Bomb – An explosive, incendiary or other destructive substance or device. In our industry this could be electric cables or gas pipes. Many people are killed or seriously injured from service strikes every year. Because when you hit an electric cable or gas pipe it becomes a bomb! … and you’re far too close to escape its blast!
Minefield – An area of ground containing explosives or situation beset with hidden problems. In other words, the site you are working on.
Signs of a Potential Minefield – Signs of road repair, including patches, paved areas and new fill, odd features in the ground or patterns that are not present in nature. These situations present potential hazards.
Since 2015 an average of 70 people a year were killed or seriously injured from service strikes! … And that’s just in the UK!
The disclaimers on plans tell a big story ‘This information is given as a guide only and its accuracy cannot be guaranteed’
The depth of the hazard is not guaranteed either. These shallow hazards are everywhere! The following are taken from our own reports, all of these tell us to expect a threat as soon as we start digging.
Hit electric service cable @ 250mm – 200mm too shallow!
Cable struck with mini digger bucket @ 220mm deep!
UG streetlight cable hit by excavator. 60mm tarmac and depth of cable was 300mm!
Even if you hit a low voltage cable, you’re by no means safe. Examples of low voltage damage to PPE.
Would you cut corners here?
Service Strikes – Would you cut corners here?
Or here?
Service Strikes
Sweep For Mines – Assumption could kill you today. Bear in mind the unknowns beneath your feet, don’t cut corners, and plan for the unexpected!
➡ Thorne & Derrick together with ProGARM aim to educate and raise awareness about the dangers of cable strikes and how important it is to wear the correct Arc Flash clothing and accessories.
Closing Thought – statistics show that between eight and ten arc flash accidents occur in the UK every week. Protect yourself, contact us to learn how.
Thorne & Derrick have been distributors for 3M Electrical since 1985 and can provide a range of reliable and easy to install Cable Repair Products – this includes Scotch Tapes, Scotchcast Joints and Cold Shrink Tubes to provide effective re-instatement of cable sheath jackets on all types of LV MV HV cables in onshore and offshore locations with safe or hazardous area workplace classifications.
Cable Repair Products
Our range of cable protection covers manufactured by Centriforce provide underground utility protection of LV MV HV cables including Tapetile (11kV) and Stokbord (33kV 66kV 132kV) – contact us to discuss Cable Damage Prevention Products including Dectamesh, the underground detectable warning tape for alerting excavators of the presence of buried cables and to prevent potentially lethal accidents during excavation.
Stokbord
Tapetile
Thorne and Derrick are proud to be distributors of ProGARM arc flash coveralls and protection.
We can help – should you require arc flash calculators or advice on the type of clothing and protection available please do not hesitate to contact us.
Image Courtesy of: Joe Wall – LV/HV Cable Jointer at D&R Jointing Services
Pictured: Nexans Euromold Terminations – 33kV 300sqmm & 11kV 630sqmm Transformer Connectors
Thorne & Derrick are Approved Distributors & Stockists for the complete range of Nexans Euromold Connectors, Joints and Terminations for medium voltage cables utilising EPDM rubber, cold-shrink, push-on and heat shrink technologies.
Nexans Euromold Connectors are fully screened compact separable cable connectors used to terminate medium/high voltage cables onto bushings to provide a “touch safe” cable termination with disconnection option for polymeric cables (XLPE EPR).
T&D distribute from stock and provide expert technical support for the Euromold range of Separable Connectors – the European manufactured connectors are manufactured from high quality EPDM rubber and include elbow, straight and tee connectors supplemented by a complete range of 11kV-33kV bushings.
Subscribe now to our POWER NEWSLETTER– a monthly email circulation packed with news, projects, videos, technical tips, training information, promotions, webinars, career opportunities and white papers.
Includes access to our popular JOINTERS BLOG with contributions from utility professionals, linesmen and cable jointers working on MV HV EHV cables and overhead lines typically at 11kV, 33kV, 66kV and up to 132kV.
15,000+ Subscribers. ➡ 
Image: Dan Chessher at Energi Cable Services
Energi Cable Services provide specialist bespoke solutions for the high voltage power cable systems of transmission and distribution electricity network operators. Both on land and subsea, these include: oil filled cable systems, fluid filled cable systems and gas filled cable systems.
Key Product Categories: Duct Seals | Cable Cleats | Cable Glands | Electrical Safety | Arc Flash Protection | Cable Jointing Tools | Cable Pulling | Earthing | Feeder Pillars | Cable Joints LV | Joints & Terminations MV
Subscribe now to our POWER NEWSLETTER– a monthly email circulation packed with news, projects, videos, technical tips, training information, promotions, webinars, career opportunities and white papers.
Includes access to our popular JOINTERS BLOG with contributions from utility professionals, linesmen and cable jointers working on MV HV EHV cables and overhead lines typically at 11kV, 33kV, 66kV and up to 132kV.
15,000+ Subscribers. ➡
Pictured: 11kV Heat Shrink Resin Encapsulated Cable Joint (XLPE CTA SWA 3 Core)
Images courtesy of: Lee Richards – Cable Jointer at LR Power Services
1. 40 degrees Celsius in a plant room, suspended in the air and the cable jointer is working on an 11kV XLPE screened polymeric resin filled heat shrink cable joint.
2. 11kV SWA Screened Polymeric Resin Filled Cable Joint
3. 11kV Heat Shrink Resin Encapsulated Cable Joint (XLPE CTA SWA 3 Core)
Subscribe now to our POWER NEWSLETTER– a monthly email circulation packed with news, projects, videos, technical tips, training information, promotions, webinars, career opportunities and white papers.
Includes access to our popular JOINTERS BLOG with contributions from utility professionals, linesmen and cable jointers working on MV HV EHV cables and overhead lines typically at 11kV, 33kV, 66kV and up to 132kV.
15,000+ Subscribers. ➡
Pictured: Single Point Bonding Using 500KCM Bond Lead With Schneider Link Box & SVL.
Image Courtesy of: Andy O’Malley – EHV Cable Jointer/Splicer
Schneider Electric, with operations in over 100 countries, leverages its portfolio to make energy safe, reliable, efficient, productive and green.
While global energy demand is set to rise to support growing industrialisation and urbanisation, the scarcity of resources is becoming more pressing. Everyone needs to do more with less.
From its creation in 1836 as a producer of iron and steel, Schneider Electric has transformed itself into the global specialist in energy management.
With available and mature technologies that can save up to 30% of business-as-usual energy consumption, energy efficiency is a key component of this energy challenge.
Subscribe now to our POWER NEWSLETTER– a monthly email circulation packed with news, projects, videos, technical tips, training information, promotions, webinars, career opportunities and white papers.
Includes access to our popular JOINTERS BLOG with contributions from utility professionals, linesmen and cable jointers working on MV HV EHV cables and overhead lines typically at 11kV, 33kV, 66kV and up to 132kV.
15,000+ Subscribers. ➡
Published 12 Mar 2026
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Published 06 Mar 2026
Nexans 240–300mm² Multi-Joint – Medium Voltage Cable Joint Installation Medium voltage cable jointing requires reliability, consistency and safe installation practices. The Nexans 240–300mm² Multi-Joint is designed to simplify medium voltage jointing while maintaining high electrical performance for demanding power...
