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science behind the locating equipment they use and the underground utilities they locate.
It would be impossible to find a recognized utility industry trade
that does not insist that its workers understand the ways in which science impacts the activities of the trade.
At any given time in the U.S., 25,000 people are earning their living finding the location of underground utility lines. While some people find their career path in locating, most do not
for one reason or another. One of the most unfortunate reasons is that there is no recognized accreditation level for locators that is standardized, unbiased, and credible. For there to be a career path in locating, there must a process of accreditation consisting of:
A. Testing of skills and knowledge— locator certification
B. A continuing education requirement to maintain certification
C. A “knowledge bank,” featuring the ability for industry to deposit and withdraw knowledge
Locator Certification
The training program used to train a locator doesn’t determine an individual’s locating competency. A standardized, independent, and unbiased locator certification program aims to ensure that an individual can use their skills to deliver excellent locating results.
Becoming certified is an accomplishment that instills pride. Individuals proud of their profession naturally regard clear, concise communication and problem-solving as their top priorities.
It’s encouraging to see online locator forums evolve over the years—from chaotic rants about employers, to more of a resource for those that want to learn a variety of things about
the industry. Peer-to-peer learning is powerful, but it shouldn’t be limited to online forums.
The locating industry benefits from hosting more opportunities for locators to learn from each other’s experiences and knowledge. Continuing education can come in many forms, and locator certification renewal requires peer-to-
peer learning events for locators.
One of the most common things I’ve heard about locators over the years is that they don’t know much about the utilities they locate. These comments suggest that if locators knew more about the utilities they are locating, their locating would be more accurate and complete. I agree, but I can tell you this lack of basic utility knowledge extends to pretty much every other damage prevention stakeholder group as well.
A knowledge bank established
for locator certification benefits excavators, engineers, utility personnel, enforcement agency inspectors and others. These are people who need to understand that when there is a lack of accessing useful locating, utility,
and mapping information, the result
is higher rates of avoidable damage to underground lines.
Failing is Not Failure
How many candidates for certification will attain certification? Initially, a low percentage and that’s OK. People who desire to create a culture of excellence in the locating industry understand that rubber-stamping people to certification is not going to fix anything.
While there will be consternation galore with failed tests, locator certification is first and foremost a visible and transparent effort to learn what people know in order to teach them what they don’t. This is how the damage prevention industry achieves a greater degree of locating excellence.
A Type of Currency
The three pillars of a certified locator program—certification testing, continuing education, and establishing a knowledge bank—create a career path in locating, thus making certified locators a type of currency.
Currency has a value that is the same for both sellers and buyers. In a locating industry with locator certification,
value consists of competent locators delivering excellent locating results
for the utility, engineering, and construction industries.
Currency is defined as:
1. something used as a medium of exchange
2. general acceptance; prevalence; vogue
A recent industry report focused on the nation’s 811 system claims there is $61 billion in “waste, inefficiency, and excess cost embedded in the system and largely invisible.” That’s a lot of opportunity to spend certified locator currency in the system that produces most every locator.
The Answer is “Yes”
Late response to 811 tickets is some of the excess cost embedded in the 811 system. Could the currency of certified locators be spent to address late 811 tickets? For that matter, could the currency of certified locators be spent to improve the results of subsurface utility engineering or utility design? Or to increase production and enhance safety for construction crews?
The answer to all these questions is
a resounding “yes.” Can you imagine what a collection of disrespected locators would feel if they could finally wear a badge proving their knowledge and skills? What, too, if the utility, engineering, and construction industries recognized locating as a skill worthy of its actual importance? Without locator certification that’s not going to happen.
Who will lead the push to use the currency of certified locators? 811? Private locating? Survey/engineering locating? Construction crew locating? Where will the currency be adopted to change existing practices and systems?
We won’t have to wait too long for answers and that’s a great thing for people who want to clearly see a career path in the locating industry.
Ignore No More
I used to wonder why there was no locator certification program. As I talked to all those locators over the years, many asked the same question of me. My answer was always that until there was locator certification, locator certification would be easy to ignore.
Well, the certified locator program is here, and that’s good for the locating industry as well as a whole lot of other people in the utility, engineering,
and construction industries. Locator certification recognizes locating as a skill as well as a respected trade. That’s hard to ignore.
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