Your underground locator has come over to your house to look at your septic tank and drain field. They’re not sure what’s wrong with it, but they might have a few suggestions of things you can do before they dig up the whole yard. There are many questions you could ask them while they’re doing their work, and this blog post will list off a few common ones.
Who will be digging?
This is a very important question to ask your utility locator. Not all utilities are marked in the same way, so you need to know who is going to be digging through your yard and what kind of training they have for locating those utilities.
The person who does the digging may not be the one who locates the utilities, but it’s still important that they be trained and certified. You want someone who knows how to dig without damaging any existing pipes or wires so that there will be no future problems.
How deep and wide will the excavation be?
It is important to know how deep and wide the excavation will be, as this will determine the equipment needed. We can provide you with an estimate of the depth and width of the excavation, but it may vary depending on the utility company’s requirements.
What type of construction or excavation equipment will be used?
The kind of equipment that is used will make a big difference in how long it takes to locate your utilities. If you have a lot of buried pipes and cables, your utility locator will need specialized equipment to detect them.
Will there be a traffic control plan?
A traffic control plan is a document that describes how your utility locator will manage traffic during their work. It should include information about: which vehicles will be working on the site, when they’ll arrive, where they’ll park, and how they’ll proceed.
Will the site remain secure during non-work hours?
This is an important question to ask, because it’s important that your work isn’t interrupted. If the utility locator can’t guarantee that your site will be secure during non-work hours, you may have to choose an alternative option.
Do you have a limit of liability insurance policy?
This is a key question to ask your utility locator before they get to work. If they don’t have one, it’s probably best to avoid hiring them. The last thing anyone wants is for their home to be damaged by a utility locator who isn’t properly insured.
Do you have a certificate of insurance?
If you’re looking for a good utility locator, one of the first questions you should ask them is whether or not they have a certificate of insurance.
Utility locators are responsible for locating underground lines and pipes on your property so that you can safely begin construction—and if they don’t have the right insurance, they could be held liable if someone gets hurt or there’s damage to your home or property.
These questions ensure that you and your property are safe.
If you’re going to work with a utility locator, then the last thing you want to do is ask the wrong questions. If you don’t, then they won’t be able to do their job as well, causing some potential time delays or safety hazards. To help ensure that everyone goes into the setup process on the same page, we’ve outlined some critical questions that you should ask your utility locator before they ever get started—so be sure to take a look!