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Are You Planning to Dig? Today we bury many of our power lines to keep them out of the way and out of sight. These cables are not always marked. When putting in fence posts, planting a tree, excavating for a pool, deck, etc. think about what services might be buried in the ground. What is at risk? Remember to call before you dig as damaging underground services can have serious consequences: · Personal injury
· Loss of essential services, creating a safety risk for others
· Expensive restoration costs and potential legal actions
Before using power-digging tools, hand dig The locator will tell you the location of underground utilities, but not their depth. Before you can safely cross or work close to an underground utility, you must first verify its depth. Flags and locater marks tell you the direction the utility is running, but not how deeply it is buried. The only way to be sure of utility depth is to carefully expose it and see for yourself. Before using any power tools, hand dig to verify exact utility depth. Any time you suspect unmarked hazards, hand dig the area carefully to test your suspicions. Proper hand-digging tools and techniques will protect both you and the utility: Use a blunt-nosed shovel to loosen the soil, and a regular shovel to remove it. Do not use a pickax or a pointed spade. Do not stab at the soil or stomp on the shovel with both feet. Work with a gentle prying action and dig at an angle, so the shovel will slide along the surface of the wire, conduit, or pipe. Or, dig to the depth where you expect the utility to be, but off to the side. Then use a prying motion to break away soil as you approach the utility laterally. Buried utilities are supposed to be installed at a specified depth. But in reality, utility depth is unpredictable. Improper installation, landscaping, re-grading, repaving, erosion, and building development can all alter utility depth.
Backfill the soil gently to avoid damaging any utilities.
The tolerance zone protects buried utilities The tolerance zone is the width of an underground utility plus a specified tolerance distance on both sides of that utility. Do not use power-digging equipment within this zone. The zone provides a margin of error in case the locator is slightly off. It also provides a buffer zone to prevent damage resulting from nearby excavation. The tolerance zone also protects you If you do not respect the tolerance zone, you risk contacting buried utilities. You also risk damaging them indirectly by removing supporting soil, which could cause the utility to bend or break. You could be injured or killed, and your company could be liable for any damages that occur. To avoid damaging buried utilities, do not power dig within the tolerance zone. Hand dig or use vacuum technology instead. The width of the tolerance zone varies from area to area, and it is the digger's responsibility to know what it is.
Don't Take Chances!! We'll mark our cables for you at no cost. A Barrie Hydro locator will mark the underground electrical cables with pink florescent paint along with flags and complete an Electrical Locate Form.
Utility locator markings protect you Make sure you and your crew know how to read utility locator markings and know the uniform color code for marking underground utilities. Color code charts are usually available from your local utility. Locator flags are placed within paint marks If you find flags outside the borders of locator markings, someone may have tampered with them. Contact your local utility. Color Codes:  | Electric Power Lines |  | Gas, Oil, or Steam |  | Communications Lines, Cables, or Conduit |  | Potable Water |  | Reclaimed Water, Irrigation, and Slurry Lines |  | Sewers and Drain Lines |  | Temporary Survey Markings |  | Proposed Excavation |
Utility locator markings protect you from injury and prevent damage to underground utilities. Make sure you, and your crew know how to read them. Did You Know... You might arrive at a job site and find no markers, even AFTER utility locating has been completed. In this case, do not assume that the area is clear of utilities. Someone may have pulled up the flags or rubbed out the markings. Or the locator may have marked the wrong site. Check for indicators that buried utilities may be present, such as electric boxes, transformers, and gas and electric meters. Contact your utility locator service for assistance before starting work. Please CONTACT US and ask for our Locate staff. or E-mail us at - locates When requesting cable locates, please provide as much advance notice and information about your location as possible.
There is no such thing as minor damage to utilities What looks like a small nick in a gas, sewer, electricity, or water line can result in a major health and fire hazard to the surrounding neighborhood. And damaged phone lines or fiber optic cables can disrupt 911 emergency service. Never bury a damaged utility Trying to cover up an accident can be dangerous, and can lead to costly damages or criminal charges against you and your company. Take the following steps instead: In case of electrical contact: Call 911 and call us at 705 722-7222 immediately. Warn co-workers to stay away. Do NOT touch the equipment and the ground at the same time. Stay on the equipment unless it is on fire. If you must exit the equipment, jump clean and land with your feet together. Shuffle away with feet together on the ground. Shuffling reduces the risk of electric shock. Locate Guidelines: INTRODUCTION: THIS GUIDE IS INTENDED TO ASSIST IN LOCATING AND EXCAVATING IN THE VICINITY OF UNDERGROUND ELECTRIC UTILITY-OWNED PLANT. THE PROCEDURES DESCRIBED ARE FOR THE SAFETY OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND THE WORKERS CARRYING OUT THE EXCAVATION, AND FOR THE PREVENTION OF DAMAGE TO UNDERGROUND PLANT.
DEFINITIONS: FOR THE PROPOSES OF THIS DOCUMENT: "ENERGIZED" MEANS CONNECTED BY MEANS OF A SUITABLE TRANSMISSION MEDIUM (CONDUCTOR) TO AN ELECTRICAL GENERATOR, STORAGE BATTERY, OR OTHER SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY; "EXCAVATION" MEANS ALL WORK DONE BY AN EXCAVATOR IN BREAKING GROUND; "EXCAVATOR" MEANS THE INDIVIDUAL, PARTNERSHIP, CORPORATION, PUBLIC AGENCY OR OTHER ENTITY THAT DIGS, BORES, TRENCHES, GRADES, EXCAVATES, OR BREAKS GROUND IN ANY FASHION; "APPROVED EXCAVATOR" MEANS AN EXCAVATOR WHO HAS BEEN APPROVED BY A UTILITY AND IS AUTHORIZED TO EXCAVATE IN THE VICINITY OF ENERGIZED UNDERGROUND PLANT WITHOUT INSPECTION; "HAND DIGGING" MEANS EXCAVATION USING ONLY A SHOVEL WITH A WOODEN OR AN INSULATED HANDLE. NO PICKS, BARS OR OTHER DEVICES SHALL BE USED; "MECHANICAL EXCAVATION" MEANS BORING OR OPEN-CUT EXCAVATION BY MEANS OF POWERED MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT, HAND-HELD AUGERS, PICKS OR BARS; "ISOLATED" MEANS PHYSICALLY DISCONNECTED OR SEPARATED FROM SOURCES OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY BYAPPROVED DEVICES OR PROCEDURES; "LOCATE" MEANS IDENTIFICATION BY AN ELECTRIC UTILITY, ON THE GROUND, OF THE POSITION OF THE UNDERGROUND ELECTRICAL PLANT; "TEST HOLE" MEANS AN EXPLORATORY EXCAVATION USING HAND DIGGING OR MECHANICAL EXCAVATION; "WORK PROTECTION" MEANS SAFEGUARDS TO BE TAKEN AS OUTLINED IN THE UTILITY WORK PROTECTION CODE AND APPLICABLE LEGISLATION TO ENSURE WORKERS' SAFETY.
GENERAL CONDITIONS: 3.1 ALL EXCAVATION SHALL BE CARRIED OUT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MOST CURRENT VERSION OF: 3.1.1 THE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT (O.H.S.A.) AND REGULATIONS WHICH APPLY UNDER THE ACT, 3.1.2 THE E.U.S.A. "RULE BOOK" ELECTRICAL UTILITY OPERATIONS, AND 3.1.3 ALL OTHER PERTINENT AND LOCAL REGULATIONS OR CONDITIONS. 3.1.4 EASEMENTS: EXISTING DISTRIBUTION PLANT IN THE VICINITY OF THE WORK AREA MAY BE LOCATED ON A REGISTERED EASEMENT. CONTACT BARRIE HYDRO DISTRIBUTION INC. TO DETERMINE THE RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY THE EASEMENT BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH CONSTRUCTION.
GENERAL PROCEDURE: 4.1 ANY EXCAVATOR WISHING TO EXCAVATE SHALL FIRST CONTACT THE LOCAL ELECTRIC UTILITY AND REQUEST A LOCATE 4.1.1 NO EXCAVATION SHALL OCCUR UNTIL THE LOCATE HAS BEEN COMPLETED BY THE UTILITY. 4.1.2 UPON RECEIPT OF THE LOCATE REQUEST, THE UTILITY SHALL ATTEMPT TO LOCATE ITS UNDERGROUND PLANT IN THE VICINITY OF THE AREA PROPOSED FOR EXCAVATION, 4.1.3 UPON COMPLETION OF THE LOCATE, THE UTILITY SHALL COMPLETE THE 'RECORD OF LOCATING PLANT' FORM AND PROVIDE IT TO THE EXCAVATOR.
LOCATES: 5.1 THE LOCATES SHALL INDICATE, USING LABELLED STAKES, FLAGS, AND/OR HIGHLY VISIBLE PAINT MARKS, THE CENTRE LINE OF THE UNDERGROUND PLANT IN THE VICINITY OF THE PROPOSED EXCAVATION. MARKINGS OR STAKES USED FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF UNDERGROUND PLANT SHALL BE SPRAY PAINTED IN "HOT PINK". 5.2 A LOCATE FORM SHALL BE GIVEN TO THE EXCAVATOR REQUESTING THE LOCATE. THE LOCATE FORM SHALL INDICATE ANY SPECIAL CONDITIONS WITHIN THE LOCATE AREA SUCH AS, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: UNDERGROUND PLANT THAT MAY REQUIRE ISOLATION PRIOR TO THE EXCAVATION; THE LIMITS OF THE WORK AND THE LOCATE; THE NEED TO EXCAVATE BEFORE THE MARKINGS DISAPPEAR OR ARE DISPLACED, AND THE NEED TO HAND DIG TO LOCATE THE PLANT WITHIN THE BOUNDARY LIMITS OF THE LOCATE.
LOCATE BOUNDARIES/ACCURACY: 6.1 THE EXCAVATOR SHALL NOT DIG OUTSIDE THE AREA COVERED BY THE LOCATE FORM WITHOUT OBTAINING A FURTHER LOCATE. 6.2 LOCATE ACCURACY SHALL BE CONSIDERED TO BE ONE METRE ON EITHER SIDE OF THE SURFACE CENTRE LINE UNLESS THE LOCATE INSTRUCTIONS SPECIFICALLY INDICATE OTHER BOUNDARY LIMITS. 6.3 WHERE THE UNDERGROUND PLANT IS WIDER THAN TWO METRES (E.G. SUBSURFACE CHAMBERS), THE EXCAVATOR SHALL NOT PROCEED WITHOUT FIRST OBTAINING SPECIAL WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE UTILITY. 6.4 WHERE UNDERGROUND PLANT IS UNCOVERED IN A PLACE OTHER THAN WHERE THE LOCATES INDICATE, THE EXCAVATOR SHALL CEASE FURTHER EXCAVATION IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA AND CONTACT THE UTILITY IMMEDIATELY.
DURATION: 7.1 THE EXPIRY DATE FOR THE LOCATE SHALL BE 60 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THE ORIGINAL LOCATE. EXPIRED LOCATES SHALL NOT BE USED. 7.2 SHOULD BARRIE HYDRO BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE A SECOND LOCATE AT THE SAME LOCATION WITHIN THE 60 DAY PERIOD, AN UPFRONT CHARGE WILL BE APPLICABLE.
ENERGIZED PLANT: 8.1 ONCE THE LOCATE HAS BEEN GIVEN AND EXCAVATION IS REQUIRED WITHIN ONE METRE OF THE SURFACE CENTRE LINE OF THE UTILITY CABLE, THE EXCAVATOR SHALL FOLLOW THESE PROCEDURES: 8.1.1 WHERE THE CABLE IS PROTECTED WITH A PLASTIC JACKET AND CONTAINS A CONCERTRIC NEUTRAL, OR IS INSTALLED IN DIRECT-BURIED OR CONCRETE-ENCASED DUCT, OR IS ENERGIZED BELOW 750V, THE EXCAVATOR SHALL THEN FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES OUTLINED IN SECTION 9. 8.1.2 FOR CABLES NOT INCLUDED IN 8.1.1 ABOVE, THE CABLE SHALL BE ISOLATED WHERE PRACTICABLE, AND WORK PROTECTION SHALL BE IN PLACE BEFORE THE EXCAVATION STARTS. THE EXCAVATOR WILL THEN FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES OUTLINED IN SECTION 9. 8.1.3 WHERE IT IS NOT PRACTICABLE TO ISOLATE THE CABLE AS OUTLINED IN SECTION 8.1.2, THE WORK WILL BE PREFORMED BY AN EXCAVATOR APPROVED BY THE UTILITY OR SHALL BE INSPECTED BY UTILITY PERSONNEL DURING THE PROCESS OF EXCAVATION. THE EXCAVATOR SHALL THEN FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES OUTLINED IN SECTION 9. IF THE EXCAVATOR HAS ANY UNCERTAINTY RESPECTING THE EXCAVATION IN THE VICINITY OF ENERGIZED PLANT, THE EXCAVATOR SHALL CONSULT WITH THE UTILITY.
INITIAL EXPOSURE: 9.1.1 AT NO TIME SHALL AN EXCAVATOR USE MECHANICAL MEANS OF EXCAVATION WITHIN THE BOUNDARY LIMITS OF THE LOCATE (i.e. ONE METRE OF THE SURFACE CENTRE LINE OF THE UTILITY CABLE), WITHOUT FIRST DIGGING TEST HOLE(S) TO DETERMINE THE PLANT'S EXACT LOCATION AND DEPTH OF COVER. THESE TEST HOLES SHALL BE DUG USING ONLY HAND-DIGGING METHODS AT PERIODIC INTERVALS ALONG THE PLANT PURSUANT TO SPECIAL WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS OBTAINED BY THE EXCAVATOR FROM THE UTILITY. 9.1.2 HAND DIGGING SHALL BE BY THE USE OF A SHOVEL WITH A WOODEN OR AN INSULATED HANDLE ONLY. 9.1.3 WHEN DIGGING IS REQUIRED IN FROST CONDITIONS, THE EXCAVATOR SHALL FIRST CONTACT THE UTILITY FOR INSTRUCTIONS. 9.2 IN GENERAL, TEST HOLES SHALL BE EXCAVATED BY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING METHODS: 9.2.1 MECHANICAL EXCAVATION IMMEDIATELY OUTSIDE THE BOUNDARY LIMITS OF THE LOCATE, THEN HAND DIGGING LATERALLY UNTIL THE PLANT IS FOUND. 9.2.2 HAND EXCAVATION ACROSS THE BOUNDARY LIMITS OF THE LOCATE IN CUTS OF NO MORE THAN 0.3 METRE MAXIMUM, IN DEPTH, AS REQUIRED UNTIL PLANT IS LOCATED. 9.2.3 MACHINES USING VACUUM, WATER OR AIR SYSTEMS AS THE CUTTING METHOD, MAY BE USED TO LOCATE THE PLANT AS ALTERNATIVES TO HAND DIGGING. CONSULT THE LOCAL UTILITY FOR INSTRUCTIONS. 9.3.1 CONCRETE SAWS, JACK HAMMERS, HAND TOOLS, OR ANY OTHER SIMILAR EQUIPMENT MAY BE USED TO BREAK CONCRETE OR ASPHALT ON A ROAD OR SIDEWALK SURFACE, BUT NOT TO PENETRATE BEYOND THE DEPTH OF THE HARD SURFACE. 9.3.2 WITH THE EXCEPTION IN SECTION 9.2 ABOVE, MACHINE EXCAVATION SHALL BE USED ONLY TO REMOVE BROKEN ASPHALT OR CONCRETE WITHIN THE LOCATE LIMITS. 9.3.3 CONCRETE BELOW THE ROAD OR SIDEWALK SURFACE LAYERS SHALL NOT BE REMOVED WITHOUT CONSULTATION WITH THE UTILITY, AS UNDERGROUND PLANT MAY BE ENCASED THEREIN.
EXCAVATION AFTER TEST HOLES ARE COMPLETED: 10.1 WHERE TEST HOLES HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, EXCAVATION USING MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT MAY TAKE PLACE PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURES ARE USED: 10.1.1 WHEREVER POSSIBLE, MECHANICAL EXCAVATING EQUIPMENT SHALL BE OPERATED PARALLEL TO THE DIRECTION OF THE PLANT WHEN THE EXCAVATION IS WITHIN THE LOCATE LIMITS. 10.1.2 MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT SHALL NOT BE USED CLOSER THAN 0.3 METRE (1 FOOT) HORIZONTALLY FROM THE PLANT. EXCAVATION CLOSER THAN 0.3 METRE (1 FOOT) SHALL BE CARRIED OUT BY HAND DIGGING METHODS ONLY. 10.1.3 WHERE THE PROPOSED EXCAVATION IS FURTHER THAN 0.3 METRE (1 FOOT) VERTICALLY TO THE PLANT, MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT MAY BE USED TO THE 0.3 METRE LIMIT. EXCAVATION CLOSER THAN 0.3 METRE (1 FOOT) TO THE TOP OF THE PLANT SHALL BE CARRIED OUT BY HAND-DIGGING METHODS ONLY. 10.2 GUIDELINES FOR BLASTING CLOSE TO ELECTRICAL PLANT SHALL BE OBTAINED FROM THE LOCAL UTILITY.
UNDERMINING THE PLANT: WHERE UNDERGROUND PLANT MUST BE UNDERMINED FOR MORE THAN ONE METRE, THE EXCAVATOR SHALL CONTACT THE UTILITY FOR SUPPORTING PROCEDURES AND THE REQUIRED CLEARANCES.
MOVING OF UNDERGROUND PLANT: NO PLANT SHALL BE MOVED EVEN SLIGHTLY TO ACCOMMODATE THE EXCAVATION WORK. THE LOCAL UTILITY SHALL BE CONTACTED FOR INSTRUCTIONS IF MOVING IS REQUIRED.
WORK AROUND EXPOSED PLANT: 13.1 ONCE THE PLANT HAS BEEN EXPOSED, NO FURTHER WORK SHALL BE CARRIED OUT WITHIN THE EXCAVATION UNTIL THE WORK AREA HAS BEEN MADE SAFE BY THE EXCAVATOR, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SPECIFICATION AND STANDARDS OF THE UTILITY AND ALL APPLICABLE LEGISLATION. FOR EXAMPLE, BARRIERS OR PROTECTIVE COVERING MAY BE REQUIRED TO PROTECT THE PLANT FROM DAMAGE OR TO PREVENT ACCIDENTAL CONTACT WITH EXPOSED ENERGIZED PLANT. 13.2 IF THE EXCAVATION RESULTS IN ANY DAMAGE TO THE UNDERGROUND PLANT OR ANY RELATED PERSONAL INJURY, THE EXCAVATOR SHALL CEASE ALL WORK WITHIN THE EXCAVATION, EXCLUDE ALL PEOPLE, BARRICADE THE AREA AND CONTACT THE UTILITY IMMEDIATELY.
BACKFILLING: BACKFILLING OF TRENCHES AND OTHER EXCAVATIONS SHALL BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SPECIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS OF THE UTILITY AND THE APPROPRIATE ROAD AUTHORITY.
SPECIFICATIONS, STANDARDS & LEGISLATION: THE EXCAVATOR ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT IS AWARE OF, AND HAS COPIES OF, ALL RELEVANT UTILITY SPECIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS AS WELL AS ALL APPLICABLE LEGISLATION AND HEREBY AGREES TO ABIDE BY ALL SUCH SPECIFICATIONS, STANDARDS AND LEGISLATION. THE EXCAVATOR HEREBY AGREES TO IMMEDIATELY CONSULT THE UTILITY IF IT ENCOUNTERS ANY UNUSUAL SITUATION DURING THE EXCAVATION. IN PARTICULAR, THE EXCAVATOR SHALL CONTACT THE UTILITY IF IT ENCOUNTERS A CONFLICT AMONG ANY OF THE UTILITY SPECIFICATIONS, STANDARDS, GUIDELINES OR THE APPLICABLE LEGISLATION.
DISCLAIMER: THE EXCAVATOR EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE UTILITY ATTEMPTS TO PROVIDE ACCURATE LOCATE INFORMATION, HOWEVER, THE UTILITY, ITS OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES DISCLAIM ANY LIABILITY FOR PROVIDING ANY INFORMATION TO AN EXCAVATOR, WHETHER PROVIDED NEGLIGENTLY OR NOT, AND WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES SUFFERED BY THE EXCAVATOR FOR ANY REASON RELATED TO THE LOCATE INFORMATION.
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