Linc Energy Blog

April is National Safe Digging Month. With spring’s arrival comes a host of outside digging projects making this the perfect time to list safe digging tips and practices. If you’re planning an excavation project, whether you’re a contractor or homeowner, consider the following:

April is National Safe Digging Month. In fact this is the fifth year we’ve celebrated "call 811," and since 2007 there has been nearly a 31% drop in excavation accidents.

August 11 is National 811 Day. Help spread the word about this free service to identify utility lines before digging, to avert the disruption of service, the threat of litigation and the loss of life or limb.

On a recent blog post by the US Department of Transportation, we’re reminded that April is National Safe Digging Month. According to their blog, digging is still the leading cause of pipeline damage. Last year there were 53 accidents involving excavations which led to five fatalities.

“Failure to call before digging can result in property damage, tragic accidents and even fatalities. While these types of incidents have declined over the last ten years, one out of every three pipeline accidents involve people who did not call 811 first,” said PHSMA Administrator Cynthia Quarterman.

The DOT reminds us that calling 811 is not a recommendation, it’s the law. It not only applies to contractors – it means homeowners too! As homeowners are tempted this spring to garden, dig for a fence, or any other excavation, remember to call 811 before any work commences to assure that underground utilities don’t need to be located. If they do to be identified, utility locators will locate the lines and the service is free.

Help spread awareness to call 811 before you dig.
 

Reference:

• http://fastlane.dot.gov/2011/03/as-april-arrives-so-does-national-safe-digging-month-please-call-811-before-you-dig.html
• http://www.dot.gov/affairs/2011/phmsa0511.html

Pipeline corrosion and digging by third party individuals or contractors are among the two leading causes of pipeline accidents. In earlier posts, I’ve discussed the significance of protecting pipelines against corrosion. I also discussed the importance of calling 811 to locate the utility lines before digging. But calling 811 does not always guarantee your lines will be located, which made me wonder what makes pipelines and facilities locatable?

In Colorado, when calling 811 you will be arranging to have what is known as “Tier 1” utilities located. The 811 organization for Colorado is UNCC and they will additionally provide the excavator with contact information for Tier 2 utilities that are in your area, and it is the responsibility of the excavator or homeowner to call those Tier 2 utilities to request a locate.

After locators have arrived, sometimes the excavator or homeowner learns that their lines can’t be located. This usually raises frustrations and questions.

What makes a line locatable?

Most utility locating equipment uses a technology known as ground penetrating radar (GPR). Others may refer to it as electromagnetic pipe detection (EPD). This science is based on the principal that an electrical current will flow along a conductive material, creating a magnetic field which can be received as a signal, and indicate the presence of a pipeline by location equipment.

Most gas or oil transmission lines use carbon or low alloy-steels. These lines will generate a magnetic field when charged so that the lines can be detected. However, gas distribution lines are commonly polyethylene (PE) and will not carry a current. Therefore the line will not be locatable by itself, unless a tracer wire was installed at the time of pipeline installation.

In this case, tracer wire is installed next to a pipeline and made accessible at various access points like manholes, valve boxes, vaults, or other enclosed access devices. When the tracer wire is charged at an access point a magnetic field will provide a signal the locator can use with GPR /EPD equipment. Tracer wire makes non-locatable lines (made of polyethylene, plastic, fiberglass or concrete) locatable when they remain intact.

While tracer wire offers an effective way to trace a line, the system is not flawless. Some well-known reasons tracer wire fails are:

• The common material used in tracer wire is copper. Unfortunately, copper is expensive which has made tracer wire prone to theft and you can’t trace a line if it’s not there!
• Copper wire is inflexible and can break during installation and a broken line won’t carry the current.
• Many tracer wires have vinyl or nylon coatings which fail prematurely when the line is exposed to moisture.

Due to these common weaknesses, tracer wire manufacturers have been challenged to introduce alternatives.  Some product advancements include: corrosion resistance, superior strength and durability, and cost expensive alternatives to traditional copper tracer wire.

What makes utilities and pipelines locatable? Without a pipeline being constructed with conductive material or a line installed with tracer wire the line locator is left with line-of-sight locating which is highly subject to error.

While I realize Halloween is over, I would like to share with you an encounter I had with a most engaging pirate, in a most unlikely place: the State Damage Prevention Action Team (SDAT) meeting held in Denver on October 21. 

The Telly Award winning 811 Children’s Pirate Video was shown at this conference, sponsored by the Utility Notification Center of Colorado (UNCC), a member organization of the nationwide Common Ground Alliance (CGA). The Telly Award honors the very best local, regional and cable television commercials and programs focused on community education.  The video was produced by CGA, a member-driven association dedicated to ensuring public safety, environmental protection, and the integrity of services by promoting effective damage prevention practices. I was both amused and enlightened by this creative way to prevent damage through education, targeted primarily to children and their parents.  Scroll below to see the all811kids.com - Pirate video.

Bringing safety and damage prevention concepts to kids and their parents in Colorado

The primary message in the video and workbook is when installing a fence or mailbox, planting a tree or digging, Capt’n One Call urges individuals to call 811 first. As we all know, homeowners can make risky assumptions about whether or not they should get their utility lines marked, but every digging job requires a call.  The possibility of multiple utility lines in a common area and the variation in depth of utility lines can lead to disruption of service to an entire neighborhood.  And more importantly, it could also harm you and those around you, or result in fines and repair costs.  Calling 811 (or 1-800-922-1987) before every digging job gets your underground utility lines marked for free and helps prevent undesired consequences. Check out the clever illustrations and games that accompany this workbook by contacting Brent Sumner at 303-205-6365 or emailing him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Why risk the lives of workers, or damage to the environment or incur litigation costs and penalties, when there are simple ways to promote damage prevention of your pipeline?

According to the Office of Pipeline Safety, the single greatest cause of accidents among natural gas distribution and transmission lines is digging by third party excavators.¹ The PHMSA’s (Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration) website also suggests “a major cause of pipeline accidents is careless digging.”²

In June of this year, there were two back-to-back accidents in Cleburne and Darrouzett, Texas, where third party excavators damaged natural gas lines resulting in a rupture and explosion. Many were injured and three people died. In both accidents the pipelines were not clearly marked. At the Johnson County incident, there was only one permanent pipeline marker and it was about a quarter of a mile away, obscured by high vegetation. Enterprise Pipeline, the owner of the pipeline was found to be in violation of six pipeline safety rules and fined $120,000.³

The AGA (American Gas Association) states that the Natural Gas Industry spends in excess of six billion dollars each year in safety programs which include: 811 or “One-Call” program, marking pipelines, inspections and awareness. Yet, with all the programs and precautions taken, it comes down to one thing – pipeline safety begins with visibility. If you can see it – it’s more likely you won’t hit it and you’ll avoid an incident. 

Improve visibility of pipelines to promote damage prevention

Keeping visibility in mind, there are some simple and relatively inexpensive ways to promote damage prevention of pipelines by improving the visibility of the underground utilities:

• Pipeline Markers – the U.S. Department of Transportation requires that signs mark an approximate location of a pipeline. In general, they are placed at road, railroad and waterway crossings, except in urban areas where line locator services are available.  Rhino Marking and Protection Systems revolutionized the Damage Prevention industry when they introduced their TriView marking system in 1997.  The marker provides 360° visibility, is impact resistant, durable, weather resistant and green.  

•  "Call Before You Dig” or “One-Call” Program – 811 is a relatively new federally-mandated program developed to provide an excavator a way to have the utilities marked prior to excavation.

    

• Wrap Pipes for Visible Protection While Excavating – After calling 811 and the facilities have been marked, a contractor can carefully expose the pipeline and install a pipeline wrap which improves the visibility and protects the pipeline integrity during excavation. View the video below to demonstrate how Safety Wrap offers pipeline protection during excavation.

Damage prevention starts before digging

There is a proactive way companies can protect themselves from costly litigation and fines, like those penalties Enterprise Pipeline is currently facing. The CGA One-Call Systems and Damage Prevention Best Practices recommend that a contractor take and document the excavation site before digging. ⁴

“If locate markings are adequately documented through the use of photographs, video tape, or sketches before excavation work begins, it will be easier to resolve disputes if an underground facility is damaged due to improper marking, failure to mark, or markings that have been moved, removed, or covered. It is important for excavators and locators to document the location of markings before excavation work begins. The primary purpose of this best practice is to avoid unnecessary litigation and expensive legal fees for all parties involved.”
 

 By following this CGA Best Practice by marking ines before a hit, the excavator protects themselves against expensive litigation and penalties like Enterprise is currently facing. There are commercial “hit kits” which provide contractors marking posts and measurement tools needed to create photographic documentation which can be used to keep you out of court.

Perhaps we can learn from the recent tragic accidents in Texas. There are simple and relatively inexpensive ways to improve visibility of underground facilities and prevent accidents. We could better use programs like the “Call Before You Dig.” We should comply with DOT line marker regulations. We could enhance excavation methods by wrapping pipelines during excavating, and we could proactively document excavation sites before digging.

Picture above:  The Rhino HIT Kit is compliant with CGA Best Practices 5-11, where the contractor clearly documents markings and protect him or her from costly litigation.

 SafetyWrap video:

¹ Parfomak, P. CRS Report for Congress – Pipeline Safety and Secrurity: Federal Programs, 2008. Page 13.

² PHMSA. Retrieved on October 6, 2010, from (http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/portal/site/PHMSA/menuitem.ebdc7a8a7e39f2e55cf2031050248a0c/?vgnextoid=2c6924cc45ea4110VgnVCM1000009ed07898RCRD&vgnextchannel=f7280665b91ac010VgnVCM1000008049a8c0RCRD&vgnextfmt=print#QA_2
 

³ LUNA, T., September 1, 2010. Report: Human error caused June natural gas pipeline explosion that killed 1 in Johnson County. Retrieved October 6, 2010, from http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/090210dnmetexplosion.affe1b96.html
 

⁴ CGA Common Ground Alliance Best Practices Version 7.0. Retrieved October 6, 2010 from, http://www.commongroundalliance.com/Content/NavigationMenu/Best_Practices/Best_Practices_2010/BP_7.0_Final_March2010.pdf

Since the San Bruno explosion, the concern of nationwide pipeline corrosion has become a hot issue in the press. However, according to the Office of Pipeline Safety, the single greatest cause of accidents among natural gas distribution and transmission lines is digging by third party excavators ^(1).

In fact, the AGA (American Gas Association) sites that “nearly 60% of the incidents on utility distribution pipelines are due to excavation damage.” This certainly in indicative of the recent tragic excavation accidents in Texas this June where three people were killed and eleven injured.

In 1998, congress enacted a law establishing a national “Call Before You Dig” or “One-Call” safety program. It took years to bring the program to its current status, and in 2007 the CGA (Common Ground Alliance) launched the national “Call Before You Dig” program to increase public awareness of the one-call or 811 program for all underground facilities. The program allows all excavators and homeowners who may be digging, to call one number nationwide to arrange for marking or identifying underground utilities in an area that will be excavated.

How does the one-call or 811 program work?

The one-call program pertains to homeowners as well as contractors. Many homeowners discount their projects as not warranting an 811 call. How deep are you planning to dig? If you’re digging 12” or more you should call, but if in doubt always call.

Homeowners installing fences, mailboxes or decks, planting trees or bushes, building water features (ponds, waterfalls) or working with concrete should call 811. In fact, homeowners routinely fail to call and cause accidents which disrupt services of entire neighborhoods. There have been accidents which have resulted in injury or death. When failing to call and there is an accident, it is likely the homeowner (or contractor) will become the recipient of steep penalties and maybe even litigation.

To avoid the consequences of not complying, three days before any project which requires excavation, simply call 811. Your call will be routed to a utility notification center in your state. The 811 representative will notify all Tier I utility owners of the locate request. The representative will provide the excavator contact information for any Tier II utility owners, and it becomes the responsibility of the homeowner or excavator to call them.

Most locate crews will arrive in a few days and mark the underground utilities in the area you called about. Remember, once the lines are marked DO NOT DIG on top of any mark and be aware that a locate is considered by law to be good within 18” on either side of the locate mark. Also keep in mind that the locate marks are only good for up to 30 days (if they are still visible), and if you haven’t completed your digging by then you’ll have to call 811 again.

Keep in mind, you do not have to hire a private locate company to excavate. However, if you intend to engineer a project you should call a reliable private locate company.

You can find state specific information on 811 at http://www.call811.com/state-specific.aspx.
 

It’s simple – call 811 and utility locators mark the lines. 

⁽¹⁾ Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS). “Distribution Pipeline Incident Summary by Cause:
1/1/2006 - 12/31/2006.” November 13, 2007. [http://ops.dot.gov/stats/NGDIST06.HTM]
http://www.call811.com/about-us/default.aspx