National Safe Digging Week

National Safe Digging Week returns for 2023 between the 3rd and 9th July.

First established to highlight the dangers of digging ‘blind’ and raise awareness for the importance of searching before you dig, the initiative’s core messaging has not changed four years on.

As the safe digging community continues to grow at a rapid rate, it is more important than ever that industry professionals, farmers, consumers, and anyone else undertaking digging projects, understand how to work safely around the UK’s underground infrastructure of pipes and cables.

Whether you’re working for a major construction firm or planning to put a shed up in your back garden, if you don’t know what is beneath you, you are putting yourself and your local community at significant risk. We need to protect ourselves, and in doing so, we will help keep the UK’s broadband, electricity, gas, and water and other networks intact too.

This dedicated week falls during the UK’s busiest time for digging, with July statistically the highest risk month for excavating. The aim is to help prevent people from striking any underground asset at any time, but this is even more important at a time when projects and excavation work is at its peak.

Industry Support

Over the years the campaign has received plenty of support from big-name organisations within the safe digging community, including HS2, National Grid, Cadent Gas, UK Power Networks, Last Mile, Linewatch, ISPA, Winvic and Network Plus. 2023 will be no exception with major brands running their own National Safe Digging Week activity to help educate their communities on the perils of digging before searching.

With the aim to spread awareness as far as possible, having industry buy-in is a major boost in maximising the week’s impact. If you would like to know more about our 2023 plans, contact us here.

The UK Public

Of course, it is not just companies and their workers responsible for digging, it is you at home too.

In 2021 we revealed that Brits are at risk from more than 31,500 preventable incidents a year. A shocking figure, and one that will have likely increased in line with the number of digging projects.

Last year National Safe Digging Week highlighted the areas of the UK most (and least) likely to search for pipes and cables before putting a spade in the ground, with Nottinghamshire, London and Gloucestershire coming out as the safest areas. We’ll be revealing the 2023 ranking later this week, so keep your eyes peeled for more news on this.

Thanks to the initiative, there has never been more awareness about the benefits of searching before digging and the dangers of ‘hitting’ a pipe or cable. With digging activities always on the rise, it is now more important than ever to continue reinforcing the ‘search before you dig’ message.

Safe digging is for everyone, so whatever the digging the job – whether you’re carrying out a bit of home improvement, just planting a tree or extending your home – always search before you dig.

While you’re here, take a look at our safe digging video below

5 BIGGEST RISKS OF ‘DIGGING BLIND’

1. Serious injury/death
2. Causing environmental harm
3. Triggering substantial flooding
4. Cutting off power for your neighbourhood
5. Leaving neighbours without broadband and the ability to WFH

Safe digging for all is our number one priority which is why, together with our Members, we’re running National Safe Digging Week with its message to ‘search before you dig.’

It couldn’t be easier and it’s FREE!

If you would like any more information or want to get involved to help raise awareness and promote safe digging please do get in touch with us here we would love to hear from you!

Our Members

We’d like to thank our members for supporting the campaign

Find out who our LSBUD Members are here