LSBUD, the UK’s leading safe digging resource, has finished 2022 with 3.75 million search enquiries for underground pipes and cables. This is a 12% increase year-on-year.
It also registered 43,190 new users last year; a 14% increase on 2021 and 35% above the levels recorded in 2020.
Richard Broome, managing director, said: “In 2022, our portal received more search enquiries than we take breaths. It’s absolutely extraordinary. At the start of 2022, our aim was to break through the 3.5 million enquiries barrier, so to achieve 3.75 million is credit to those safe digging industries who are more committed to best practice than ever before.
“People operating within the farming, construction, highways, telecoms, water, gas and electricity sectors need to be praised for their part in this substantial growth, as do UK consumers who are increasingly undertaking home projects with greater care than ever before.”
There was also growth in the coverage available on the site, in particular from the gas sector, with Northern Gas Networks joining the portal. This means that LSBUD has complete coverage of the UK’s major gas distribution network.
Fibre networks also joined the fold, with Voneus, Ogi, Wildanet and Toob joining key players Gigaclear, Gamma, Neos Networks and Zayo in sharing their asset location data.
Mr Broome concluded: “2022 was the best ever year for the safe digging community. Pipes and cables were better protected than ever before, and those working near them were safer. Of course, there is room for improvement, and that is what we push for, however, we wanted to extend a thank you to every farmer, construction, highways, telecoms, water, gas and electricity worker, that searches before they dig. It is good practice, it is safe, and it is sensible. Remember, always search before you dig.”
