Ground Disturbance Level II cheat sheet

Ground disturbance means any activity that displaces or penetrates the ground surface, including excavation, trenching, augering, boring, driving posts or piles, and sometimes compaction or grading that alters soil structure.

A pre-job hazard assessment identifies buried facilities, soil conditions, overhead and underground utilities, traffic, adjacent structures, and environmental sensitivities before work starts.

Soil type drives hazard: sand and gravel collapse readily, saturated silt flows, and clay can stand temporarily but fails suddenly after drying or vibration.

Spoil piles must be set back from the excavation edge; a common rule is at least 1 m (about 3 ft) from the edge, and never closer than the depth of the excavation, whichever is greater.

The excavation safety factor: any trench 1.2 m (4 ft) or deeper requires a protective system, and any trench 1.5 m (5 ft) or deeper requires a means of exit within 7.5 m (25 ft) of lateral travel.

A written ground disturbance plan records the scope, locate status, crossing agreements, isolation of energy sources, emergency response, and the sign-off of the person supervising the work.

Utility Right-of-Way (URW) agreements and crossing agreements are required where the excavation crosses an existing pipeline or utility corridor; without them the work is unauthorized.

Hazard assessment must be repeated when conditions change: new crew, weather event, water ingress, or a change in excavation depth or method.

One-Call notification must be made before digging, typically with a minimum of 2 to 3 full working days' notice depending on jurisdiction; the locate request ticket number and expiry date must be recorded.

The tolerance zone is the area within a set distance either side of the marked facility centreline - commonly 1 m (about 3 ft) - where hand excavation or non-destructive methods are mandatory.

Locate marks use a standard colour code: red = electric, yellow = gas/oil/petroleum, orange = communications, blue = potable water, green = sewer/drainage, purple = reclaimed water, white = proposed excavation.

Ground disturbance within the tolerance zone requires hand exposure, vacuum excavation, or another approved non-destructive method; mechanical digging in the tolerance zone is prohibited.

Locate marks have a limited validity period (often 10 to 30 days) and must be refreshed if the ticket expires or the marks are destroyed by weather or traffic.

A locate is not a guarantee of depth or exact position; the excavator must confirm the facility by exposing it, and must stop and re-notify if a facility is found where none was marked.

If a facility is contacted or damaged, work must stop, the operator and the One-Call centre must be notified, and the area made safe before any repair or resumption.

Private or customer-owned facilities beyond the utility's responsibility are not always located by the One-Call service; the excavator must arrange separate locating for them.

Competent ground disturbance supervision requires a designated person who is trained, experienced, and authorized to stop work when conditions become unsafe.

Spoil, tools, and materials must be kept back from the excavation edge; a minimum setback of 1 m (about 3 ft) is common, and never less than the excavation depth.

Access and egress: trenches 1.5 m (5 ft) or deeper need a ladder or ramp within 7.5 m (25 ft) of every worker's travel distance.

Atmospheric testing is required before entry into any excavation where a hazardous atmosphere may exist, and continuous monitoring is required where the hazard persists.

Excavations must be inspected by a competent person at the start of each shift, after rain or vibration, and after any change in conditions.

Barricades, signage, and lighting must protect the excavation perimeter, and open excavations must be covered or guarded when unattended.

Water must be controlled with ditching, pumps, or sumps; standing water in a trench increases collapse risk and can hide hazards.

Spoil and equipment must not be stored over buried utilities, and the excavation must not undermine adjacent foundations, roads, or utility supports.

The employer has the primary duty to provide a safe work system, training, supervision, and the resources needed to follow the ground disturbance plan.

The supervisor must verify that locates are current, the plan is followed, workers are trained, and the excavation is inspected before and during work.

Workers must follow the plan, use required protective equipment, report hazards, and stop work when they believe conditions are unsafe.

The utility operator must respond to locate requests, mark its facilities, and provide information about its infrastructure on request.

The One-Call centre receives and transmits locate requests and maintains the ticket record; it does not perform the locating itself.

Regulatory compliance requires records: locate tickets, hazard assessments, inspection logs, training records, and incident reports must be retained for the required period.

Incident reporting duties include notifying the regulator, the utility operator, and emergency services where a contact, injury, or release occurs.

A ground disturbance permit or authorization may be required by the landowner, the utility, or the regulator before work begins; work without it is non-compliant.