Working together

to prevent cable damage

a partnership for reliable and quality power
 contents
introduction .......................................................................1

cable damage can be prevented ................................2 – 3

how you can help ........................................................4 – 7

good practices to do it right .......................................8 – 9

qualified personnel who can help you ....................10 – 11

let’s work together ...........................................................12

how you can reach us ......................................................13

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
SP PowerGrid wishes to acknowledge the following for their contributions to this publication:
PHOTOGRAPHS
A.J. Construction & Transportation Pte Ltd • Obayashi Corporation • Yu Yee Engineering Pte Ltd
Mr Chia Wu Serk (James Contractor Pte Ltd) • Mr Lim Hock Leong (Licensed Cable Detection Worker)
REFERENCE
Energy Market Authority (EMA)

First Published: 2002

This Edition: September 2005
WE VALUE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH CONTRACTORS
– TO INFORM, EDUCATE AND ASSIST THEM IN
AVOIDING THE HIGH COST OF CABLE DAMAGE.
introduction

Singapore has one of the best electricity networks in the

world. The network performance of the national power grid
compares favourably with the best internationally. To ensure
that the network continues to meet the increasingly stringent
needs of our consumers, continuing efforts and investments
are made to enhance the transmission and distribution of
reliable and quality power.

Cable damage can affect A major factor contributing to good reliability and quality is
consumers in high-technology the fully underground cable system that we have in place.
industries.
Although such a system means that the network is protected
from negative environmental effects, cables can be damaged
as a result of earthworks.

Cable damage can affect consumers, particularly those

in high-technology industries that use voltage-sensitive
equipment. These include wafer-fabrication plants and other
high-technology electronics and process plants. For them, a
momentary voltage dip can cause voltage-sensitive equipment
to malfunction, resulting in downtime for affected production
and process lines.

SP PowerGrid is committed to providing a reliable and quality

electricity supply. We value our partnership with contractors
who carry out earthworks – to inform, educate and assist them
in preventing cable damage.

working together to prevent cable damage … a partnership for reliable and quality power [1]
 Cables serve as an important link in supplying
power. Contractors must be vigilant in adhering to
good practices in cable damage prevention during
earthworks.

Soil
Subsidence
(1.5%) Uprooting of
Earthrod/
Trees (0.6%)
Poles Sinking
(2.5%) Others (13.0%)
Boring/
Drilling Works
(2.6%)
Mechanical
Piling Works Excavation
(5.2%) (59.5%)
Manual
Excavation
(15.1%)
Causes of Cable Damage

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MECHANICAL EXCAVATIONS ACCOUNT FOR THE
MAJORITY OF CABLE DAMAGE. GOOD PRACTICES
DURING EARTHWORKS CAN PREVENT SUCH
OCCURRENCES.
cable damage can be prevented

Based on our statistics, mechanical excavation accounted

for the majority of cable damage. Manual excavation was
the second major cause. However, cable damage during
earthworks can be prevented if good practices are followed.

SP PowerGrid’s Earthworks Monitoring & Cable Protection

(EMCP) Section was set up to assist contractors in preventing
cables from damage during earthworks.
EMCP staff provide consultation
and assistance to help Contractors need to be always vigilant of the presence of cables
contractors avoid cable damage.
and to adhere to good practices in cable damage prevention.

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 Main photo:
Check against cable plans for underground
electricity cables in the vicinity of your earthworks.

Below:
Be alerted by cable slabs (left) and surface markers
(right) which indicate the presence of cables.

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CABLE PLANS WILL HELP YOU AND YOUR
LICENSED CABLE DETECTION WORKERS TO
DETERMINE CABLE LOCATIONS – PRIOR TO
EARTHWORKS – AND TAKE MEASURES TO PREVENT
DAMAGE.
how you can help

There are a few simple steps you can take towards preventing
cable damage:

1 Check for existence of underground electricity cables

◆ Contractors must first check for existence of underground

electricity cables by referring to cable plans. These
plans can be purchased from:
An over-ground box is one
of several indications of the Earthworks Monitoring & Cable Protection Section
presence of underground
electricity cables. SP PowerGrid Ltd
25 Pasir Panjang Road
Singapore 117536
Company Registration No: 200306959Z
Tel: 6470 0603 / 6470 0621
Fax: 6475 9400 / 6479 5660

◆ The cable plans will help you and your Licensed Cable
Detection Workers (LCDWs) to determine the presence
of electricity cables at site – prior to earthworks – and
take precautionary measures to prevent damage.
◆ You should also look out for signs indicating
the presence of underground electricity cables.
These include surface markers, cable slabs buried
underground, cable bridges and over-ground boxes.

2 Consider cable diversion

or changing earthworks positions

◆ Consider cable diversion as a pro-active measure

whenever earthworks or projects affect the electricity
cables extensively.
◆ Alternatively, relocate earthworks to avoid underground
electricity cables.

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 EMCP officers are on-hand to advise contractors on
good practices in cable damage prevention.

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CONTRACTORS CAN AVOID DAMAGE TO
UNDERGROUND ELECTRICITY CABLES BY
FOLLOWING STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS AND
IMPLEMENTING ADDITIONAL PRECAUTIONARY
MEASURES AS ADVISED.
how you can help

3 Comply with statutory requirements

on cable damage prevention

◆ Contractors must engage LCDWs to carry out cable

detection works, confirm underground electricity
cables, mark their locations and plot the information
in the cable detection drawings.
◆ If earthworks are intended in the vicinity of high-

Notice for Commencement voltage cables (6.6kV, 22kV, 66kV, 230kV or 400kV),
of Earthworks forms must be contractors must notify SP PowerAssets not less than
submitted to EMCP Section
not less than 7 days prior to 7 days prior to the earthworks.
earthworks.

This should be done by submitting the Notice

for Commencement of Earthworks (NCE) form to
SP PowerGrid’s EMCP Section, together with the
following:

• LCDW cable detection drawing(s)

• Site plan indicating the proposed work area
• Schedule of planned earthworks activities

The NCE form can be downloaded from:

www.sppowergrid.com.sg

4 Work closely with SP PowerGrid

◆ After receiving the NCEs, EMCP will arrange to meet

contractors and visit their sites to evaluate the proposed
earthworks. This is very important as the meeting
allows for detailed discussion between contractors and
EMCP officers. As a result, our staff are able to provide
advice on good practices to be adopted at sites.
◆ Contractors should implement these good practices to
keep underground electricity cables safe.

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 Main photo:
Implement a Permit-To-Work system to ensure
checks at every stage for close monitoring of
earthworks activities.

Below:
Protective measures such as proper shoring (left)
and proper suspension of underground electricity
cables (right) help to prevent damage to the
cables.

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DUE CARE AND DILIGENCE DURING EARTHWORKS
PREVENT UNDERGROUND ELECTRICITY CABLES
FROM BEING DAMAGED. YOU PLAY AN
IMPORTANT ROLE IN ENSURING PREVENTIVE
MEASURES ARE IN PLACE.
good practices to do it right

Now that you are ready to begin earthworks, there are good
practices that you should follow to do it right:

◆ Implement a Permit-To-Work system to manage different

levels of checks at every stage for close monitoring of
earthworks activities within the site.
◆ Ensure the LCDW has marked out all detected cable locations
and these markings are continuously maintained.
Digging trial holes manually is a ◆ Dig trial holes manually to be positively sure that there are
safe and effective way to locate no electricity cables at the proposed earthworks area; and
underground electricity cables.
to ascertain exact locations if there are electricity cables.
◆ Engage Registered Excavator Operators (REOs) or
Provisional Registered Excavator Operators (PREOs) to
operate excavating equipment and/or carry out mechanical
excavation.
◆ Use manual excavation whenever earthworks come to
within 2 metres of underground electricity cables; in cases
where premix concrete and hardcore road surfaces need to be
removed, mechanical excavation – under close supervision
– should strictly be restricted to the surface area.
◆ Provide appropriate and adequate soil control measures –
such as shoring and shuttering – to prevent soil movement
which can cause cable damage in excavated areas.
◆ Protect exposed electricity cables by enclosing them with
cut PVC pipes or other protective covering to prevent tools
or falling objects from accidentally damaging the cables.
◆ Contact and consult SP PowerGrid officers before
proceeding with under-crossing or over-crossing of
electricity cables.
◆ Call EMCP General Enquiries line whenever in doubt
– Tel: 6470 0603.

Due care and diligence during earthworks prevent underground

electricity cables from being damaged. You play an important
role in ensuring preventive measures are in place.

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 Engage only Registered Excavator Operators or
Provisional Registered Excavator Operators as
they are trained to identify and take precautions to
avoid cable damage.

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LICENSED CABLE DETECTION WORKERS MUST
BE ENGAGED TO CARRY OUT CABLE DETECTION
WORK BEFORE EXCAVATION BEGINS.
REGISTERED
EXCAVATOR OPERATORS OR PROVISIONAL REOS
SHOULD BE ENGAGED TO OPERATE EXCAVATORS
AT EARTHWORKS SITES IN THE VICINITY OF
UNDERGROUND ELECTRICITY CABLES.
qualified personnel who can help you

There are two categories of professional and skilled personnel

who play very important roles in ensuring that earthworks are
carried out safely, without damaging underground electricity
cables. They are the Licensed Cable Detection Worker
(LCDW) and the Registered Excavator Operator (REO) or the
Provisional REO (PREO).

The LCDW is a professional trained to detect underground

Ensure that Licensed Cable electricity cables. LCDWs must be engaged to carry out
Detection Workers mark out detection work before earthworks begin.
all cable locations before
earthworks begin.
LCDWs are licensed by Energy Market Authority (EMA) after
successfully completing a course in cable detection work.
Under current requirements, such courses must be approved
by EMA.

Earthworks contractors are advised to engage REOs, or

Provisional REOs (PREOs), to operate excavators at earthworks
sites in the vicinity of underground electricity cables. PREOs
are those who have attended the Underground Services
Detection Course. A PREO can apply for conversion to an
REO upon obtaining a certificate for the Hydraulic Excavator
Operation course which covers advanced skills in excavator
operation.

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 let’s work together

The performance of Singapore’s transmission and distribution

network is among the best in the world. This is the result of
continuing efforts and investments to expand and enhance the
supply infrastructure to meet consumers’ needs. Singapore’s power
network is unique in the world in that both transmission and
distribution of power are carried out via underground cables.

To support, manage and monitor the vast infrastructure that we

have in place, SP PowerGrid leverages on the latest technology
and IT systems.
SP PowerGrid will continue to
work with contractors to protect
the integrity of SP PowerAssets’ We are among the first in the world to have a Grid Modelling
electricity cable network.
and Planning (GMAP) system which provides a comprehensive
database on underground electricity cable routes. This system
provides up-to-date information on the locations of our
underground electricity cables to assist contractors in preventing
cable damage in the course of earthworks.

We need the co-operation of earthworks contractors in working

closely with us to protect the integrity of our underground
electricity cable network so that reliable and quality power is
available to all consumers.

What to do when a cable is damaged

◆ Stop all work activities in the vicinity of the damaged cable
◆ Keep out all personnel from the area
◆ Inform SP PowerGrid’s Electricity Service Centre (ESC) at
our 24-hr toll-free number 1800-778-8888
◆ Inform your LCDW
◆ Remain on-site to assist SP PowerGrid officers on their
arrival

Warning: Tampering with damaged underground electricity

cables can cause serious injuries or even death. Do not
attempt to tamper or repair damaged cables.

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 how you can reach us

HELP ON CABLE DAMAGE PREVENTION

Earthworks Monitoring and Cable Protection Section

General Enquiries .................................................. 6470 0603
Helpline on Cable Plans ........................................ 6470 0621

REPORTING CABLE DAMAGE

Electricity Service Centre (24-hours) ............. 1800-778 8888

ENQUIRIES ON 400kV AND 230kV CABLES

Extra High-Voltage Network Section ................... 6290 9121

ENQUIRIES ON 66kV AND BELOW CABLES

Regional Network North Section ......................... 6314 6172

Regional Network South Section .......................... 6290 9101
Regional Network East Section ............................ 6240 9218
Regional Network West Section ........................... 6660 9301
Regional Network Central Section ....................... 6279 9501

EARTHWORKS GUIDELINES & NOTICE FOR

COMMENCEMENT OF EARTHWORKS FORM

SP PowerGrid Website www.sppowergrid.com.sg

COURSES FOR LICENSED CABLE DETECTION

WORKERS AND EXCAVATOR OPERATORS

Human Resource Branch ....................................... 6823 8676

LICENSED CABLE DETECTION WORKERS

Energy Market Authority Website ............. www.ema.gov.sg

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 reliable
quality power
SP PowerGrid Ltd

25 Pasir Panjang Road

Singapore 117536

Company Registration No: 200306959Z

Tel: 6470 0603 / 6470 0621

Fax: 6475 9400 / 6479 5660

Email: emcp@singaporepower.com.sg