Page 64 - CCGA Best Practices Version English

segments as agreed to between the excavator, owner and/or the locator in
order to coordinate the marking with actual excavation. The possibility exists
that new facilities have been installed in the area where the excavation is to
be conducted after the original notification and marking.

Many facility owners do not perform their own locates and utilize the services
of a contracted facility locator. These contracted facility locators may not
be aware of work planned in the near future. By excavators refreshing the
locate ticket, the contract locator has another opportunity to identify newly
placed facilities. This practice also gives the owner another chance to identify
the location of their facilities and to avoid a possible damage and disruption
of service should something have been marked incorrectly or missed on a
previous locate.

4-23: Facility Damage Notification

Practice Statement: An excavator discovering or causing damage to
underground facilities notifies the owner as identified on the locate form. All
breaks, leaks, nicks, dents, gouges, grooves, or other damages to facility
lines, conduits, coatings or cathodic protection will be reported immediately.

Practice Description: The possibility of facility failure or endangerment of
the surrounding population dramatically increases when a facility has been
damaged. While the facility may not immediately fail, the underground owner
should have the opportunity to inspect the damage and make appropriate
repairs.

4-24: Notification of Emergency Personnel

Practice Statement: If the damage results in the escape of any flammable,
toxic, or corrosive gas or liquid or endangers life, health, property or the
environment, the excavator responsible immediately notifies the appropriate
authorities and the owner.
The excavator takes reasonable measures to protect workers and others in
immediate danger; the general public; property, and the environment.
Practice Description: This practice minimizes the danger to life, health
or property by notifying the proper authorities to handle the emergency
situation. In these situations, local authorities are able to evacuate as
appropriate and command substantial resources unavailable to the excavator
or underground owner.
The excavator takes reasonable measures based on their knowledge,
training, resources, experience and understanding of the situation to protect

workers, the public, property and the environment until help arrives. The
excavator responsible remains on site to convey any pertinent information to
responders that may help them to safely mitigate the situation.

Canadian Common Ground Alliance
Best Practices Version 3.0 – October 2018
58