DAMAGE PREVENTION

1
DAMAGE PREVENTION

• Stopping underground
• facility damages before
• an incident or explosion.
• Responding to underground utility damages
• Establish Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
  for damage prevention.

2
Objective

• Prevent excavators who do not have a mark-out
  request from excavating until the underground
  facilities are marked.
• Respond to underground utility facility damages

3
Verify the mark-out request

• The underground facilities should be marked in
  the area where the excavating is occurring with
  the appropriate paint, flags and or stakes
  according to the law (Underground facility
  Protection Act).

4
Verify valid mark-out request

• When excavation activity is observed
• Large construction equipment
• Post hole diggers
• Hand excavation including planting trees / shrubs
• Or any other type of excavation
• Observe if paint or colored flags are marking the
  underground facilities in the area of excavation
• If not, inquire with the excavator if they have a
  valid mark-out request and what their request
  number is.
• The request number is 9-digits long with the
  first two numbers representing the year (example
  050321010)
• If there are no marks the excavator does not
  have a mark-out request, have the excavator stop
  excavating.

5
No valid request

• Have the excavator stop excavating immediately.
• Notify the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
  OneCall Enforcement group, OSHA, or your local
  utility.
• BPU contact number 973.667.3204
• OSHA
• Essex, Hudson, Morris, Sussex [phone]
• Bergen, Passaic [phone]
• Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset, Union, Warren
• [phone]
• Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May,
  Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean,
  Salem
• [phone]

6
Failing to have a mark-out request

• Can result in death, injuries, and / or property
  damage. The picture below was the result of an
  excavator failing to request that underground
  facilities be marked. Three people were killed.

7
Failing to have a mark-out for the work area

• You may find an excavator working beyond the area
  they requested to be marked. This can also result
  in death, injuries property damage.

8
You can prevent underground facility damages

• Your action to stop illegal excavations that
  endanger public safety can prevent serious
  incidents from occurring.

9
Protect the Public

• Establish damage prevention SOPs for police,
  building parking inspectors, fire department
• For additional information call NJ Board of
  Public Utilities One-Call Enforcement Group.
• For the law or a copy of the Underground Facility
  Protection Act
• NJSA 482-73 through NJSA 482-91
• NJAC142-1.1 through NJAC 142-6.4
• OSHA Federal Regulation 1926.651
• (go to http//www.state.nj.us/bpu/wwwroot/servic
  eeval/handbook.pdf )

10
If gas facilities are damaged

• Contact the gas company immediately
• Secure the area evacuate as needed
• Check near-by buildings be alert to multiple
  gas leaks. multiple gas leaks
• (possibly where the gas facilities were struck
  / or pulled and broken inside near-by
  buildings)
• Eliminate sources of ignition
• (shut off equipment-if it can be done safely,
  divert traffic, no flares,no smoking)
• Stay upwind of leaking gas away from manholes,
  underground vaults, sewer grates

11
If gas facilities are damaged

• Remember the properties of natural gas
• Lighter than air will rise
• Natural gas is colorless, odorless, flammable
• Flammable range of natural gas is 5-15 in air
• An odorant is added to natural gas
• Do not try to extinguish a natural gas fire
  unless it is an immediate hazard to life
  remember that the gas may re-ignite or explode
• Evacuate the area as required
• Always investigate for multiple leaks even if the
  gas is burning.
• Coordinate with the gas company especially when
  venting.
• Report all damage to gas facilities including
  damage to pipe coatings to the gas company.

12
If electric facilities are damaged

• Contact the electric company immediately
• Secure the area
• Be alert to energized wires, construction
  equipment, other metal objects
• (the ground near the damage may also become
  energized)
• Stay away from manholes underground vaults.
• Damaged underground transformers contain oil that
  can result in a BLEVE.
• Do Not enter manholes or underground vaults
• Coordinate with the electric company

13
If electric facilities are damaged

• There are two general types of underground
  electrical systems
• Direct burial underground distribution (BUD)
• Transformers are above ground electric cable is
  installed directly in the ground
• Network radial underground distribution
• Transformers are underground in vaults electric
  cables are in conduit.
• Report all damage to electric facilities
  including damage to cable coatings to the
  electric company.

14
Conclusion

• Establish SOPs for damage prevention and
  responding to damaged utility facilities
• Coordinate with utility companies
• Ensure police on traffic control at construction
  sites know the SOPs
• Conduct periodic training and refresher training.
• Actively enforce damage prevention