When should an Emergency Work Notice (EAO) be issued in the vicinity of the networks?
Verified 18 July 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
If any Unforeseeable work shall be carried out in emergency close to the networks underground, aerial or underwater, all network operators must be notified.
To avoid the risk of damage, the work sponsor (the developer) sends them a urgent works notice (ATU).
We are taking stock of the regulations.
The steps of the procedure are different if the work is close to security-sensitive or non-sensitive networks.
The sensitive networks for safety are:
- Dangerous Goods Transport Pipelines, TDG (gases, hydrocarbons, chemicals)
- Transport, distribution and mining pipelines containing combustible gases
- Pipes for the transport and distribution of steam, superheated water, hot water, iced water...
- Power lines and public lighting systems with a voltage >50 V AC or >120 V DC
- Installations intended for the circulation of public transport vehicles by rail or guided (subways, trams, cable cars...)
- Pipes for transporting waste by pneumatic pressure or suction device
- Structures designed or adapted to prevent flooding and submersions
Security-sensitive networks
The unforeseeable and urgent work are subject to an ATU when they are performed for the following reasons:
- Security (for example, repairing a rut on the road)
- Continuity of public service (e.g. phone cut-off)
- Safeguarding people or property (e.g. gas leakage)
- Force majeure (e.g. storm)
The works manager and the performer don't have to do Declaration of Work (DT) and Declaration of Commencement of Work (DICT).
Prior to the start of urgent works, the work sponsor shall collect information from the operators on the location of the networks and on the special precautions to be taken. He must question the online service "Networks and Pipelines".
Online service Networks and Pipelines
He gets the list of all network operators and emergency telephone numbers operators of sensitive networks.
The sponsor sends each operator an ATU using the “Networks and Pipes” online service or a cerfa form.
It is recommended (and even mandatory in some cases) to do the ATU on the online service.
If using the form, the sponsor must call each operator on their emergency number.
The approach is different depending on the network type.
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Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Networks
Prior to commencement of work, the sponsor must telephone all TDG operators (gases, hydrocarbons and chemicals)
The sponsor sends ATU after work indicating the date and time of the telephone call.
Other Security Sensitive Networks
The approach is different depending on the date of commencement of work.
Work performed less than 24 hours after receipt of the urgent work notice (RWA)
After you contacted network operators on their emergency number to obtain their agreement, the sponsor sends theATU by the “Networks and Pipes” online service as soon as possible.
It specifies the date and time of the telephone contact.
It uses the following online service:
Work performed more than 24 hours after receipt of the urgent work notice (RWA)
Before the works, the works sponsor sends an ATU to each network operator. It can use the “Networks and Pipes” online service or the cerfa form.
It is recommended to use the online service.
Networks and Pipes Online service
The sponsor of the work shall be named and shall identify the person performing the work. It justifies the urgency of the work and specifies its nature and location.
It uses the following online service:
Form
The sponsor of the work is named and identifies the performer. It justifies the urgency of the work and specifies its nature and location.
It uses the following form:
Regardless of the type of safety-sensitive network, the operator has an obligation to respond.
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Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Networks
The operator, contacted on the emergency number, communicates the network location and security instructions.
Please note
If the operator does not respond on the emergency number, work can still proceed taking into account the potential presence of TDG networks.
Other Security Sensitive Networks
Depending on when the work starts, the response times are different.
Work performed less than 24 hours after receipt of the urgent work notice (RWA)
The operator shall give the network location and security instructions. Work can begin.
Work performed more than 24 hours after receipt of the urgent work notice (RWA)
The network operator shall must reply 1 half-day before the work. If he does not respond, the work sponsor can restart him on the emergency number.
Please note
In the absence of a response, the work can still start by taking into account the potential presence of networks.
To carry out urgent and unpredictable work,all persons working on the site must be the owner of thenetwork proximity intervention authorization (RAIPR).
The AIPR is issued by the employer to validate the acquired skills of the employee.
It uses the following form:
Other networks
The unforeseeable and urgent work are subject to an ATU when performed for the following reasons:
- Security (for example, repairing a rut on the road)
- Continuity of public service (e.g. phone cut-off)
- Safeguarding people or property (e.g. gas leakage)
- Force majeure (e.g. storm)
The works manager and the performer don't have to do Declaration of Work (DT) and Declaration of Commencement of Work (DICT).
Prior to the start of urgent works, the work sponsor shall collect information from the operators on the location of the networks and on the special precautions to be taken. He must question the online service "Networks and Pipelines".
Online service Networks and Pipelines
He gets the list of all network operators and emergency telephone numbers operators of sensitive networks.
The sponsor sends the ATU to each network operator before or after construction, using the "Networks and Pipes" online service or a cerfa form. He doesn't have to phone them.
On the online service "Networks and pipelines"
The sponsor of the work shall be named and shall identify the person performing the work. It justifies the urgency of the work and specifies its nature and location.
Form
The sponsor of the work is named and identifies the performer. It justifies the urgency of the work and specifies its nature and location.
It uses the following form:
The operators of non-sensitive networks are not obliged to respond to an ATU whether it was sent before or after the work.
To carry out urgent and unpredictable work,all persons working on the site must be the owner of thenetwork proximity intervention authorization (RAIPR).
The AIPR is issued by the employer to validate the acquired skills of the employee.
It uses the following form: