necessary precautions to avoid damage.
We are pleased to work alongside FCANZ in spreading the vital message of safe digging to members. Together, we can help prevent accidents, protect utilities, and keep everyone safe during fencing projects. Always remember to check before you dig by lodging your FREE excavation enquiry with www.beforeUdig.co.nz
Phil Cornforth
Operations Manager And Utilities Damage Prevention Expert | beforeUdig
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Published in WIRED issue 76/March 2025 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ
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