b'LOCATE INSIGHTSEXCAVATING ON PRIVATE PROPERTYManaging the ChallengesAnd Reducing RiskBY GRANT PIRAINE, PRESIDENT, OWN YOUR SAFETY INC.I n Ontario in 2017 thereThe public and private locate were 5,149 reportedprocesses are multifaceted, damages to buried utilityinvolving many people along the infrastructure that resultedway. An excavation company that in an estimated $600does not know its role when exca-million in societal costvating around public or privately expenditures, according toowned buried infrastructure, the 2017 Damage Informationor understand how to manage Reporting Tool (DIRT) Report.these locate processes, adds a tremendous amount of risk to This Report indicated thatevery project. the direct and indirect costs are a result of repairs,Direct repair costs can emergency response, evacuation,potentially run into the millions environmental contamination,depending on the type of buried down-time, interruption/loss offacility that was damaged, let production and sales, and thealone the safety issues, cost over-redirection of safety servicesruns, extended project timelines, such as 9-1-1. Unfortunately,and brand reputation conse-these statistics are grosslyquences. An owner, or the C-level underestimated as they onlymanagement of a company, account for public utility-ownedcan quickly find themselves infrastructure damages that arecontemplating bankruptcy in voluntarily reported.the event of catastrophic buried facility damage.These direct and indirect costs also do not account for anyPROVIDE DOCUMENTATION damages to privately ownedWorking around privately owned buried infrastructure. Theburied infrastructure is one of the unfortunate truth is the majoritymany challenges an excavation of private landowners do notcompany must manage on a daily know their responsibilities withbasis. When excavating, it is impor-respect to their privately ownedtant to understand where a buried facilities and also do not reportfacility falls within the distribution damages to DIRT.network and who is required to locate the buried facilities in a This lack of understandingwork area before breaking ground. within the commercial,In fact, when working on privately industrial and institutionalowned commercial and industrial private landowner communityproperty, there are potentially presents a large risk for publicmore buried privately owned facili-safetyin particular, theties than those which are public excavation community. utility owned.30H 2 OSWCA Winter 2018-19'