How To Simply Prevent Utility Damage On Your Project
Completing a project on time and under budget can be very stressful, leading many of us to forego documenting projects accurately. Combine that with the challenges of having more active and abandoned underground facilities than ever before, and it’s easy to see why underground construction has become a lot more complex.
After two years of research and experience working with excavators, utility locators and facility owners, we’ve identified three areas where you’re most likely to experience documentation failures: Pre Work, Post Work and Incident.
Properly documenting your project allows you to limit liability and spot unmarked or mismarked utilities which could otherwise lead to major incidents. Our best practices will help you prevent damage, mitigate incidents, create safer sites and save time and money.
Pre Work Documentation
Before you begin, go through all of your utility locates. Know your state’s tolerance zones and make sure you have a valid locate ticket. Also maintain a list of tier 1 and tier 2 members and contact all tier 2 members directly. Take ownership in your locate request, be the project manager and make sure everyone has done the locates/is doing what you have requested for the project.
Walk the site with the information left by the locate technicians and compare the marks to the information you have. Look for old paint or old flags- if the utility locate tech didn’t mark where all the flags are, that can be a red flag for concern. Look for unmarked facilities such as aboveground structures without marks (boxes, switch cabinets, residences without gas lines…). Make a phone call if you spot any such facilities.
Also look for unmarked, sunken trenches, new installations without marks and asphalt cuts/bore marks. If no marks are leading in and out of utilities but you know something is there, make a call. Look up. If you see a primary going down a pole and no marks coming out of it, make a call because something was missed. Locate technicians usually miss these.
Finding the Utility
Respect the marks. Pothole the facility, create a field sketch, note the size, type and depth and make sure you find the correct facility. A lot of utility companies are putting brand new ones over old ones today so it becomes difficult for locaters to spot them.
Utility Damage
Notify 811 and document immediately if you didn’t receive a positive response call, never just start digging. If a facility isn’t found under marks, an incorrect address or area is located or you notice unmarked facilities, incomplete markings, or no markings, call and document right away.
In an instance of utility damage, notify and secure the site. If danger is imminent, clear the area and call 911 right away. Notify the facility owner and the locate company (if applicable). Document the time, date, number of team members and equipment quantity then wait for the crew to complete repair before you start to investigate to make the process a lot less time consuming.
Photography Guidelines
Good photos make for excellent evidence. If a utility was mismarked, photograph all locate marks and flags, including a tape measure in the image. Do the same for images delineating facility depth.
Photograph the excavation to give a clear picture of the entire scene. Every piece of equipment on site should also be photographed along with quantifiable location/address information — street signs, a house number, etc. If the utility isn’t marked, photograph the entire area.
Video Documentation
Video is another great tool for data collection and investigations. Walk the damage and film every piece of equipment on site as you narrate. Explain how it happened, where you are, all qualifiable locations, crew members and equipment and you’ll save yourself a lot of money.
The Damage Form
We recommend you use a damage form including date/time/location, utility category and type, the distance of locate markings, the locate company and representative’s name, the facility owner and representative’s name, the number of team members on site, the equipment on site, total down time, a description of how the damage occurred and any other relevant information you’d like to add. The more information you can provide, the more helpful it will be in the end.
Sign up for our mailing list to receive our free damage form. It’s easy to read, well-organized and walks you through the entire process — photography tips and all!
