Page 42 - BCCGA Best Practices Version 3.0

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PRACTICE DESCRIPTION: The one-call centre develops, implements, and
maintains an effective disaster recovery plan. This plan enables the centre to
continue its operations in the aftermath of a disaster that has affected the
facilities. This plan also includes continued communications with local
emergency services in order to provide safe access to the centre.
Under the disaster recovery plan, ground disturbers and underground facility
owners/operators outside of the disaster affected areas can continue to
conduct their operations with minimum to no delays in the services provided by
the centre. The plan also makes provisions for the centre to process emergency
locate requests for the areas affected by the disaster.
The one-call centre (primary centre) has an arrangement with another remote
location (secondary centre), which is to serve as a back up to the primary
centre. This arrangement covers the following items:
Ÿ Telecommunications — alternate routing schedules are in place and ready
to be activated within minutes of the primary centre's failure
Ÿ Hardware and software — the secondary centre has compatible hardware
to that of the primary centre and always has a copy of the primary centre's
current software
Ÿ Database — the secondary centre receives the primary centre's database,
including locate requests on a regular basis, preferably in real time
Ÿ Staffing — a portion of the secondary centre's staff is cross-trained for the
primary centre's operations at all times, and
Ÿ Simulated emergency testing — at least once a year and on a random basis,
the disaster recovery plan is implemented to make sure it is operational
2-19 REMOTE USER INTERFACE
PRACTICE STATEMENT: The one-call centre provides users with a means of
direct electronic entry of locate requests of comparable ticket quality. Users are
able to assist by entering their own information.
PRACTICE DESCRIPTION: The one-call centre has interactive data
communications that allows qualified members and ground disturbers to enter
data remotely. The remote user interface validates the information and allows
the user to make corrections wherever necessary. The user is able to do this by
referencing the same geographic database used at the one-call centre for
receiving a voiced-in request. The intent of this process is to ensure and
maintain ticket quality for all tickets.
Best Practices Version 3.0