Exams / HS&E MAP / Excavations and underground services / Question 2
HS&E MAP practice question: Excavations and underground services (2 of 4) D. High risk activities A free question from our original HS&E MAP practice exam. Try it, then open the answer to see why each option is right or wrong.
Last verified October 2026 against HSE guidance and the law ·How we write our questions
A trench is to be dug near a road on your site.
What should the planning include about buried services?
Choose one answer.
A A. Nothing, as the excavator driver will feel any cablesB B. Digging fast to finish before anyone finds outC C. Plans, then tracing and marking servicesD D. Only the plans, as they show exactly where services areShow the answer and explanation Answer: C
A. Wrong: Wrong. A machine can easily cut a cable.B. Wrong: Wrong. That is dangerous and could kill someone.C. Right: Right. HSE says get plans, use a cable locator to trace and mark services, and use safe digging methods.D. Wrong: Wrong. Plans only give an indication. Services must be traced on site.Explanation Plan, locate and dig safely: get plans, trace and mark services, then hand dig trial holes.
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