TAILGATER Best Practices 5-1 thru 5-14 BEST PRACTICES

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1 TAILGATER Best Practices 5-1 thru 5-14

2 A Little Background Common Ground Task Force established in Performed the Common Ground Study which was completed and presented to the Secretary of Transportation in All affected stakeholder groups had representation on each of the 9 best practices committees.

3 A Little Background If some of the best practices seem watered down, they probably are. When 100% consensus is utilized, some of the stickiest points don t make it to the final product. It was never intended that the best practices would be a static product but a working document that would evolve as technology evolved and more was learned.

4 Utilize the One-Call system to obtain locates prior to beginning your excavation. Follow the wait requirements to allow the operators to get the facilities located.

5 Whiteline the excavation site if the site can not be clearly and adequately identified on the locate ticket. This is to your benefit because you will get better locates if the locator understands where the work will be taking place.

6 Record the locate reference number provided by the One-Call Center. This verifies a locate request was made. Keep the reference number and/or copy of the ticket at the job site. You will need it should a damage occur.

7 If the situation warrants, set up a preconstruction meeting with operators having facilities in the area of your job. Discuss possible conflicts and try to reach agreement on how those will be handled. Coordinate with operators any potential outages your job may cause.

8 You must have your own locate request ticket. Every other excavator on the site needs to have their own locate request ticket. This was upheld in the Kansas Supreme Court in Refer to the definition of excavator in the One- Call law to identify just what constitutes being an excavator.

9 REMEMBER!!! Excavators have access to Kansas One-Call 24/7. There is no reason to not call for a locate request. ITIC is also a method of placing locate requests. It is the Internet Ticketing method of placing locate requests. NO PIGGYBACKING on tickets.

10 Operators are required to provide POSITIVE RESPONSE to a locate request. Marking the site is what you generally think of when thinking about response to a locate request. The operator may also call, fax, , or mark tickets to clear locate request when the operator does not have facility conflicts.

11 If an operator of one of the facilities does not respond, it is best to make a second attempt to get a locate. Calling in to Kansas One-Call explaining that one or more operators has not responded will prompt Kansas One-Call to issue a nonresponse ticket. This notifies the operator that their facility has allegedly not been located. They need to provide immediate response to locate the area.

12 If the operator s locator informs you they can t meet the ticket due date, the law allows for you to arrive at an agreed to time to have the locate completed. If possible, try to accommodate the locator s request for a later time. Cooperation always works better.

13 Prior to beginning your excavation, verify that all marks are in place. Try to determine if other facilities are in the area and have not been marked. Most of all, MAKE SURE YOU ARE AT THE CORRECT SITE. If the above are correct and complete, document all markings for your records.

14 The documentation you make of the markings that are in place with dated pictures, videos, or sketches with distances from fixed objects is priceless should a damage occur and a claim arises. Documentation is your best friend.

15 Take time to walk the site with all workers involved with the site work. This time will get everyone on the same page about what will take place, where it will take place, and any special situations that are known.

16 Repeat: Have your one-call ticket number and/or a copy of the actual locate ticket from Kansas One-Call at the work site with you. If something happens, you will need this number.

17 Something that is also beneficial is to develop a list of contact phone numbers for operators that are within the area of your work. Getting these numbers prior to needing them is something you won t regret. After a damage, spending valuable time trying to find a phone number will rattle you even more.

18 If you use ITIC to request a locate, you will get a copy of the locate ticket every time. The ticket will have a listing of each operator notified of your request and a phone number. Keep in mind that those phone numbers are for contacting the locators, not reporting damages.

19 NEXT TIME: Best practices number 5-15 thru 5-30 dealing with the best practice recommendations to follow for activities after the excavation begins.