Page 9 - Texas811 Magazine 2022 Issue 1

accordingly as the utility company representative is only trying to protect the public, which includes you,
by protecting their asset. Your failure to address those concerns and work with the utility company could be detrimental to your excavation and crew. If you have concerns over excavating near underground utilities, if possible, request a company representative to be onsite during the excavation. If you don’t receive a response from every utility company listed on your ticket, there is a real danger that one or more lines were not marked or located. Follow your state’s laws for reporting this to the one-call center. In most states this means calling 811 again to request a “no response” or “2nd Notice” ticket.
Documenting
All parties should document that the utilities were marked in accordance with state laws by taking pictures, creating maps, or drawing sketches of the site and utility locations. Apps that are available for smart phones or tablets are great for documenting these markings. The
Excavating
After you have waited the required time and ensured that you have received a response from every utility, finally comes the day to dig. Review your site again to check all markings are still in place. Inspect your equipment to make sure you have the proper excavation tools. Rock bars, rock picks, shovels, and safe-digging buckets for track hoes or back hoes are all key to preventing damages. Coordinate with those utility companies that requested to be on-site for the excavation – it is usually pipeline and electric companies that wish to be on-site for increased safety.
Consider the following questions:
• Are the utility company representatives on site or their requests being met?
• Do you have cell phone signal in case of emergency and do you know the address or location of the excavation?
• Can you provide the 911 call center with directions to get onsite?
• Do you have first aid kits and fire extinguishers?
• Do you have a safe digging plan?
“Wow,” you think. All of this to perform a simple excavation? Yes, this is the start of SAFE DIGGING!
Before you dig, dig this.
Pipeline safety starts from the ground up.
Always call 811 before you dig. It’s the law.
Get more pipeline safety information at xtoenergy.com.
Know what’s below. Call before you dig.
Figure 2 This image shows the part of the ticket that lists all the notified members. Use this list to cross-reference with all the responses you receive. You should get a response from every utility listed on your ticket.
apps can take a picture and document date, time, and location - either by address or GPS coordinates - and even allow the user to add notes. Examples of these apps are: Solocator, (Figure 3), Dioptra, Theodolite, Context Camera and many others. The best practice
of documenting the markings is not only to protect
the utilities and excavators in case of an issue arising from the excavation, it can also help to more quickly reflag or remark the site in case the original markings are destroyed or removed. Sometimes utilities are not within your work zone and as such may not warrant marking or flagging. If you as the excavator receives “No Conflict” or “Clear” responses from one or more utilities, then keep these responses as documentation as well.
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2022, Issue 1
10/13/17
9:36 AM
Texas811 • 7