Underground Service Safety:
RIICCM202E Training, BYDA, Recent Incidents Lessons

Excavation and construction work often expose workers to hidden risks. Underground utilities — electricity, gas, water, telecommunications — must be correctly identified and protected before work begins. Damaging these services can cause severe injury, fatalities, costly repairs, community disruption, and legal penalties.

The nationally recognised competency RIICCM202E – Identify, Locate and Protect Underground Services provides the knowledge and skills to manage these risks effectively. This blog explores the unit, recent real-world incidents, and government guidance on safe excavation.

RIICCM202E unit covers the updated industry practices and standards.

• Prepare: Confirm work requirements, interpret service plans, and apply WHS and environmental controls.
• Identify & Locate: Use BYDA (Before You Dig Australia) referrals, visual inspections, electromagnetic locators, and ground penetrating radar.
• Protect: Mark out utilities, establish safe clearance distances, and use non-destructive excavation methods.
• Housekeeping: Restore sites, backfill safely, and record/report any damage.

Training emphasises duty of care under the WHS Act, safe systems of work (e.g. SWMS, permits to excavate), and responding to emergencies.

Upon completion, participants receive a Statement of Attainment, which may also be required for authorisations with electricity networks such as Endeavour Energy.

Why Training is Essential

Working near live electricity or gas lines carries extreme risks. RIICCM202E ensures workers and supervisors can:

• Interpret and comply with utility-owner requirements.
• Understand safe digging practices including hand-digging and potholing.
• Prevent costly infrastructure damage and community outages.
• Protect both the workforce and the public.

Image: Laserman.com.au

Lessons from Recent Incidents

Australia continues to see incidents caused by failures to properly identify and protect underground assets:

• High-voltage cable strikes in NSW mines (2023–24): Vehicles damaged 11 kV underground cables, disrupting power and creating serious safety risks (NSW Resources Regulator).
   
• Underground falling cable, 2024: A miner in NSW was injured when a dislodged cable struck them, prompting regulator warnings on proper cable management (Safe to Work).
   
• Gold Coast explosion, 2024: A woman was injured when an underground electrical fault caused a footpath to collapse in Surfers Paradise (Courier Mail).
   
• Copper theft risks: Thieves targeting underground cables in created electrocution hazards and costly damage (Courier Mail).

These incidents show that lack of planning, poor protection measures, and failure to consult utility maps can have life-threatening results.
 

Government Agencies & Contact Information

Best Practice: Safe Excavation

1. Plan Ahead
   • Always lodge a BYDA enquiry at least two working days before excavation.
   • Review utility maps and confirm with asset owners.
2. Risk Assessment
   • Identify hazards (live electricity, gas leaks, collapse risks).
   • Apply safe systems of work such as SWMS and exclusion zones.
3. Locate & Verify
   • Use electromagnetic locators or ground penetrating radar.
   • Physically verify services by potholing or vacuum excavation.
4. Protect Services
   • Mark with correct colours/symbols.
   • Support and isolate exposed services.
5. Emergency Preparedness
   • Have an incident response plan.
   • Notify utility owners immediately if damage occurs.
6. Report & Improve
   • Record incidents, hazards, and control measures.
   • Incorporate lessons learned into future work.

Image: Laserman.com.au

RIICCM202E is more than a compliance requirement — it’s a safeguard for workers, communities, and infrastructure. With proper training, effective use of BYDA, and commitment to safe practices, risks can be minimised.

Learning from past incidents reinforces the importance of vigilance. Investing in competency-based training like RIICCM202E protects not just workers, but everyone who relies on critical underground services.