Page 69 - BCCGA Best Practices Version 3.0

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British Columbia Common Ground Alliance

demarcation point of each facility (i.e. Private Property). The private facility

owner is responsible for identifying the location of these buried facilities.

Identification activities may include, but are not limited to provision of maps,

provision of engineering drawings from previous workings, and/or retaining or

authorizing the deployment of a private locator.

REFERENCES:

Existing British Columbia acts and regulations.

4-4

LOCATE REFERENCE NUMBER

PRACTICE STATEMENT:

The ground disturber receives and maintains a

reference number from the one-call centre that verifies that the locate was

requested.

PRACTICE DESCRIPTION:

Each call from a ground disturber that is processed

by the one-call centre is assigned its own message reference number, which is

contained on all locate request messages. The ground disturber records this

number and uses it as proof of notification to one-call members. The computer-

generated request identifies the date, time, and sequence number of the locate

request.

4-3

WHITE LINING

PRACTICE STATEMENT:

When the excavation site cannot be identified clearly

or adequately on the locate ticket, the ground disturber uses white pre-marking

or lining to designate the route and/or area to be excavated before the arrival

of the locator.

PRACTICE DESCRIPTION:

The excavation route is marked with white paint,

flags, stakes, or a combination of these. This marking is to outline the

excavation site prior to notifying the one-call centre and/or private operator

and before the locator arrives on site. With the use of white pre-marking or

lining, ground disturbers can clearly communicate to facility owners/operators

or their locators where the excavation is to take place. Note, however, the

BCCGA does not recommend this practice during the winter months or where

snow is prevalent.

REFERENCE:

The National Transportation Safety Board (U.S.) conducted a

1997 safety study, “Protecting Public Safety through Excavation Damage

Prevention,” which found pre-marking is a practice that helps prevent

excavation damage.