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Time Out For Safety. Ground Disturbance. AMEC Environment & Infrastructure November 2013. Ground Disturbance. What will be covered:. Lessons Learned AMEC Safety Rule and Procedures Utility Locates, Technology and Limitations Training Emergency Response
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Time Out For Safety Ground Disturbance AMEC Environment & Infrastructure November 2013
Ground Disturbance What will be covered: • Lessons Learned • AMEC Safety Rule and Procedures • Utility Locates, Technology and Limitations • Training • Emergency Response • Incident Reporting and Investigation • Common Ground Alliance
2012 AMEC E&I Subcontractor Incidents • No incident resulted in ‘recordable injuries’ and damages were less than $10,000. • CGA means Common Ground Alliance
AMEC Safety Rule • Ground disturbance involves a manmade cut, cavity, trench, or depression in the earth’s surface. • Every employee who is involved in ground disturbance must: • Review this presentation • Review the Ground Disturbance SOP • Pass the online Quiz • Complete any client-specific or local regulatory required training.
Ground Disturbance SOP Elements Key Elements: • SOP applies to all AEI operations involving personnel and subcontractors • Notification (Property owners and 811 or 1 Call and other Utility Owners/Representative) • PM/QP Review locates for accuracy and limits. • PM/QP Authorize work based on planned work methods. Other Specified Elements: • Work Within Limits of Locate • Work In Proximity to Underground Utilities • Utilities Within Concrete Slabs • Vacuum, Air and Hydro Excavation • Exposed Utilities Backfilling • Utility Damage and Abandoned Utilities • Work Near Overhead Power Lines
Application of Ground Disturbance SOP • Review the AEI Ground Disturbance SOP. It applies to: ANY disturbance of the ground surface to a depth and in a manner capable of causing damage to a buried utility, pipeline or other structure or reducing the cover above any buried object requiring protection. • Qualified Persons (QP) such as Qualified Project Managers (PM) and Qualified designees have responsibilities under this SOP. AEI HASP Approval Policy • “Qualified Person” for the purpose of this document is a registered professional engineer (PE/P.Eng), professional geologist (PG), certified occupational health & safety professional (CIH/ROH, CSP/CRSP), certified hazardous materials manager (CHMM), occupational health and safety scientist, or other professional. All should be designated by a Unit Manager.
Ground Disturbance Responsibility • The qualified PM or QP is responsible to ensure: 1 The adherence to the local regulations; and 2 The minimum ground disturbance procedure requirements have been met prior to authorizing the ground disturbance to proceed. • All current locates/permits must be completed, compiled into a package and made available at the work site at all times. • Review locates/permits with all personnel/subs. involved on-site. Manage Any Change This means that if the utility locates received identify additional permits, authorization, day-lighting or special methods, these must be incorporated into the project safety plan.
Regional Procedures • Specific requirements vary and sometimes conflict, between municipal, provincial, state and federal requirements, causing confusion. • Regional Ground Disturbance Procedures are recommended to be developed by local professional practice groups/safety committees and approved by the HSE Department, in accordance with provincial or state regulations and the AEI Ground Disturbance SOP. • Example – Alberta Ground Disturbance Procedure
One Call 'One Call' is a generic name for organizations that coordinate utility locating services. Across North America there are many service organizations such as ‘811’, 'ON1Call', 'Miss Utility', 'Utility Notification Center', etc. In some areas, not all of the utility companies have agreements with the One Call service. Notification must be made with the property owner and owners of any other buried utilities that are not Members of your local One Call service organization to come out and mark their utilities.
High Priority Facilities: Pipelines • Pipelines: Rupturing a pipeline can have severe consequences such as environmental, legal, serious injury or death. • Look for pipeline markers located along the pipeline route, at road and railroad crossings and at all aboveground facilities. • National Energy Board of Canada requires owners to authorize Ground disturbance on the right of way and within 30 metres (100 feet) of the limits of the right of way of high priority facilities (e.g. transmission pipelines, associated infrastructure).
Locating Technology and Limitations Locators must be qualified Competent persons must be familiar with the various locating methods and factors that affect locating. There are many factors affecting locating such as type and composition, depth, soil type, pH, interference from saline ground, multiple crossing or parallel lines, other metal objects, structures or power lines that willlimit the sensitivity and accuracy of electronic locates. QPs Review: Canadian Association of Pipeline and Utility Locating Contractors - Industry Recognized Practices, LIRP No. 101 Locating Methods and Factors That Affect Locating
Private Locators – Best Practices • Dowsing is NOT an acceptable method for locating buried utilities. • They provide due diligence by locating underground anomalies (e.g. private utilities not located by “1-Call” or abandoned/ inactive utilities) on both private and public property. • Determine with the locator which technology (Active, Passive, GPR, Magnetic, etc) is most appropriate for the project site, and consider the limitations and level of uncertainty. • Meet the private locator on-site, whenever possible, to avoid communication errors. • Share public locates and all available plans. • Obtain Access to the site, including indoor areas, especially mechanical rooms. • Control site hazards while locating (i.e. traffic).
Innovative locating solutions • CCTV Camera inspection contractors may be required since concrete, asbestos-cement, plastic and fiberglass lines with no tracer wires can’t be located with magnetic scans • Push and motorized equipment transport cameras with built-in 512Hz Sonde for locating camera position from above ground - trace lines, inspect condition and located laterals.
Tolerance Zone – Hand Expose Zone • The tolerance zone protects buried utilities.The tolerance zone is the width of an underground utility plus a specified tolerance distance on both sides of that utility. • The tolerance zone also protects you.If you do NOT respect the tolerance zone, you risk contacting buried utilities, resulting in damages, product release, injury or death. • The supervisor and AMEC may be liable for any damages that occur. To avoid damaging buried utilities, do NOT power dig within the tolerance zone. Hand dig or use vacuum technology instead. • Hydro/Air Vacuum: Ensure non-destructive technique avoids damage to utility coating, approved by utility owner. Plan for soil disposal.
Training • At a minimum, Qualified persons authorizing work shall receive training in the content and application of this SOP (this presentation), including review of the Ground Disturbance SOP and successful completion of AMEC Quiz. • Ground disturbance training is available from third party providers, where required both online and in-class (some jurisdictions): • www.ecompliance.ca that meets the requirements of IRP #17 including Level 1 (Worker) and Level 2 (Supervisor). • http://www.danatec.com/shop/ground-disturbance-online-training/ • Confirm your regulatory and client training requirements.
Emergency Response – Utility Damage • In case of gas contact: • If gas is escaping, shut down all ignition sources • Barricade the area off, keep public and workers away • Do not attempt to control escaping gas • Notify the Fire Department, Police and Gas Company • In case of electrical contact: • Call 911 if an immediate threat to life or fire • Call the electric company immediately to shut down the power. • Warn co-workers to stay away. • Do NOT touch the equipment and the ground at the same time. • Stay on the equipment unless it's on fire. • If you must exit the equipment, jump clear and land with your feet together. Shuffle away with feet together and on the ground.
Incident Reporting • Notify the One-Call service and the utility owner. • Report the incident to HSE Department and complete Incident Analysis Report (IAR) and, • Investigate and determine Root Causes using the AMEC Ground Disturbance Incident Report (GDR). • Example Common Ground Alliance (CGA) causes: • One-Call Processes Not Sufficient • Locating Practice No Sufficient • Excavation Practices Not Sufficient • Misc. (Abandoned, deterioration, previous damage, etc.) • Never bury a damaged utility – always notify the utility owner prior to backfilling an exposed utility and document in a backfilling report. • There's no such thing as minor damage to utilities.
Common Ground Alliance (CGA) • A leading organization in North America promoting effective damage prevention strategies through shared responsibility among all stakeholders. • US CGA • Best Practices 10.0 (LINK) • Get involved: See events listing • Canadian CGA • Best Practices published by: • BC, SK, ON, QC • Many ‘Regional CGA’ organizations, such as:.