As part of the contractors approach to avoiding service damages, they formally appoint members of their team to the role of Service Protection Coordinator (SPCO). Each appointment requires a minimum level of training, which includes an internal Service Protection Coordinators Course.
The Service Protection Coordinator is formally appointed by the Divisional Director.
An SPCO is individually appointed to every project where excavation activities involve the disturbance of the ground or a structure is taking place.
The SPCO role has a dedicated job description which clearly identifies the requirements of the coordinators role. The SPCO is responsible for completing the initial ‘desktop’ survey for any such works of this nature, liaising with the Person Responsible for the Works (i.e. the Project Manager, Site Agent, etc).
The SPCO ensures that suitably trained and competent CAT and Genny Operators and nominates a Permit Holder for the works and also record the relevant details on the permit.
On completion of the initial survey and trial hole works, the SPCO cancels the permit for the trial hole works. The SPCO then issues a new permit to dig to the Permit Holder to allow for the main excavation works to be undertaken in accordance with the published safe system of work.
The SPCO undertakes other duties such as, maintaining the permit register, carrying out a daily check or audit on all of the permits issued to ensure that the conditions of the permits are being fully implemented and controlled on site and act as the main point of contact for all service identification and protection issues on their appointed site.
Did you find this article helpful?
Please rate this article
Loading...
