The cost of not checking beneath the surface

They say the customer is always right, but when it comes to digging safely, it’s wise to double-check what’s beneath the surface, regardless of what you’re told.

Here’s a practical example from a CERTLOC certified utility locator showing why it’s always best to follow safe digging practices – even if someone suggests otherwise.

A fencing contractor was engaged by a customer to install fencing and had been assured by a property owner that there were no underground utility services in the area. The owner, confident after 50 years on the property, was certain that nothing lay beneath the surface. What he didn’t realise was that a power cable installed long ago still ran through the site – serving the neighbour’s property.

The contractor reused an existing fence post hole, but this time dug slightly deeper, and hit the cable. The consequence? Power was lost, and the repair required a new cable to be installed from the power pole all the way down the neighbour’s driveway. The cost? An eye-watering estimate of $75,000 due to the long distance involved.

Let this be a reminder:

Don’t rely on a property owner’s memory. Things change. Infrastructure gets added, rerouted or forgotten.
Just because something was there before (like a fence post) doesn’t mean it’s safe to assume there are no services underneath.

At beforeUdig, we see these kinds of preventable incidents too often. Always lodge a beforeUdig request and get a
certified locator involved to detect if there are any underground utility cables or pipes in your area of work before you break ground. It’s not just about avoiding damage – it’s about protecting people, property and essential infrastructure.

For utility network maps and to find details of certified locators available in your area of work, lodge your FREE beforeUdig enquiry or look one up on our website here www.beforeudig.co.nz/locator/certified-locators/ map-of-certified-locating-companies

Thanks to Chris Chassiotis, CERTLOC certified locator of SA Cable & Pipe Locating, for supplying the photo and details of this incident.

www.beforeUdig.co.nz
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