Posted on 06/25/2015 2:12:59 PM PDT by BenLurkin
Damage to pipelines caused by construction and excavation activities poses a significant risk to public safety, but is entirely avoidable.
Damage caused by third party excavation around pipelines is one of the most common causes of pipeline damage. Damage prevention is all about pipeline companies working with those who routinely dig and excavate to reduce the chance of damage to the pipeline. CEPA member companies routinely work alongside the excavating community, developers, municipal works departments as well as individual contractors.
Safety Checklist
To minimize the risk of unintentionally causing damage to underground pipelines follow these important steps:
1.To minimize the risk of unintentionally causing damage to underground pipelines follow these important steps:
2.First, plan your activity. Identify the precise location you will be working and check any site records for evidence of pipeline construction or buried facilities.
3.Thoroughly check the site and surrounding area for pipeline warning signs, pipeline right of way signs or marker posts.
4.Contact the pipeline company in your area and request a copy of the pipeline company’s guidelines for ground disturbances.
5.Obtain written approval from the pipeline company for the work.
6.Locate the exact position of the pipeline by submitting a pipeline request. Call the one-call centre in areas where there is one or call the pipeline company to have the pipeline located.
7.Be on site when the pipeline is located and inform yourself of all the signs and pipeline markers.
8.Give at least three working days notice to the pipeline company before starting any work. This will ensure that the pipeline company can take any required measures on their end to avoid any issues.
9.Expose the pipeline by hand before mechanically disturbing the ground within three metres of the pipe.
10.Notify the pipeline company one working day before backfilling earth over the pipe.
11.Immediately notify the pipeline company if you come in contact with the pipe.
Been there - have hit both a gas line and 480 volt electric line that had been cleared. Now, if I'm unsure, I tell the client I'm not doing work until the location is hand dug for five feet or have used hydro-vac to check. Too often the line finder is off by several feet horizontally and safety requires an abundance of caution.
Oh, BTW, not all companies are members of the 811 system (though they are supposed to be in NM) so checking as outlined in your post is prudent.
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