Education and Training using the PROPPER Steps11/8/2013 4 “We must ensure adequate education… relative to the work undertaken and adequate training in the proper use of equipment.”

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The PROPPER Steps of Line Locating

Education and Training

of the

Line Locator

using the

Introduction: Randy Palaniuk – CAPULC

Presenter: Marvin Svoboda – SME

Southern Alberta Institute of Technology

CAPULC believes that:

Education, training, and assessment is crucial to increased safety, accuracy, and efficiency of the locate process.

An improved understanding between the stakeholders of the ground disturbance process will enhance the protection of infrastructure, people, and the environment.

Randy Palaniuk – President, CAPULC(Canadian Association of Pipeline and Utility Locating Contractors)

Randy Palaniuk – President, CAPULC(Canadian Association of Pipeline and Utility Locating Contractors)

CAPULC supports the initiative for the occupational designation of Underground Facility Locator in Alberta… the first in the world.

Address the need to formalize a recognized basic standard with education prerequisites to perform this occupation

Safety of the Locator, the infrastructure, the public, and the environment

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Marvin Svoboda – Subject Matter Expert

Southern Alberta Institute of Technology

Education and assessment of industry best practices is necessary to develop a standard for excellence in Line Locating, leading to a safer ground disturbance process.

Line Locator in oil & gas fields, plants, suburban, and urban environments, one‐call, and private locate applications

Subject Matter Expert – developing and applying Advanced Line Locating training and Safe Digging material for SAIT

Instructor, trainer, assessor of Line Locating best practices

What occurs AFTER the locate and even AFTER the

ground disturbance?

What occurs prior to the Locator and Ground Disturber meeting?

What occurs before the locate can begin?

What occurs during the locate process?

Locating and Marking

Allow enough time for PROPPER locates.

Locators face many obstacles in an increasingly challenging environment.

Obstacles

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Can range from an inconvenience to catastrophic.Consequences:

“there is no prospect that a tool will be developed that can simply and quickly locate all buried facilities...”

Solution:Improved locating hardware and software?

Solution:The human brain’s ability to analyze, interpret, adapt, and best determine the final results of the locate.

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“We must ensure adequate education… relative to the work undertaken and adequate training in the proper use of equipment.”

Solutions:Education of locating industry best practices, training, experience, and assessment.

Locator Training

The CGA minimum training guidelines and practices

• System design, prints, and technology

• Construction standards and practices

• Locating theory

• Equipment training

• Technique (field) training

• Daily locating operations

• Relationships and image

• Safety procedures

• Written and field testing

• Annual retesting

CGA Best Practices 4‐5

The initiative to recognize Underground Facility Locators as an Occupational Designation

Follow‐up presentation

by Ben Evans – Committee Vice‐chair

Line locating industry

Alberta training legislators

Locate training providers

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The PROPPER Phases of Line Locating

Preview locate request and facility information

Respond to locateOrganize the locate

Perform locate (includes marking)

Retain (file) documentation

Ensure locate documentation is communicated

Prepare locate documentation

Excerpts from the Common Ground Alliance Best Practices version 10, 2012.

review locate request and facility information

Carefully preview the information that is found in the locate request

documentation.

Research the available facility information

PPROPPER

review locate request and facility informationPCarefully preview the information that is found in the locate request documentation.

The Ground Disturber has requested a locate through:

• One‐call system

• Facility Owner/Operator

• Contract Locator ( or dispatch)

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review locate request and facility informationPCarefully preview the information of the infrastructure in the area of the proposed ground disturbance.

CGA Best Practices 4‐1, 6‐12, 6‐13

• Company‐specific databases

• Government/regulatory databases

• 3rd Party databases

• Previous locate information

Reliability of Infrastructure Records:

The Locator/Screener must understand the level of reliability of the infrastructure records.


espond to locateCommunicate with the Ground Disturber to determine nature of the ground disturbance.

PROPPER

R

• Excavation, trenchless, or penetration (post‐pounding)?

• Mechanical or non‐mechanical (non‐destructive)?

• Type of equipment used?

• Proposed depth?

• New construction , installation, or maintenance of existing infrastructure?


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Communicate with the Ground Disturber

The Locator/Screener must obtain the information regarding the proposed work from the Ground Disturber.


The Locator must correctly and accurately determine where the Ground Disturber intends to work (this may require a meeting at the work site).


Request that the Ground Disturber mark the proposed work area with white markings.

CGA Best Practices states:

“When the excavation site cannot be clearly and adequately identified {in the locate request}, the excavator designates the… area to be excavated using white premarking prior to the arrival of the locator.”


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Search and Research for Infrastructure Records:

The Locator is often the only person in a position to properly search for records of infrastructure.

When other sources have been exhausted, thorough digging may be required.

rganize locate

Determine the facilities.

Determine the search area.

Conduct a visual inspection.

OPROPPER

rganize locateODetermine the facilities that are required to be located based on the proposed ground disturbance.

• Are there any visual indications of the facilities?

• Determine the access points to apply a signal to the facilities?

• Are the facilities conductive or non‐conductive?

• What construction method was used to install the facility?

• How deep is the facility anticipated to be?


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rganize locateOConduct a visual inspection to determine the hazards within the search area and the procedures to mitigate the hazards.• Site background data and familiarization

• Determining the hazards associated with the locate

• Safety procedures to control the hazards

• Emergency response plan


rganize locateOWhat procedures are required to conduct this locate?

The qualified Locator, with training, experience, and understanding…

Is capable of selecting the necessary procedures required to conduct the locate.

• Direct

• Indirect

• Sweeps

• Passive

• Measurements

rganize locateOWhat tools and equipment are required to conduct this locate?

The qualified Locator, with education, training, experience, and understanding…

Is capable of selecting the necessary tools and equipment required to conduct the locate.

• Direct clamps

• Induction clamp

• Broadcast induction

• Rodding tools

• Survey

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rganize locateOUnderstanding the entire system leads to a more

complete and accurate locate of the buried facilities.

erform locate

Use the appropriate procedures and equipment .

Adequately mark the buried facilities.

PPROPPER

erform locateP Use the appropriate procedures and equipment to

conduct the required locate of the buried facilities.

Some locating education courses and even best practices suggest that the direct hook‐up method is the BEST method to apply a locatable signal to a buried facility.

The CGA Best Practices states:

“The preferred method of actively applying a signal onto a facility is to use direct connection.”

This is not necessarily the case.

CGA Best Practices 4‐12(A)

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erform locatePWhen you hire a professional to build or maintain your plumbing or electrical system in your home…

You expect the professional to be TRAINED and EXPERIENCED in how to use the APPROPRIATE TOOLS for the various TASKS at hand!

erform locatePThe CGA Best Practices, regarding locating technologies, states:

“It is important to note that these technologies are not applicable in all areas or conditions...”

And…

“Users…should have the degree of knowledge and training required to operate the associated equipment and/or to interpret the results.”

CGA Best Practices 4‐12(B)

erform locatePThe Solution:

The trained and experienced Locator is the only person that can determine which method or procedure to use in any given locating scenario.

Multiple methods and procedures may be required until the desired results are reached.

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erform locate – Signal ApplicationP• Application of a locatable signal to a facility

o Direct, inductive clamp, indirect (induction or broadcast)

• Effective signal level applied to the facility

o High, medium, or low

• Effective signal circuit paths

o Primary circuit grounding, conductivity of the facility, multiple return paths

• Gain (sensitivity) selection

o Manual selection (effective control? Or tedious?)

o Automatic gain selection (convenient? Or lack of control?)

o Semi‐automatic selection (best of both worlds? Or misleading?)

• Receiver feedback

o Audible feedback (processed? Or raw?)

o Visual feedback (convenient? Or heavily processed? Time lag?)

erform locate – Receiver feedbackP

• Trace and verify

o Trace the signal to the next accessible, or verifiable point

o Retrace the facility from the next point to the original point

• Multiple line checks

o Parallel line checks

o Proximity line checks

o Surface features parallel checks

erform locate – Basic proceduresP

These methods are the ones where you will find the GOLD.

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Passive vs. Active signal locating

The CGA Best Practices regarding active and passive signal locating, states:

“When locating electromagnetically, active/conductive locating is preferable to passive/inductive locating.”

erform locate – Alternative methodsP

These may be used as a starting point, or perhaps as a follow‐up scan, but should NEVER be used as the sole

locating procedure.

CGA Best Practices 4‐12(A)

• Cathodic protection signal

• Radio mode

• Power mode

erform locatePSweeping for unknowns

• Various sweeping procedures based on the ground disturbance and the search area

• Used to identify unknowns

• Not intended to replace other locate procedures

erform locatePComprehensive Locates


The CGA has recognized the advantages of a comprehensive locate of a work area reducing the likelihood of errors and resulting damage.

The advantages include:

• Improved responsive service

• Improved communication

• Improved locating and marking through distinction

• Comprehensive mapping

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erform locatePSystematic Locating

erform locatePAbnormal Operating Conditions

• Every locate may include some type of AOC

• Multiple methods and procedures

• Multiple types of equipment

A diligent Locator uses knowledge and experience to pursue solutions to problem locates.

erform locateP Adequately mark the buried facilities.

• Clear communication

• Colour codes

CGA Best Practices

4‐13

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erform locateP Adequately mark the buried facilities.

• Surface and raised markers

• Appropriate marking materials

• Company identifiers

• Facility identifiers


erform locateP Are all of the target lines in the work area located? Are all of the lines in the extended search area

located? Are all of the other buried facilities located?

(comprehensive locate) Are all of the lines clearly identified and marked?

Check the locate performed

repare locate documentationPPROPPER

Review and verify locates.

Documentation must be an accurate record that eliminates confusion

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repare locate documentationPDocumentation must include:

Clear land location, address, or position

Identifiable surface features

Clear identification of the (target) buried facilities in relation to surface features, the work area, and other buried facilities

Description of the buried facilities


repare locate documentationPA Locator must provide specifics regarding discrepancies.

Note discrepancies in locate findings from:

• Existing records

• Surface indicators (signage, markers)

• Other locate findings


nsure documentation is communicatedEA Locator should review the documentation with the Ground Disturber.

• Sketch

• Written documentation

• Hardcopy and walk‐through

• E‐mail and phone call

• Note the proximity or conflicts of facilities with the work area

• Note any discrepancies

• Need for additional locates

PROPPER

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nsure documentation is communicatedE


A Locator must provide information for updating records.

The Locator should notify the Facility Owner/Operator in a timely manner and include the following information:

• Nature of the error or omission

• Details regarding the found or missing facility

• Sketch indicating the error and correction in relation to other facilities and/or surface features

nsure documentation is communicatedE


Keep communication channels open

The Locator should invite the Ground Disturber to inform the Locator if there are any discrepancies discovered during the excavation process.

A follow‐up locate may be necessary to update records.

etain documentation Provide documentation to Facility

Owner/Operator

• Local operator and field office

• Construction and maintenance office

• Corporate office

• Use locate information to update as‐built records

R

Maintain files at locate office

• Must be readily accessible to future locate personnel

CGA Best Practices 2‐11, 5‐28

PROPPER

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“We must ensure adequate education… relative to the work undertaken and adequate training in the proper use of equipment.”

Solution:Education of locating industry best practices, training, experience, and assessment.

“there is no prospect that a tool will be

developed that can simply and quickly locate all buried

facilities...”


Questions:

Education and Training

of the

Line Locator

using the


Advanced Line Locator Certificate Program

Safe Digging Certificate

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Status of theUnderground Facility LocatorOccupational Designationapplication in Alberta

Committee Vice‐chair – Ben Evans

Documents

Education and Training using the PROPPER Steps11/8/2013 4 “We must ensure adequate education… relative to the work undertaken and adequate training in the proper use of equipment.”