We are all under pressure to move quickly and get the job done and there is nothing more frustrating than delays caused by gas leaks, broken water mains or other utility malfunctions. These accidents are dangerous, cause trouble with community relations and are very costly to fix.
The provincial government recognizes April as Safe Digging Month and BC 1 Call works with many partners to help spread awareness and encourage safety on job sites across Canada. We like to do our part and hope you will take a few minutes to check out some of the great progress that has been made over the last few years!
The resource we need is right at our fingertips
BC 1 Call has established themselves in the last decade as a leader in public safety and convenience in the construction industry.
Over 30 education programs name BC 1 Call in their procedure as best practice for breaking ground on a new project.
According to the 2022 Member Survey, 89% of BC 1 Call members confirmed locates are an important part of their Damage Prevention Strategy.
In 2022 66% of all Locate Requests were made by Contractors. This is up almost 10% from 2018!
From 2020-2022 there was 179% growth in registered Contract members.
Why is this important? If there was proof needed that BC 1 Call is effective and will save you both time and money, the collective buy in of the contractor community over the last few years should reassure you they are worth your notice.
Unfortunately, despite the fact that failing to mitigate risks and think preemptively is costly, a surprising number of accidents are still occurring.
According to the most recent Damage Incident Reporting Tool Report of the Canadian Common Ground Alliance (i.e. the 2021 DIRT Report):
Too many of the reported damage incidents were caused by
a failure to use BC 1 Call: 47%
an excavation issue (including a failure to review and follow BC 1 Call members’ safe digging instructions): 39%
Over 63% of all reported damages were caused in the course of undertaking three types of work:
Water or Sewer Work: 25.5%
Construction: 21.1%
Landscaping: 16.8%
95% of all incidents involved a hit to either Natural Gas or Telecommunications infrastructure, both of which deliver critical services which our communities depend on.
85% related to gas line strikes alone, which carry an extremely high risk of personal injury.
So when do you call?
What jobs require a Locate Request? Anything involving ground disturbance. This could be commercial and industrial construction and homebuilding, roadbuilding, landscaping, public works, telecommunications, oil and gas and more!
How to request a locate
The locate request service is free and can be done anytime online or through BC 1 Call’s toll-free number: 1-800-474-6886 from Monday to Friday from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm PST (excluding holidays). BC 1 Call’s website also features a live chat function providing online assistance to those navigating the website. Live chat hours take place Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm PST (excluding holidays).
If you are a first-time user, you will need to register here first before submitting a locate request. Once your account has been created, you can log into your account and request your locate.
Make sure to submit a ticket at least 3 business days (not calendar days) in advance, and 5 business days for Large Project locate requests. This will give the members enough time to get back to you with accurate safe digging information about the buried facilities located at your dig site.
What Information does the BC 1 Call locate request form require?
You need to provide the following information to request a locate:
● Name and contact information
● The exact location of your dig site
● How deep you will be digging
● When you plan to begin the excavation work
● Whether you’re digging on public or private property, or both
For a full list of the information you will need to complete a Locate Request ticket, see the Information Checklist.
Note: This checklist is prepared for those calling in with locate request information, so they have all information at hand. Complete online requests on our website -- this form is just an annotated guide to completing a locate request, not the locate request itself.
How does BC 1 Call know where infrastructure is located?
After you submit your request, BC 1 Call’s mapping system will immediately locate your dig site and notify all members that have underground infrastructure within the defined site. You will then receive an email from BC 1 Call with your ticket number and a list of members that have been notified of your request.
When am I clear to dig?
BC 1 Call members will email you directly, within 3 working days (5 for large project locate requests), with details of the buried facilities in your excavation area and safe digging instructions. You are not clear to dig until all notified members have contacted you. After that, be sure to review the maps and instructions received from the members and mark the ground carefully before you dig. Contact the members for any instructions requiring clarification.
Still want to know more?
Or you can head over to the BC 1 Call Contractor and Homeowner pages.
Stay safe everyone!
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