Page 73 - BCCGA Best Practices Version 3.0

72 British Columbia Common Ground Alliance
4-10 FACILITY OWNER OR OPERATOR FAILURE TO RESPOND
PRACTICE STATEMENT: The ground disturber calls the one-call centre again
when the facility owner or operator fails to provide a positive response.
PRACTICE DESCRIPTION: It is important for the ground disturber to follow up
with the one-call centre when the following two circumstances arise. First, the
facility owner or operator fails to respond to the timely request for a locate by
the ground disturber within the time specified by provincial requirements.
Second, the facility owner or operator that does locates, notifies the ground
disturber that the underground facility cannot be marked within the time frame
nor the mutually agreed upon date.
The one-call centre contacts the facility owner or operator to determine the
reason for failing to respond or the delay, and raises the status of the locate to
an overdue locate. Where practicable, the facility owner or operator responds
with the locate and supporting documentation within two hours.
Essentially, the ground disturber and facility owner/operator are to work
together to ensure that facilities are marked in an acceptable time frame to
allow for the protection of the underground facilities.
4-11 LOCATE VERIFICATION
PRACTICE STATEMENT: Prior to excavation, the ground disturber verifies
that the limits of the locate markings correspond with the limits of the
proposed excavation.
PRACTICE DESCRIPTION: Before excavation begins, the ground disturber
arrives at the excavation site and ensures the limits of work area are clearly
identified on the one-call/private operator submission form. The ground
disturber is responsible for ensuring that all utilities are marked, which includes
corresponding the markings with the colour codes. To the best of his or her
ability, the ground disturber also checks for unmarked facilities that are readily
visible. Such signs as pedestals, risers, meters, new trench lines, and service
feeds from buildings and homes can all indicate the existence of an
underground facility.
When there are readily visible signs of an unmarked facility and the as-built
drawings supplied are incomplete, inaccurate, or has a discrepancy, the ground