Page 40 - CCGA Best Practices Version English

3-0 Locating and Marking Best Practices

3-1: Use of Records

Practice Statement: Locators utilize on-site facility records at all times.

Practice Description: Facility locators use on-site records at all times.
Facility records can indicate approximate location, number of facilities and
access points for buried facilities within a requested area. The use of facility
owner supplied records is an effective method of identifying facilities as part
of the locating process.

When as-built/as-constructed records are not available on-site but there
exists an electromagnetic or alternative technique to physically locate the
facility, the locate should be completed by the available technique and
verified where possible with the owner.
When records are not available on-site and electromagnetic techniques
cannot be used (example; no tracer wire) or when as-built/as-constructed
records are available on-site but there exists no electromagnetic or
alternative technique to physically locate the facility, it may be necessary
to delay the completion of the locate while archives are accessed, requiring
immediate notification of all parties. It can be useful for the locator to have
a locate process checklist to prompt the use of records at all times when on
site.

3-2: Record Corrections

Practice Statement: If a locator becomes aware of an error or omission,
then the locator provides information for the updating of records that are in
error or to add new facilities.

Practice Description: During the course of a locating activity, a locator
may become aware of errors, damages to electromagnetic facilities or
omissions. Methods should be in place to notify a owner of that error,
damage or omission. The observations are submitted to the appropriate
person or department. The method and timing of notification is determined
by the owner and includes the following information:
• Name (and company if contracted),
• Contact phone number of the individual(s) submitting change,
• Location (either address or reference points),
• Size and type of facility,
• Nature of the error, damage or omission, and
• Sketch of the change in relation to the other facilities.
Errors, omissions and damages, may include, but are not limited to, missing
or non-existent records, misdrawn records, damaged or nonexistent
electromagnetic facilities to physically locate the facility, changes to
referenced surface features, changes during construction at the job site,

Canadian Common Ground Alliance
Best Practices Version 3.0 – October 2018
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