Most people associate excavation with large construction equipment digging giant trenches or big holes. But there are many “small digs” that are performed every day and despite the small size, these excavations still pose a threat to safety. It is vitally important that workers and homeowners engaged in these activities are aware of the hazards that digging poses. Some buried facilities are just inches below the surface and care is required when digging any type of hole. It is also important to note that, quite often, these small dig projects are located on property that is beyond the scope of 811 and may require a private utility locator to identify the location of buried utilities.

Damage prevention is a shared responsibility. Digging safely begins with a call to your One Call System. Most state laws require this call, and it is normally free. Excavation information is then sent by the One Call System to operators of underground facilities near your excavation. The operators will mark the location of their facilities in accordance with the applicable state requirements. Emergency contact information should be obtained directly from the operator or from nearby pipeline markers. Pipelines are an essential part of our transportation system. We depend on them every day to transport gas and liquid products to our homes and businesses. Pipeline companies perform ongoing maintenance to ensure the reliability of their systems. Local communities also play a vital role in keeping our Nation’s energy infrastructure safe and secure. Individuals who observe any unusual conditions or suspicious activity near a pipeline facility should immediately report these to local law enforcement or the pipeline operator. Following these guidelines will help prevent pipeline emergencies and keep pipelines the safest method for transporting gas and liquid products.

What are Private Utilities?

In most areas, private systems begin at the demarcation point that separates the public utilities from the customer’s system. For example, a homeowner is responsible for the portion of the water line that runs from the water meter to the house, the water company is responsible for everything leading up to the meter. This also applies to much larger sites. Universities, industrial and manufacturing sites, ports, military bases, refineries, and other areas outside of the public rights of way may all have private utility systems. These systems can include utility types as varied as product lines, drainpipes, fiber optic networks, security systems, steam lines, fire protection, conduits, etc. This image shows a portion of a utility map for a large manufacturing facility. All the lines indicating buried facilities shown on this map are privately owned by the facility and it is the facility who is ultimately responsible for the protection of these lines. Even in situations where the utilities covered under the One Call system extend into private property, the lines may only be marked up to the property lines. This is especially the case in facilities such as ports, manufacturing, military, or other secure sites.

If You Hit a Buried Utility Regardless of the project you are working on, if you hit a buried utility, immediately stop work, secure the area, call 911, call the utility, and do not resume work until you are given clearance to do so. Even if you do not see any visible damage to the buried facility, it is important to report it as even a small dent or scratch can compromise the long-term integrity of the pipe or cable.

So now that you know a little bit more about excavation, let a team of professional experts take care of your project.

We are ECG, we are safety first.

This field definitely needs some expert hands and skill. So, have you decided on what type of project you need? Make sure you research on this for a while before coming up with a decision.

We pride ourselves in providing Demolition, Abatement and Environmental Services you can depend on. (Concrete cutting, coring, green demolition, disinfection and sterilization cleaning services, asbestos abatement and more)

Contact us to get started on your next project, Call us: 562-438-7999.