New data from the Linewatch 2023 Infringement Report reveals that the utilities industry and their contractors were the second biggest risk to UK pipelines last year - utility companies were responsible for 15% of all infringements recorded.

The report is based on infringement data on incidents, infringements and near-misses from major pipeline operators across the UK. Linewatch members include Esso, Eon and Natural Gas Transmission.

The utilities industry and their contractors were the second biggest risk to UK pipelines last year. In 2023, almost two in five (19%) workers digging too close to underground high-pressure oil, gas, and chemical pipes were carrying out utility works, according to Linewatch, the leading pipeline safety awareness group.

Data from the 2023 Infringement Report shows that of the 268 incidents recorded, utility companies were responsible for 15%, whilst contractors were also a concern, causing 30% of all infringements.

In comparison, local authorities were responsible for just 4% of incidents with the UK’s highways agencies making up 0.5%.

An infringement ranges from someone simply working near an oil, gas, or chemical pipeline without the operator's permission, through to a worker hitting and damaging it with no prior awareness.

Linewatch said not only does this put workers at risk of serious, life-altering injury, it can cause irrevocable damage to the environment and carry a financial burden of up to £15 million.

In 2023, excavation for service was the biggest cause of pipeline infringements across the UK, accounting for 25% of all reports. However, excavation isn’t the only danger activity taking place by utilities companies and their contractors – according to Linewatch roadworks (5%) and parked machinery (2%) also pose a serious threat.

Emergency repair works also contribute to utility-related infringements - Linewatch says it has identified a trend of utilities companies and contractors not taking the time to complete a thorough underground search before carrying out emergency repairs to their networks. Linewatch is warning that while this decision is taken in favour of completing the work safely, by not carrying out a pipeline search using LSBUD, they risk the integrity of surrounding pipelines and their workers’ safety.

The timings of infringements also demonstrates a clear pattern, with incidents much higher in Q1 and Q3. This directly correlates with seasonal work and increased work to use up budgets before the start of the new financial year.

The Infringement Report also reveals that more than half (52%) of infringements occurred even though the person responsible for digging was aware of the pipeline’s existence. This is a 7% increase on 2023, which also saw a 15% increase on the previous year.

According to Linewatch, this highlights a distinct casualness about the dangers of working near pipelines.

Murray Peat, Manager at Linewatch, commented:

“Whilst utilities works are integral to the UK’s infrastructure, it’s concerning that it persists as one of the biggest risks to pipeline integrity. Especially considering the threat to life is so significant.

“We know how critical our utility networks are to the UK, so we want to protect them as much as possible. If every utility worker and contractor can remember to always search for pipelines using LSBUD before carrying out any work and to be vigilant for pipeline markers, then we would make significant headway in keeping them safe. Always search before you dig!”

Linewatch raises awareness of oil and gas pipelines around the UK and encourages safe working practices when planning and digging around them. In addition to tracking infringements and producing the Infringement Report, Linewatch also provides advice on safe digging practices each year across the UK. In 2023, Linewatch delivered 110 free Safety Awareness Briefings to organisations across the UK to over 1,700 people.

Click here to download the 2023 Infringement Report.