Page 11 - Alabama 811 Magazine 2021 Issue 3

necessary to make the utility “locatable” once again.
How many of you have ever dealt with the old aluminum locating tape? This was buried in the trench with the pipe and was supposed to give the locator
a viable method to get a signal for
his locating equipment. Definition number 2 – a break in continuity. It was not envisioned that this tape
would disintegrate after a few years, particularly in acidic-type soils. When this happened, it broke the continuity that was supposed to be there to locate the pipe. Instead, it left the locator and the operator with no way of locating the
one, between two views or situations. And this affects all underground utilities. We can see many different variations on this theme: 1) how much distance should a locate request be limited to, if at all, 2) why should I call when I am only going to be digging a couple of inches deep and the utility should be at least 18 inches deep, 3) why should I call for a locate when the lead contractor has already called for one, 4) my two-day waiting period has expired and no one has shown up so I feel I can go ahead and dig, and 5) the ground is too hard to use a shovel – I’ll just take out one more scoop with this backhoe.
I am sure there are many others, but you get the point. Not everyone agrees with the best way to handle any single situation.
Common sense should play a role in the length of locate requests. Operators and contract locators only have
enough manpower to handle normal requests. When excessive requests are made, it strains the resources to get everything marked in the required time frames. Personnel cannot be hired and trained to handle sudden upswings
in the quantity of locates requested. Excavators and operators/contract locators should work together to ensure that a sufficient area is located so work can progress without major delays or damages to the utilities.
Too many factors affect the depth of utilities over time. Once the utility has been buried, other excavation could take place that removes part of the cover. A congestion of utilities in one area might necessitate a utility being buried at a slightly less depth than normal. Normal erosion can also lead to a lesser depth for the utility. That is why it is imperative to call for
a locate and make sure it is “pot-holed” prior to any work to verify the depth. And don’t ever believe the old saying, “The locator told me it was such-and- such depth.” Locators, if they are correctly trained, know that they can never give out depths to anyone.
Code of Alabama, §37.15.3 states that “No person shall excavate . . . “. This is fairly plain language – you do not excavate until YOU call in a locate request. A general contractor cannot
call in a locate request and sub- contractors work off the same ticket. Each person must call in for their own locate request.
Yes, an excavator has the right to commence operations after the two-day waiting period has expired. However, it would be more prudent for the excavator to call in a second request and notify the utilities that marking has not occurred. This would alleviate the possibility of damaging any of
the underground utilities in that area. From a safety standpoint, this is the best course of action. A damaged natural gas line or a damaged electrical cable could cause serious injury to the excavator or his employees. It could also cause a major disruption in the supply of these products. Verify before you dig. It is the safest alternative.
One last scoop. How many times has this been uttered? If you know the utility is supposed to be in the area
of excavation, you should never use a backhoe for locating. The running joke is that a backhoe is the best “locator” around for underground utilities. It
is also the most dangerous. Many accidents have been caused by taking that one last scoop with the bucket just because the excavator did not want to use a shovel and a person to spot the utility. Countless people have been injured or killed by digging into natural gas mains or electric lines. And 911 Centers have been left without communications due to damaged fiber optic/telephone lines. The disruption can be catastrophic. Emergency services, hospitals and others are left without the necessary communications they need.
I am sure I have left out some items related to “gaps” in the locating industry. But it is up to all of us to
try to lessen those “gaps” and conduct our business in the most professional and safe way possible. It should be
the intention of each of us to see our co-workers and others go safely home to their families each day. So, let’s work on these “gaps” and see if we can find a way to lessen, or better yet, to eradicate the “gaps”. Let’s work smart and safe and keep our utilities operating the way they are intended each day.
The “gap” that is causing quite a bit of confusion, frustration, ill- tempers, and rattled nerves is the third definition - a difference, especially an undesirable one, between two views or situations. And this affects all underground utilities.
pipe other than digging it up to try to verify the location. This can also result in additional time, labor, and materials to re-bury some type of locating medium with the facility.
The “gap” that is causing quite a bit of confusion, frustration, ill-tempers, and rattled nerves is the third definition - a difference, especially an undesirable
2021, Issue 3 Alabama 811 • 9