Best Practices Version 17.0

Table of Contents

• Home
• Best Practices Guide
• Terms and Conditions of Use
• 1. Introduction
  • 1.1 Best Practices Manual - Version 17.0
  • 1.2 History of the Common Ground Alliance
  • 1.3 Best Practices Document
  • 1.4 Best Practices Process
• 2. Planning and Design
  • 2.1 Plat Designation of Existing Underground Facility Easements
  • 2.2 Gathering Information for Design Purposes
  • 2.3 Identifying Existing Facilities in Planning and Design
  • 2.4 Utility Coordination
  • 2.5 Markers for Underground Facilities
  • 2.6 Follow All Applicable Codes, Statutes, and Facility Owner/Operator Standards
  • 2.7 Use of Qualified Contractors
  • 2.8 Mandatory Prebid Conferences
  • 2.9 Continuous Interface between the Designer and Potential Contractors During the Prebid/Bid Phase
  • 2.10 Continuous Interface between the Designer and the Contractor During the Construction Phase
  • 2.11 As-built Drawings
  • 2.12 Supply-line Separation
  • 2.13 Trenchless Excavation
  • 2.14 Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE)
  • 2.15 Use of Qualified Designers
  • 2.16 Project Coordination
  • 2.17 Electronically Locatable Lines
  • 2.18 Identifying newly installed or under construction facilities
• 3. One Call Center
  • 3.1 Proactive Public Awareness, Education, and Damage Prevention Activities
  • 3.2 Specifically Defined Geopolitical Service Area with No Overlap
  • 3.3 Formal Agreements with Members
  • 3.4 One Call Center Governance
  • 3.5 Single Toll-free Statewide Telephone Number with Nationwide Access
  • 3.6 Hours of Operation
  • 3.7 Voice Record of All Incoming Calls
  • 3.8 Retention of Voice Records According to Applicable Statutes
  • 3.9 Caller Feedback
  • 3.10 Printed Ticket Recall
  • 3.11 Documented Operating Procedures, Human Resource Policies, and Training Manuals
  • 3.12 Documented Owner Verification of Data Submitted by Facility Owners/Operators
  • 3.13 Flexibility for Growth and Change
  • 3.14 Meeting between the Excavator and Facility Operator(s) Initiated by One Call Notification
  • 3.15 One Call Center Accepts Notifications from Designers
  • 3.16 Locate Request
  • 3.17 Practices to Reduce Overnotifications
  • 3.18 Disaster Recovery
  • 3.19 Direct Electronic Locate
  • 3.20 Accept Multiple Reference Points for Locate Requests
  • 3.21 One Call Center Security
  • 3.22 Hardware Designed to Tolerate a Single Point of Failure
  • 3.23 One Call Quality Standards
  • 3.24 Web Services Solution
  • 3.25 Identification of Unknown Lines
  • 3.26 One Call Membership
  • 3.27 Electronic Positive Response
  • 3.28 One Call Center Data
  • 3.29 One Call Facility Locate Request Size and Scope
  • 3.30 Locate Information Shared with Excavator
  • 3.31 Enhanced Positive Response
  • 3.32: Communicate Potential for Privately-Owned Facilities
• 4. Locating and Marking
  • 4.1 Available Records
  • 4.2 Corrections and Updates
  • 4.3 Color Code
  • 4.4 Single Locator
  • 4.5 Locator Training
  • 4.6 Safety
  • 4.7 Visual Inspection
  • 4.8 Facility Marking
  • 4.9 Positive Response to Locate Request
  • 4.10 Marking Multiple Facilities in the Same Trench
  • 4.11 Abandoned Facilities
  • 4.12 Locating Electromagnetically
  • 4.13 Facility Owner/Operator Identification
  • 4.14 Communication between Parties
  • 4.15 Documentation of Work Performed
  • 4.16 Damage Investigation
  • 4.17 Forecasting/Planning for Predictable Workload Fluctuations
  • 4.18 Quality Assurance
  • 4.19 Trenchless Excavation
  • 4.20A Locating and Marking in Navigable Waterways
  • 4.20B Locating and Marking in Navigable Waterways
  • 4.21 Service Lines
  • 4.22 Marking Newly Installed Facilities
• 5. Excavation
  • 5.1 One Call Facility Locate Request
  • 5.2 White Lining
  • 5.3 Locate Reference Number
  • 5.4 Pre-excavation Meeting
  • 5.5 Facility Relocations
  • 5.6 Separate Locate Requests
  • 5.7 One Call Access (24/7)
  • 5.8 Positive Response
  • 5.9 Facility Owner/Operator Failure to Respond
  • 5.10 Locate Verification
  • 5.11 Documentation of Marks
  • 5.12 Work Site Review with Company Personnel
  • 5.13 One Call Reference at Site
  • 5.14 Contact Names and Numbers
  • 5.15 Facility Avoidance
  • 5.16 Federal and State Regulations
  • 5.17 Marking Preservation
  • 5.18 Excavation Observer
  • 5.19 Excavation Tolerance Zone
  • 5.20 Excavation within Tolerance Zone
  • 5.21 Mismarked Facilities
  • 5.22 Exposed Facility Protection
  • 5.23 Locate Request Updates
  • 5.24 Facility Damage Notification
  • 5.25 Notification of Emergency Personnel
  • 5.26 Emergency Excavation
  • 5.27 Backfilling
  • 5.28 As-built Documentation
  • 5.29 Trenchless Excavation
  • 5.30 Emergency Coordination with Adjacent Facilities
  • 5.31 No Charge for Providing Underground Facility Locations
  • 5.32 Vacuum Excavation
  • 5.33 Facility Owner Provides a Monitor During Excavation
• 6. Mapping
  • One Call Center
    • 6.1 Land Base Accuracy
    • 6.2 Latitude/Longitude
    • 6.3 Up-to-date Land Base Information
    • 6.4 Timely Database Updating
    • 6.5 Electronic Mapping Location Area
    • 6.6 Availability
  • Locator
    • 6.7 Training
    • 6.8 Discrepancies
    • 6.9 Feedback
  • Excavator
    • 6.10 Accuracy of Location Information
    • 6.11 Excavation Area Details
  • Facility Owner/Operator
    • 6.12 Mapping Data
    • 6.13 Access to Mapping Data
    • 6.14 Mapping Standards
    • 6.15 Quality of Information
    • 6.16 Information Capture
  • Project Owner
    • 6.17 Accuracy of Location Information
    • 6.18 Excavation Area Details
  • Emerging Technologies
• 7. Compliance
  • 7.1 Public and Enforcement Education
  • 7.2 Incentives
  • 7.3 Penalties
  • 7.4 Damage Recovery
  • 7.5 Enforcement
• 8. Public Education and Awareness
  • 8.1 Marketing Plan
  • 8.2 Marketing 811 -- A National One Call Number
  • 8.3 Target Audiences and Needs
  • 8.4 Structured Education Programs
  • 8.5 Target Mailings
  • 8.6 Paid Advertising
  • 8.7 Free Media
  • 8.8 Giveaways
  • 8.9 Establishing Strategic Relationships
  • 8.10 Measuring Public Education Success
  • 8.11 Cross-Bore Determination and Mitigation
• 9. Reporting and Evaluation
  • Best Practices Associated with Reporting Damage, Near Miss, and Incident Data
    • 9.1 All Stakeholders Report Information
    • 9.2 Standardized Information Is Reported
    • 9.3 Identify the Noncompliant Stakeholder
    • 9.4 Person Reporting Provides Detailed Information
    • 9.5 Requested Information May Change
    • 9.6 A Standardized Form Is Adopted
    • 9.7 The Form Is Simple
    • 9.8 Training Is Provided
    • 9.9 Flexibility on Completing and Returning Form Is Provided
    • 9.10 Vacant
    • 9.11 Stakeholders Complete the Same Form
    • 9.12 An Organization Is Identified to Receive the Information
    • 9.13 The Organization Is Able to Interface with All Stakeholders
  • Best Practices Associated with Evaluating Damage Prevention Data
    • 9.14 An Organization Evaluates the Data
    • 9.15 The Organization Has Representation from All Stakeholders
    • 9.16 Data Is Used to Improve Damage Prevention Efforts
    • 9.17 Data Is Used to Elevate Underground Damage Awareness
    • 9.18 Data Is Summarized by Key Components
    • 9.19 Root Causes Are Identified
    • 9.20 Results Are Quantified Against a Standardized Risk Factor
    • 9.21 Performance Levels and Trends Are Assessed
• Miscellaneous
  • 10.1 Homeland Security
• Appendix A Glossary of Terms and Definitions
• Appendix B Uniform Color Code and Marking Guide
  • Uniform Color Code
  • Tolerance Zone
  • Guidelines for Excavation Delineation
  • Guidelines for Operator Facility Field Delineation
  • Color Code Identifiers
  • Common Abbreviations
• Appendix C Sample Forms, Reports, and Releases
  • Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) - Field Form
  • Press Release
• Appendix D Additional References
  • References
  • End Notes

Table of Contents Home Best Practices Guide Terms and Conditions of Use 1. Introduction 1.1 Best Practices Manual - Version 17.0 1.2 History of the Common Ground Alliance 1.3 Best Practices Document 1.4 Best Practices Process 2. Planning and Design 2.1 Plat Designation of Existing Underground Facility Easements 2.2 Gathering Information for Design Purposes 2.3 Identifying Existing Facilities in Planning and Design 2.4 Utility Coordination 2.5 Markers for Underground Facilities 2.6 Follow All Applicable Codes, Statutes, and Facility Owner/Operator Standards 2.7 Use of Qualified Contractors 2.8 Mandatory Prebid Conferences 2.9 Continuous Interface between the Designer and Potential Contractors During the Prebid/Bid Phase 2.10 Continuous Interface between the Designer and the Contractor During the Construction Phase 2.11 As-built Drawings 2.12 Supply-line Separation 2.13 Trenchless Excavation 2.14 Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) 2.15 Use of Qualified Designers 2.16 Project Coordination 2.17 Electronically Locatable Lines 2.18 Identifying newly installed or under construction facilities 3. One Call Center 3.1 Proactive Public Awareness, Education, and Damage Prevention Activities 3.2 Specifically Defined Geopolitical Service Area with No Overlap 3.3 Formal Agreements with Members 3.4 One Call Center Governance 3.5 Single Toll-free Statewide Telephone Number with Nationwide Access 3.6 Hours of Operation 3.7 Voice Record of All Incoming Calls 3.8 Retention of Voice Records According to Applicable Statutes 3.9 Caller Feedback 3.10 Printed Ticket Recall 3.11 Documented Operating Procedures, Human Resource Policies, and Training Manuals 3.12 Documented Owner Verification of Data Submitted by Facility Owners/Operators 3.13 Flexibility for Growth and Change 3.14 Meeting between the Excavator and Facility Operator(s) Initiated by One Call Notification 3.15 One Call Center Accepts Notifications from Designers 3.16 Locate Request 3.17 Practices to Reduce Overnotifications 3.18 Disaster Recovery 3.19 Direct Electronic Locate 3.20 Accept Multiple Reference Points for Locate Requests 3.21 One Call Center Security 3.22 Hardware Designed to Tolerate a Single Point of Failure 3.23 One Call Quality Standards 3.24 Web Services Solution 3.25 Identification of Unknown Lines 3.26 One Call Membership 3.27 Electronic Positive Response 3.28 One Call Center Data 3.29 One Call Facility Locate Request Size and Scope 3.30 Locate Information Shared with Excavator 3.31 Enhanced Positive Response 3.32: Communicate Potential for Privately-Owned Facilities 4. Locating and Marking 4.1 Available Records 4.2 Corrections and Updates 4.3 Color Code 4.4 Single Locator 4.5 Locator Training 4.6 Safety 4.7 Visual Inspection 4.8 Facility Marking 4.9 Positive Response to Locate Request 4.10 Marking Multiple Facilities in the Same Trench 4.11 Abandoned Facilities 4.12 Locating Electromagnetically 4.13 Facility Owner/Operator Identification 4.14 Communication between Parties 4.15 Documentation of Work Performed 4.16 Damage Investigation 4.17 Forecasting/Planning for Predictable Workload Fluctuations 4.18 Quality Assurance 4.19 Trenchless Excavation 4.20A Locating and Marking in Navigable Waterways 4.20B Locating and Marking in Navigable Waterways 4.21 Service Lines 4.22 Marking Newly Installed Facilities 5. Excavation 5.1 One Call Facility Locate Request 5.2 White Lining 5.3 Locate Reference Number 5.4 Pre-excavation Meeting 5.5 Facility Relocations 5.6 Separate Locate Requests 5.7 One Call Access (24/7) 5.8 Positive Response 5.9 Facility Owner/Operator Failure to Respond 5.10 Locate Verification 5.11 Documentation of Marks 5.12 Work Site Review with Company Personnel 5.13 One Call Reference at Site 5.14 Contact Names and Numbers 5.15 Facility Avoidance 5.16 Federal and State Regulations 5.17 Marking Preservation 5.18 Excavation Observer 5.19 Excavation Tolerance Zone 5.20 Excavation within Tolerance Zone 5.21 Mismarked Facilities 5.22 Exposed Facility Protection 5.23 Locate Request Updates 5.24 Facility Damage Notification 5.25 Notification of Emergency Personnel 5.26 Emergency Excavation 5.27 Backfilling 5.28 As-built Documentation 5.29 Trenchless Excavation 5.30 Emergency Coordination with Adjacent Facilities 5.31 No Charge for Providing Underground Facility Locations 5.32 Vacuum Excavation 5.33 Facility Owner Provides a Monitor During Excavation 6. Mapping One Call Center 6.1 Land Base Accuracy 6.2 Latitude/Longitude 6.3 Up-to-date Land Base Information 6.4 Timely Database Updating 6.5 Electronic Mapping Location Area 6.6 Availability Locator 6.7 Training 6.8 Discrepancies 6.9 Feedback Excavator 6.10 Accuracy of Location Information 6.11 Excavation Area Details Facility Owner/Operator 6.12 Mapping Data 6.13 Access to Mapping Data 6.14 Mapping Standards 6.15 Quality of Information 6.16 Information Capture Project Owner 6.17 Accuracy of Location Information 6.18 Excavation Area Details Emerging Technologies 7. Compliance 7.1 Public and Enforcement Education 7.2 Incentives 7.3 Penalties 7.4 Damage Recovery 7.5 Enforcement 8. Public Education and Awareness 8.1 Marketing Plan 8.2 Marketing 811 -- A National One Call Number 8.3 Target Audiences and Needs 8.4 Structured Education Programs 8.5 Target Mailings 8.6 Paid Advertising 8.7 Free Media 8.8 Giveaways 8.9 Establishing Strategic Relationships 8.10 Measuring Public Education Success 8.11 Cross-Bore Determination and Mitigation 9. Reporting and Evaluation Best Practices Associated with Reporting Damage, Near Miss, and Incident Data 9.1 All Stakeholders Report Information 9.2 Standardized Information Is Reported 9.3 Identify the Noncompliant Stakeholder 9.4 Person Reporting Provides Detailed Information 9.5 Requested Information May Change 9.6 A Standardized Form Is Adopted 9.7 The Form Is Simple 9.8 Training Is Provided 9.9 Flexibility on Completing and Returning Form Is Provided 9.10 Vacant 9.11 Stakeholders Complete the Same Form 9.12 An Organization Is Identified to Receive the Information 9.13 The Organization Is Able to Interface with All Stakeholders Best Practices Associated with Evaluating Damage Prevention Data 9.14 An Organization Evaluates the Data 9.15 The Organization Has Representation from All Stakeholders 9.16 Data Is Used to Improve Damage Prevention Efforts 9.17 Data Is Used to Elevate Underground Damage Awareness 9.18 Data Is Summarized by Key Components 9.19 Root Causes Are Identified 9.20 Results Are Quantified Against a Standardized Risk Factor 9.21 Performance Levels and Trends Are Assessed Miscellaneous 10.1 Homeland Security Appendix A Glossary of Terms and Definitions Appendix B Uniform Color Code and Marking Guide Uniform Color Code Tolerance Zone Guidelines for Excavation Delineation Guidelines for Operator Facility Field Delineation Color Code Identifiers Common Abbreviations Appendix C Sample Forms, Reports, and Releases Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) - Field Form Press Release Appendix D Additional References References End Notes

Submit a Best Practice Proposal

Download a Copy

Purchase a Book

Access Best Practices Toolkit