Evading Utility Location Dangers with Modern Technological Solutions

1. Evading Utility Location Dangers with Modern Technological Solutions

2. Utility locating or service location is the process of identifying the accurate location of underground utilities that consist of pipes and cables carrying gases, sewage, electricity, etc. It can easily turn into a dangerous venture and expose service-locating professionals to a plethora of risks that can sometimes be fatal for the professionals. Let us take a look at the dangers associated with conventional utility location services.

3. Traffic Utility Locators are often required to carry out their tasks alongside a busy roadway. In this case, busy traffic poses a constant threat to professionals. Over-speeding drivers and disobeying traffic rules can lead to a traffic accident involving the vehicles of utility locators and other passing drivers. Furthermore, the equipment used for providing utility locations services can also get damaged during an accident. Eliminating the traffic risks related to utility location is difficult even with the appropriate traffic control and permits because professionals cannot control how the drivers passing by behave on road.

4. Confined Spaces Utility location is necessary before construction and even before the start of the geotechnical testing service. Thus, the construction site where the utility location needs to be executed can be short of the necessary safety measures. Utility location professionals can get exposed to various risks If they are required to enter confined spaces for locating underground pipes and cables. The noxious gases present in a manhole can threaten the health of a service-locating expert. 

5. Providing considerable training to your utility location services staff and monitoring the gas levels prior to entering dangerous confined spaces is the best solution to evade health risks when working in manholes.

6. Electrocution Electricity has become prevalent with time and all modern cities and towns consist of all sorts of complex wiring both on the ground and underground. Underground cables often carry high-voltage current in them. Direct contact with such cables can be fatal to any individual. Utility location professionals are required to work in environments where they can accidentally contact dangerous wires and put themselves at grave risk.

7. Natural Phenomena Natural phenomena can create various uncalculated risks at a construction site for construction crews, geotechnical testing service experts, and utility location professionals. For example, continuous rain pouring down for hours could make the surfaces slippery and lead to a worker falling down a manhole. Extreme snowy conditions can expose utility location professionals to certain risks as the snow would hide dangerous wires or sharp items under it. 

8. Avoiding Utility Location Dangers Utility location services are essential for the success of any construction project that involves laying foundations underground. But, utility locating professionals should be aware of all the threats that can put them in danger. Furthermore, injured utility locating experts can delay the start of your construction project and increase the overall construction cost as you would have to extend the timeline and procure all resources for a longer time. You should rely on experts with years of experience to minimise and possibly eliminate all dangers related to utility locating. Aussie Hydro-Vac Services is a reliable cable and pile location service provider utilising state-of-the-art tools and technologies to offer safe and effective utility location services. 

9. Why You Need a Utility Location for Your Construction Project Laying the foundation is a necessary task for a majority of construction projects. This requires the construction crew to dig underground. The underground location of communication lines, gas pipes, high-voltage electricity cables, sewage pipes, and more is beneficial for the public as they can travel safely without contacting these volatile utilities. These pipes and cables can receive damage during construction involving digging underground. 

10. Construction crews can damage the property they are working on or injure themselves if they tamper with the underground utilities accidentally. Utility location services can detect hidden utility lines and provide vital information to the construction crew, helping them avoid fatal consequences. Top-notch utility location experts provide accurate data regarding the location and nature of the utility, enabling the construction crews to work safely. Here are some dangers you can avoid by hiring qualified utility location services professionals like Aussie Hydro-Vac Services.

11. Flooding Underground utilities at many locations may contain pipes carrying liquid waste. A single cut in such pipes can also lead to flooding at the construction site. Flooding not only exposes workers to health risks but can also cause large-scale property damage.

12. Communication Interference The nearby community can sustain a time period without communication as the communication cables suffer accidental harm from construction crews. Furthermore, you can be held liable for the downtime caused at nearby commercial properties, requiring you to pay a hefty compensation.

13. Health Risks In case a sewage pipe gets accidentally damaged during construction, the waste would be released all around the construction site. This waste comprises of toxins and bacteria that can be harmful to all the people nearby.