Underground utility strikes can lead to very dangerous situations for contractors. Types of buried utilities contractors should be on the lookout for include telephone, cable television, fiber optic communications, natural gas and propane lines, hazardous liquid, water lines, and sewers.
With proper safety training, contractors can help prevent damage to underground utility strikes, and keeping proper job site documentation can help improve safety processes and defend against claims in the event of an incident.
Prevent underground utility strikes
Before any construction work begins, have utilities marked before any digging occurs. Call your state’s One Call Notification Center to have utilities marked. If working on private property, use a private company or staff an employee trained in utility detection methods.
Create a safety policy and train employees on using proper digging tools and techniques when working around underground utilities. Our underground utilities safety talk can help train your team on safety expectations and best practices
Job site documentation
It’s important to document and record the job site before, during, and after excavation begins — this is called a Project Safety and Damage Prevention File (SDPF). The SDPF is a detailed account of your job site, any incidents, procedures followed, interviews conducted, and more. This documentation should include notes, videos, photos, and even sketches, and could include details such as:
- Markings of the job site and utilities before excavation
- Note observations after soft digging to visually confirm actual locations of marked facilities in conflict with excavation activities
- Include details about the general area around the job site for above-ground signs of unmarked facilities
- If an unmarked or mismarked utility is discovered, note the location and condition of the utility
- Also track downtime and costs for waiting on the owner/operator to return to re-mark
- Interview the job site team to note circumstances surrounding the finding/incident
- Document the owner/operator’s response to the incident
- If a utility is damaged during excavation, notes should include:
- Timeline and locations of incident, such as where and when the damage occurred
- Steps taken to notify impacted parties, evacuate the job site and surrounding areas, and other safety protocols completed
- Job site personnel interviews surrounding the incident
- Damages and marker locations
- Owner/operator’s response to the incident
- Repair time
- Downtime and costs associated with the damage and repairs
This detailed file can help defend against potential claims and collection activities in the event an incident occurs.
Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT)
The Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) is a database of information hosted by the Common Ground Alliance. It’s used to determine successes and weaknesses in the 811 process. This tool collects critical information, analyzes data, and produces recommendations for damage prevention. Learn more about DIRT, find reports, and explore their resources on the Common Ground Alliance website.
Additional safety resources
Find free and discounted safety resources available to SECURA policyholders, or contact your SECURA risk management consultant directly for customized safety training, programs, policies, or assessments.
