Excavator Responsibilities after Making a Locate Request
Notifying Diggers Hotline is only the first step for the caller in fulfilling his or her responsibilities in the locating process.
After the markings have been made, excavators are required to maintain a minimum clearance of 18 inches between a marked and unexposed transmission facility and the cutting edge or point of any power-operated excavating or earth-moving equipment.
If excavation is required within 18 inches of any marking, the excavation should be performed very carefully with hand tools. See State Statutes 182.0175(2)(a)(3). This is particularly important because locating is not an exact science and, therefore, the actual location of the facility could vary from the position of the marks.
If the transmission facility is exposed, the excavator may reduce the clearance to 2 times the known limit of control of the cutting edge or point of the equipment or 12 inches, whichever is greater.
If marks are destroyed or covered by excavation site activities, the excavator must provide a relocate notice to Diggers Hotline. If work does not start within 10 calendar days of the scheduled start date, or the work is interrupted for more than 10 calendar days, the excavator must provide a three-day locate notice to Diggers Hotline. See State Statute 182.0175(2)(am)(4) and "Ticket Lifespan/Remarking" later in this guide.
If, during the course of excavation, a facility has been exposed, it is the excavator’s responsibility to inspect and support these facilities prior to backfilling in order to ascertain if the facilities have been struck or damaged in any capacity. If damage of any kind is discovered or any suspicion of damage exists, it is the excavator’s responsibility to immediately notify the facility owner directly. See State Statute 182.0175(2)(am)(6), 182.0175(2)(am)(7), and 182.0175(2)(am)(8). The excavator must refrain from backfilling an excavation until an inspection is conducted and any necessary repairs have been made by the owner of the transmission facility. See State Statute 182.0175(2)(am)(6m). Diggers Hotline will provide the contact number of facility owners, upon request.
Many excavators mistakenly believe that Diggers Hotline is responsible for the actual marking of facilities. This is not the case. Diggers Hotline takes information from the excavator and relays it to Diggers Hotline members. Each facility owner is responsible for ensuring that their facilities are properly marked. When one member indicates that there are no facilities in conflict with a specific excavation, the excavator must realize that this does not mean that "Diggers Hotline" has cleared the site; nor does it mean that other facilities are not at that location.
Also be aware of facilities on or near your work site that might be privately owned. Homeowners and private businesses can own facilities on property that is owned by them. These facility owners are not required to be members of Diggers Hotline, and therefore will not be notified of your work. Private businesses can have electric, gas and/or communications facilities. Homeowners could have electrcity to a detached garages, underground sprinkler systems, invisible dog fences, and the list goes on. It is the excavator’s duty to notify the owners of private facilities of their intent to dig.
Also, excavators are encouraged to have a copy of the locate request at the work site and to keep a copy of the ticket until well after the project has been completed.
When excavation is complete on large worksites, it is the duty of the general contractor to remove marking flags and stakes. For single employer worksites, it is the duty of the ticket holder to remove flags and stakes.
Next Topic: Ticket Lifespan/Re-Marking