Call OR EXCAVATOR MANUAL

Transcription

1 EXCAVATOR MANUAL Revised 5/2014

2 Lone Star N. Sam Houston Parkway East Ste. 610 Houston, TX or Administrative Offices: (713) Website: Visit for: Placing a locate request The entire Texas Law/One Call Notification Act Training and technical resources A full listing of the One Call Board of Directors Much, much more The information contained in this manual does not have the force of law and is only provided as guidance.

3 About Lone Star Hours of Operation and Observed Holidays 02 The Process of Using Lone Star Who needs to place a locate request and when? 04 How do I place a locate request? 04 Ticket Types 05 Emergency Locate Requests 06 ITIC - Internet Ticketing 07 Required Locate Request Information 08 White-Lining the Proposed Dig Area 09 What happens after I submit a locate request? 10 Who marks the lines? 10 Depth of Facilities 10 Best Practice on Privately Owned Lines 11 How do I know if the utilities have responded? 11 Color Code and Locating Best Practices 12 Marking Guidelines 13 How long is a ticket valid? 17 When to Update the Marks 17 Preserving the Marks 17 Damaging/Disturbing an Underground Facility 18 Disputes with an Excavator or Facility Owner 18 Responsibilities of an Excavator/Digger 18 Responsibilities of the Facility Operators 19 Texas Administrative Code 20 Utilities Code 20 Note Pages 21 Pre-Excavation Check-list 24 This manual contains information Lone Star 811 believes may be helpful in understanding the One-Call law. The material is to be used merely as a guide and should not be relied upon as a substitute for legal requirements, duties, or responsibilities imposed on excavators, operators, or others by the One-Call law. For the most up to date information, including any changes in the One-Call law, please visit

4 ABOUT LONE STAR 811 In 1998, the Texas Damage Prevention Law became effective. This law requires excavators and demolishers to call a notification center at least 48 hours excluding holidays and weekends before they begin their work. It also requires owner/operators of underground facilities to mark locations or supply information that will enable excavators and demolishers to locate underground utilities and facilities. It is listed in the Revised Statutes of Texas from Title 251 to Title 16, Chapter 18. It says that everyone who excavates (or otherwise disturbs the surface of the ground) must first call the state one-call notification center (Lone Star 811) at least two business days, but not more than 14 days, before they start work. Saturday, Sunday and the holidays listed on page 2 of this manual are not included in the two business day timeframe. Lone Star 811 is one of the statewide one-call notification centers set up by Texas state law. It is the link between people who want to excavate and the underground facility owner/operators. Lone Star 811 can receive regular locate requests via the following methods: 01 Phone #: ITIC (Internet Ticketing): 811 or (both numbers are toll free) or tx.itic.occinc.com The service is FREE to the excavator requesting a locate. Upon placing a FREE locate request to Lone Star 811 for a proposed excavation, Lone Star 811 will provide the excavator a list of the member utility companies that have underground facilities in the area of the proposed dig site. Lone Star 811 will then notify those affected utilities of the proposed excavation. Lone Star 811 is funded by its members, the underground facility operators. Records of all calls and locate requests are kept for four years. Call to become a member of Lone Star 811

5 HOURS OF OPERATION Business Office: (713) :00am - 5:00pm CST Phone Requests: 811 or /7/365 Internet Requests: 24/7/ OBSERVED HOLIDAYS Holidays as recognized by Texas State Statutes: New Year s Day Jan. 1 Memorial Day Last Monday in May Independence Day July 4 Labor Day 1st Monday in Sept. Thanksgiving 4th Thursday in Nov. Christmas December 25

6 THE PROCESS OF USING LONE STAR EXCAVATOR CALLS IN LOCATE REQUEST (White-lining or pre-marking the dig site is strongly encouraged) LONE STAR 811 PROCESSES & SUBMITS REQUEST TO UTILITIES UTILITIES MARK SITE OR ADVISE IF THEY ARE CLEAR EXCAVATOR DIGS WITH CARE, AVOIDING DAMAGES

7 WHO NEEDS TO PLACE A LOCATE REQUEST AND WHEN? Everyone, everywhere in the state of Texas must contact an 811 call center before excavating or disturbing the soil, even in your own farm field or backyard! Two business days (but not more than 14 days) prior to your planned excavation activity, you may place a locate request with an 811 call center. By contacting an 811 call center, you will be placing a request for the underground utilities in your excavation area to be located and marked. Contacting an 811 call center is required by state law (Utilities Code Title 5 Chapter 251) and is designed to protect you, underground facilities and the public. Professional contractors, homeowners, and personal property owners all fall under the statutes. 04 IMPORTANT: The individual that will be doing the actual excavation, disturbing the soil, is responsible for submitting the locate request to an 811 call center. If you are a subcontractor and will be conducting the actual excavation, you need to place the locate request with an 811 call center. A locate request placed by your general contractor will not protect you or your company. If you are a homeowner and will have someone else doing the excavation on your property, the individual doing the excavation activity needs to submit the locate request to an 811 call center. Please ensure that the individual excavating on your property or project has submitted a locate request to an 811 call center two business days prior to the excavation activity. HOW DO I PLACE A LOCATE REQUEST? Two business days (but not more than 14 days) prior to your planned excavation activity, you may place a locate request with Lone Star 811 via the following methods: Phone: 811 or (both numbers are toll free) Online: or tx.itic.occinc.com ITIC (Internet Ticketing)

8 TICKET TYPES NORMAL This is a standard locate request. Utilities must respond within two business days or at a time mutually agreed to by all parties. All utilities should respond by either marking the approximate location of underground facilities or calling, faxing or ing the excavator that the utility is clear or not affected. EMERGENCY A locate request meeting the legal definition of an Emergency (page 6). Submitting a ticket as an emergency that does not meet the legal definition is punishable by criminal penalties. Repeated instances of filing emergency tickets that do not meet the legal definition of an emergency may result in a complaint being filed with the Texas Attorney General s office. DAMAGE/EMERGENCY DIG-UP A notification of the damage or disturbance of an underground utility. Texas statute requires the immediate notification of the damage, dislocation or disturbance of an underground utility to an 811 call center. If the damage involves pipeline or natural gas facilities, 911 must also be notified. UPDATE A notification requesting a refresh of marks from an existing locate request. This request should be made anytime the work will continue for longer than ten business days or if marks become unusable due to work disturbance or weather. NO RESPONSE/2ND REQUEST A second notification reporting that a utility, or utilities, did not respond to an existing locate request by marking or notification that they are clear. Any utility receiving a No Response should respond within four hours. 05 TICKET TYPES CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

9 TICKET TYPES (Continued) DESIGN/SURVEY A notification to provide the designer with a list of utilities in a proposed are of excavation. 06 EMERGENCY LOCATE REQUESTS An Emergency Locate Request is defined as and will only be accepted and processed as the following: A clear and present danger to life, health, or property or which demands immediate action to prevent or repair a major service outage. Poor planning on the part of the excavator DOES NOT constitute an Emergency. If your request does not fall within the parameters of a defined emergency you will be required to wait 2 business days or until all facilities have been located prior to any excavation activity. Examples of Emergency Locate Requests, but not limited to: Blowing or leaking gas lines Repairing downed fence that secures livestock Repairing water lines that serve large facilities (nursing homes, hospitals, schools) Repairing crucial cable or fiber serving business/ industry/911 centers Examples of NON Emergency Requests, but not limited to: Installation or repair of fence on personal property Repair or installation of underground sprinklers Installing cable for personal residence Planting trees or any landscaping

10 ITIC ITIC (Internet Ticketing) is a free internet application offering excavators the ability to enter a dig request online 24/7/365. There are 2 versions available: TEXT ONLY allows you to enter the ticket information (the text portion of a locate request). The ticket is then sent to Lone Star 811. An ITIC specialist will review the ticket to ensure it contains all required information, then outline the proposed excavation site on a map to determine which utilities will receive the locate request. MAPPING allows you to enter the ticket information AND use the mapping application to determine which utilities will receive the locate request. The mapping version requires free training. Webinars and on-site trainings are available. Visit or call to schedule one today! 07 Direct link to ITIC: tx.itic.occinc.com

11 REQUIRED LOCATE REQUEST INFORMATION You will be asked the following questions while submitting a locate request with Lone Star 811. To avoid any delays, please have all information available when submitting the request. 08 Sender Information Phone Number: First & Last Name: Company Name: Company Address: Address: One Site Contact Information First & Last Name: Caller ID: Phone Number: Excavation Information Type of Work: Work Done For: Digging Deeper Than 16 : YES NO Explosives: YES NO Duration: Location Information County: City: Inside City Limits: Address or street work is on or along: On which side of the road (circle one): N S E W BOTH Nearest Intersecting street: Driving Directions to Site: (From intersecting street to site) Marking Instructions: (include starting and stopping point)

12 WHITE-LINING OF A PROPOSED DIG AREA 09 White lining is the practice of outlining the area of excavation with white paint or flags. White lining saves the utilities time once on site and ensures the entire area of excavation is located properly. 1. Single Area Excavation Marking Co. Identifier Co. Identifier Co. Identifier 1 Wide 1 Dia. 1 Wide 1 Wide Dots 6 Approx. Length Co. Identifier 1 Wide 6 Approx. Length Marks long, 1 wide, 4-50 apart Outline or dot the extent of excavation Identify corners with solid angles Identify excavator name Dots may have less than 4 spacing Full Line Radius or Arc Four Corner Dash Line 2. Single Stake Marking Center Point of Excavation Stake at the center of excavation Include name of excavator on stake Indicate radius of excavation on stake Single stake with radius noted. This circle illustrates the radius indicated on the stake. 3. Trenching, Boring or Other Continuous Type Excavation Trench Line Proposed Excavation Center Line Trench Line Co. Identifier Co. Identifier 1 x 6 to 12 Arrows 1 Dia. Dots Curb Marks long, 1 wide, 4-50 apart Outline or dot the extent of excavation Identify corners with solid angles Identify excavator name Property Line 4. Stakes, Flags, or Whiskers 5. Excavation Corridor Stakes, Flags, or Whiskers Marking Four Corners Stakes, Flags, or Whiskers Marking Outline of Excavation ACME 10 CDR (Excavator identifier) (Corridor width) Indicate corridor width along path of excavation Please refer to the Common Ground Alliance Best Practices manual for more information on marking guidelines. Lone Star 811 strongly encourages the practice whenever possible.

13 WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I SUBMIT A LOCATE REQUEST? The member utilities affected by your proposed dig site will promptly be notified by an 811 call center of your excavation plans. If they are within your proposed dig site, the utility will respond no later than two business days after the call center has been notified of the intent to excavate. The member utilities will mark the approximate location of their underground utilities. These marks are approximate and will be within 18 inches on either side, plus ½ the width of the underground facility. If digging must take place in an area marked, hand digging and extreme caution is suggested. An operator who determines that it does not have any underground facilities located in the area of proposed excavation will notify the excavator of that determination prior to the start date/time indicated on the ticket. WHO MARKS THE LINES? The facility owner/operator is required by law to respond to each notification. An 811 call center will send the proposed excavation information to the facility owner/operator. The operator will either respond to the locate request themselves or they may hire a contract locating company to respond for them. DEPTH OF FACILITIES Utilities are not required to mark/indicate the depth of their facilities under Texas law. Even though there are standards established for the installation of various facilities, factors such as erosion or landscaping can change the depth of an installed facility. It is recommended that the excavator never assume that any facility is at a given depth. 10

14 BEST PRACTICE ON PRIVATELY OWNED LINES Privately owned underground facilities are not required to be marked by representatives of One Call Member facility operators beyond the demarcation point of each facility (e.g. Private Property) and can vary depending on the type of facility and policies of the facility operator. Prior to excavating, the excavator should be aware that privately owned buried facilities may exist within the work area. The excavator should inspect the work area for signs of private utilities and contact the private facility owner to verify the location. Examples of private facilities include but are not limited to: Natural gas lines running to fire pits, BBQ grills, pool heaters, spas, detached garage, etc. Landscape lighting, invisible pet fencing Water lines for water features, underground sprinklers Electric line running to out buildings, garages, gazebos, sheds, RV hook-ups, etc. Electric lines for parking lot lights Electric line for commercial signage Private sewer and water including septic laterals and water service Electric lines to center pivots Farm tap service lines Propane lines from tank to structure 11 HOW DO I KNOW IF UTILITIES HAVE RESPONDED? The facility owner/operator is required by law to respond to each notification. After the operator has been notified of the planned excavation, they are required by law to either: 1. Mark the approximate location of their underground facilities using the APWA color code (on next page); 2. Request additional information if necessary; or

15 3. Advise you if they have no facilities at your excavation site by verbally informing the excavator in person or by calling the contact number, leaving a message, sending an or fax if provided, or marking clear or ok at the dig site. Contact Lone Star 811 if a utility has not responded by the start date/time on the locate request. COLOR CODE AND LOCATING BEST PRACTICES Use color-coded surface marks (paint) to indicate the location and route of buried lines. To increase visibility, color-coded vertical markers (temporary stakes or flags) could supplement surface marks. All marks and markers should indicate the name, initials or logo of the company that owns or operates the line and the width of the facility if it is greater than two inches. If the surface over the buried line is to be removed, supplemental offset marking may be used. Offset markings should be on a uniform alignment and must clearly indicate that the actual facility is a specific distance away. 12 WHITE : PINK : RED : YELLOW : ORANGE : BLUE: PURPLE : GREEN: Proposed Excavation Temporary Survey Markings Electric Power Lines, Cables, Conduit and Lighting Cables Gas, Oil, Steam, Petroleum or Gaseous Materials Communication, Alarm or Signal Lines, Cables or Conduit Potable Water Reclaimed Water, Irrigation and Slurry Lines Sewer and Drain Lines

16 MARKING GUIDELINES If digging must take place within this area, the excavator should exercise such reasonable care as may be necessary for the protection of any underground facility in or near the excavation area. Use extreme caution along with hand digging or other soft digging methods General Marks (as can be reasonably seen based on terrain) SBC (Company identifier) 12 to 18 4 to 50 in distance between marks 2. Single Facility (indicate center of single toned facility) SIDEWALK CURB DOW 12 STL Approximate Center of Facility 1 Wide 3. Multiple Facilities (same type facilities where separate signal is not possible) SIDEWALK CURB PG&E 4/4 PLA Approximate Center of Facilities 4. Conduit or Oversize Facility (diamond enclosed by outside edge of facility) SIDEWALK CURB SBC 4/4 PLA Pipe Material Actual Outer Edges of Facilities Facility Marking Standards Please refer to the Common Ground Alliance Best Practices manual for more information on marking guidelines.

17 MARKING GUIDELINES (Continued) Corridor Mark (same type facilities where number is not known) SIDEWALK CURB PG&E 12 CDR Approximate Center of Combined Facilities Actual Outer Edges of Facilities 6. Bends (radius indicated with marks depicting arc) PG&E 6 PLA Approximate Center PG&E 6 PLA 7. Laterals (mark as a T indicate any change in size or direction) Facility Marking Standards PG&E 2 PLA PG&E 4 PLA Approximate Center 8. Painted Offset (arrow with distance to center of facility) PG&E 8 off 12 STL Approximate Center Please refer to the Common Ground Alliance Best Practices manual for more information on marking guidelines.

18 MARKING GUIDELINES (Continued) Staked Offset (arrow with distance to center of facility) PG&E 4 off 10. Vaults (mark edges and arrow toward visible access) PG&E Vault 11. Terminations (indicates capped end of a facility) PG&E 12. Clear or Ok (CLEAR or OK indicates no conflict) LG CLEAR AT&T CLEAR ABC NO FACILITIES Approximate Center PG&E Work Area Delineation 12 STL Facility Marking Standards Please refer to the Common Ground Alliance Best Practices manual for more information on marking guidelines.

19 MARKING GUIDELINES (Continued) Appurtenance or Splice (valves or fittings elevated from main facility depth) AT&T 14. Continuation of Facility (arrows indicated facility continues beyond locate area) LG 10 LG 10 Facility Marking Standards Please refer to the Common Ground Alliance Best Practices manual for more information on marking guidelines.

20 HOW LONG IS A TICKET VALID? If an active excavation project will continue for longer than 14 days or the markings become unclear or unusable at anytime due to weather, construction or other causes, an Update request needs to be submitted to an 811 call center. Use the original ticket number as a reference. An Update request requires the two business day waiting period. WHEN TO UPDATE THE MARKS BEST PRACTICE ON TICKET LIFE Markings provided by operators shall be valid for a period of 14 days from the proposed starting date provided to an 811 call center. The person responsible for the excavation project shall renew the notification with an 811 call center at least 2 business days prior to this expiration date and shall continue to renew such notification in the same manner throughout the duration of the excavation. The renewal notice shall be valid for a period of 14 days from the proposed starting date of the renewal notification. 17 PRESERVING THE MARKS BEST PRACTICE ON CONDITION OF FACILITY LOCATION MARKINGS The excavator is responsible for reasonably protecting and preserving facility location markings until no longer required for proper and safe excavation near an underground facility. If the excavator has reason to believe locate markings are obliterated, obscured, missing or incorrect, the excavator shall notify an 811 call center in order to have the facility operator verify, refresh or remark the locate. It is important that all facilities are marked prior to digging. Notice to the center shall be given at least 2 business days, but not more than 14 days, before commencing the excavation.

21 DAMAGING/DISTURBING AN UNDERGROUND UTILITY All excavators must notify an 811 call center to report damage to an underground facility (see Texas administrative code Title 16 chapter 18 Rule on damage reporting requirments). An 811 call center will notify all underground member facility operators in the area, who will respond appropriately. If the damage results in a potentially dangerous emergency, the excavator shall take reasonable actions to alleviate the emergency including, but not limited to, the evacuation of the affected area. For everyone s safety in any incident involving blowing gas, make calls from a safe distance. The excavator shall leave all equipment situated where the equipment was at the time the emergency was created and immediately contact the operator/owner, appropriate authorities and response agencies including, but not limited to, the 911 emergency response system. DISPUTES WITH AN EXCAVATOR OR FACILITY OWNER Lone Star 811 will not and is not authorized to settle disputes between excavators, facility operators and contract locators. RESPONSIBILITIES OF AN EXCAVATOR/DIGGER You must call 811 at least 2 business days, but not more than 14 days before digging (except for emergencies. See page 6). You must ensure all information on the locate request is accurate. Call 811 to correct inaccurate information. You must contact any other utilities in the area that are NOT notified by an 811 call center. You must ensure all utilities have responded before you begin your excavation. Call 811 if the utilities have not responded or marked correctly by the start date/time on 18

22 the locate request. Once all utilities have marked, or indicated clear, you must dig with reasonable care. Should you hit (damage, dislocate, disturb or expose) an underground facility, you must call an 811 call center immediately. Damages shall not be concealed or repaired without authorization from the owner of the facility. Contact an 811 call center if markings need to be refreshed. 19 RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FACILITY OPERATORS Underground facility operators must be members of an 811 call center. They must mark their facilities or notify the excavator of no facilities in the dig area within two business days from the request. Operators shall mark underground pipelines by means of stakes, paint, flags, or a combination of two or more of these. If, in the opinion of the operator, the precise location of a facility cannot be determined and marked as required, the operator will provide all pertinent information and field locating assistance to the excavator at a mutually agreed to time. Underground facility owners will update their records with an 811 call center as needed.

23 TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE The Texas Administrative Code can be found by visiting the following URL: 20 UTILITIES CODE The Utilities Code can be found by visiting the following URL:

24 NOTES 21

25 NOTES 22

26 NOTES 23

27 PRE-EXCAVATION CHECK-LIST Crew Foreman One-Call Ticket # Contact # Date Complete a pre-excavation walk-out of the entire job site. Your objective is to visually inspect the dig area to ensure all utilities are marked. Look for signs of utilities that may not be marked such as, above-ground pedestals, gas meters, man-hole covers, drains, or utility poles with cable risers. If you find these indicators and suspect that there is an unmarked utility DO NOT PROCEED. Notify One Call that an unidentified line has been discovered. When you have completed your walk-out, complete the following check list: 1) Verify that the One-Call ticket covers the Scope of work and Work to begin date: I have verified the One-Call ticket covers the Scope of work I have verified the One-Call ticket Work to begin date 2) What marked utilities did you observe? Gas (Yellow) Electric (Red) Telephone (Orange) Cable TV (Orange) Water (Blue) Sewer (Green) 3) Based on visual observation, did you see signs of any unmarked utilities? Yes No If Yes, please identify? Gas (Yellow) Electric (Red) Telephone (Orange) Cable TV (Orange) Water (Blue) Sewer (Green) I have notified One Call of the unmarked Utility 4) Photograph the entire proposed work area including all locate marks. I have photographed the entire site prior to excavation I have photographed existing locate/markings 5) Advise your crew members of the following: If they have to cross a marked Utility they must HAND DIG ONLY within 18 of the locate marks plus half the diameter of the buried facility. RESPECT THE MARKS! I have advised my crew of the 18 hand dig rule 24 IN THE EVENT OF DAMAGE Notify One Call and your supervisor Complete the reverse side of this form Photograph entire area and damage location PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS Make sure the correct date & time stamp is active on your camera Photograph the excavation itself (damage location) Take photos from multiple vantage points and of surrounding area (360 degrees) If the utility was mis-marked, photograph the locate marks/flags (include tape measure in photo) If the utility was not marked, photograph the entire area and approaches to the cut site Show a quantifiable location/address (street sign, house number, mail box number etc.) Facility depth (include tape measure in photo) Remember!! You can never take too many photos Telecommunications, Oil, Gas, Railroad, Water, One Call, Public Works, Equipment Manufacturing, State Regulators, Insurance, Pipeline Operators, Emergency Services and Engineering/Design.

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