An educational library of workplace documents — purpose, who completes them, when they are used, typical fields, common mistakes and how they connect. Linked to workplace safety, workplace training, occupations, industries and employment documents. Informational only — template examples, not legal advice or official documents; employers remain responsible and using a document does not guarantee compliance.
What a permit to dig is
A permit to dig is a controlled authorisation focused on avoiding buried services when ground is broken at a specific point. It confirms that service drawings have been obtained, the ground has been scanned and marked, and safe-digging methods such as hand-digging or vacuum excavation will be used near services.
This page is an educational overview with a simplified example. It is not an official template, not jurisdiction-specific and not legal advice — the employer decides where a permit to dig is required and what it must record.
Purpose
- Authorise digging at a point only after services are located and marked.
- Confirm drawings, scanning and the marked positions of services.
- Set safe-digging methods and tolerance zones near services.
- Record that buried-service risk was assessed and controlled.
Who completes it
- An authorised issuer competent in buried-service risk.
- The person leading the dig, who accepts the conditions.
- A service-location specialist may scan and mark the ground.
- The employer decides who is competent to issue, scan and accept.
When it is used
- Before breaking ground at a defined location.
- Wherever buried services could be present near the dig.
- For a stated period, with re-checking if the position moves.
- Whenever the employer’s system designates digging as permit-controlled.
Typical fields
- Permit number, exact dig location and expected depth.
- Service drawings reviewed and scanning or detection results.
- Marked service positions and the agreed safe-dig method.
- Tolerance zones where mechanical digging is not allowed.
- Issuer and acceptor signatures, and completion sign-off.
- Example fields only — adapt to the site, the services and the applicable law.
Common mistakes
- Digging before services are located, scanned and marked.
- Using mechanical excavation inside the safe-dig tolerance zone.
- Relying on drawings without confirming with detection or trial holes.
- Not re-checking when the dig moves to a new position.
Document workflow
A permit to dig is typically raised under the permit to work system after a risk assessment, and overlaps closely with an excavation permit and a ground disturbance permit — the permit to dig focuses on service avoidance while the excavation permit covers the wider dig.
See the related documents below for what is commonly required before, used with and completed after a permit to dig.
Retention (high level)
Completed permits to dig are usually kept for a period afterwards as a record of how buried-service risk was controlled, in line with the employer’s obligations and data-protection duties. This page does not state a period — confirm with the applicable law and the official authority.
Completing and sharing as a PDF
Permits to dig are commonly completed, signed and stored as PDFs alongside service drawings and scan results. Exporting to PDF supports the record; it does not make the permit official or guarantee compliance.
Employer checklist
- Define where a permit to dig is required and how services are located.
- Ensure drawings, scanning and marking are done before digging.
- Require safe-digging methods within tolerance zones near services.
- Keep completed permits and service records together as evidence.
Worker notes
- Do not dig without a valid permit and confirmed service marks.
- Hand-dig or use the safe method within the tolerance zone.
- Stop and report any unexpected service or change in the ground.
Country considerations
Rules on safe digging and service avoidance vary by country, and the official authority differs. This page is general and high-level — not a statement of any country’s law and not a guarantee of validity.
Confirm current requirements with the official authority for your country and a qualified professional.
Who is responsible
The employer is responsible for assessing and controlling buried-service risk, for competent service location, and for compliance. This page is an educational overview with a template example; it does not authorise any digging and does not transfer responsibility.
Export, edit and share documents
The documents, policies and templates this involves can be exported, edited, signed, stored and shared as PDFs with the HELPERG PDF Editor.
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