Digging trenches in graveyards

[ringer]

Doing a risk assessment for a church job. I need to run SWA in a trench alongside a path that runs through a graveyard. All graves on the route are at least 100 years old. Should I take precautions against disease etc? I was wondering whether to use disposable gloves whilst handling the soil and chuck them after the job. And what about tetanus jabs - or is this taking the risk assessment too far?

 

[johnboy6083]

Ring the council mate and ask them. I've got no idea. Also what if you find something, ie bones?

 

[Paul.M]

I really wouldn't worry about it. Diseases can not survive for that long without heat and oxygen. Just be careful where you dig. Ask the churches admin for the graveyards plan, that will/should show you every square inch of the graveyard and see if any are in your way. Shouldn't be if its next to a path. Besides, how deep are you putting the swa? 6 foot? Think you'll be ok mate.

 

[malcolmsanford]

The wife informs me that there is now a limit on tetanus jabs, if you have had 3 or 4 in your lifetime then they will not give you more. Think this maybe the same type of research that one week tells you that asprin is a wonder drug and the next it can rip your stomach apart.

Lost count on how many I have had over the years, but sure they don't give it as a precaution anyways.

 

[Kamikaze]

Doing a risk assessment for a church job. I need to run SWA in a trench alongside a path that runs through a graveyard. All graves on the route are at least 100 years old. Should I take precautions against disease etc? I was wondering whether to use disposable gloves whilst handling the soil and chuck them after the job. And what about tetanus jabs - or is this taking the risk assessment too far?

I don’t have a solution, but I do admire the problem.

 

[rocker]

Oooh spooky! Them bones shift around, you know! I don't like the idea of retrieving a stuck cable rod and find a skull or an eyeball or something on the end. Not to mention all the Native American burial curses so prevalent in 1980s Northampton. And don't work afer dark. Whooooooooo!

 

[Des 56]

This type of installation work is dead easy

My only advise would be,when you dig the trench,be extra quick getting the cable in or someone will be dying to use it

 

[thekingiam]

lol (des 56)

 

[telectrix]

Beware the Undead, for They Shall Rise Again. ( Christopher Lee, Memoirs of a Vampire)

 

[Bigboy247]

Just make sure you only work in daylight LOL

 

[nickblake]

Oh what a dead end job , if your putting in cables then they are 2 ft down im sure when you end up there your 6ft under so you should be alright , one of the risks you could need to identify is the head stones toppling over so could be worth mentioning that one of the things you could use is alcoholic hand wash/santiser i use it all the time when im working especially if you get a job where you cant was your hands

 

[RexT]

Hi guys,
It sounds an interesting task and I think the advice about checking with the 'precribed route' is valid. Even though most of the graves may be over 100 years old then someone may be offended if you put a cable through or over grandads or great grans head. Best to check with the local records office, church and the local authority for any information or unusual laws etc. As for disease I would suggest that normal precautions would be adequate, appropriate PPE and cleanliness during and after the job. I would guess that if the graves were buried at 6 feet deep then you shouldnt actually be that deep and should avoid any risk of contact.
Good luck and best wishes
Rex

 

[ringer]

Regulation 522.8.10 "....Buried cables, conduits and ducts shall be at a sufficient depth to avoid being damaged by any reasonably foreseeable disturbance of the ground"

does this mean I would have to bury the cable 10 feet deep

 

[telectrix]

Oh what a dead end job , if your putting in cables then they are 2 ft down im sure when you end up there your 6ft under so you should be alright , one of the risks you could need to identify is the head stones toppling over so could be worth mentioning that one of the things you could use is alcoholic hand wash/santiser i use it all the time when im working especially if you get a job where you cant was your hands

or, in the circumstances, would alcholic beverage be more appropriate

 

[alarm man]

Doing a risk assessment for a church job. I need to run SWA in a trench alongside a path that runs through a graveyard. All graves on the route are at least 100 years old. Should I take precautions against disease etc? I was wondering whether to use disposable gloves whilst handling the soil and chuck them after the job. And what about tetanus jabs - or is this taking the risk assessment too far?

depends on the size of the job,if its small you could just use skeleton staff..