Best Practice Location of Subsurface Utilities Development of an - - PDF document

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‘Best Practice’ Location of Subsurface Utilities

…Development of an Associated Training Course Introduction

Historically…

• Buried non-metallic services were unable to be readily located

by practical surface-based technologies

• ‘As-built’ records were not accurate enough to permit their sole

use in verifying utility position prior to excavation

• The economic consequences of accidental damage to utilities

were less significant

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Introduction

• Compounding

this scenario, the Industry was largely unregulated and followed no established work or training procedures

• Predictably,

the risk

• f

accidental damage to buried infrastructure was unduly elevated.

Introduction

Major collateral damage was imposed regularly…

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Introduction

…to the detriment of the integrity and long-term viability of the affected assets….

Introduction

…the heath & safety of workers on site…

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Introduction

…and general inconvenience and cost to the asset owner, the contractors, & stakeholders.

Background

• …Major issue, better practice

needed!!

• Something had to be done!!
• 2004: LORD Civil publishes paper:

‘Implementing a New Level of Industry ‘Best Practice’ in Regard to Underground Service Detection’.

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Background

• Paper called for:
• Agreed min. Code of Practice
• Defined levels of quality
• Implementation by policy
• Asset owners & stakeholders to

prepare & implement jointly

• Prepare Training, Certification &

Qualification Procedures

• Receives wide acclaim & support for its

timely initiative.

• Subsequent uptake disappointing
• Vision took 10 more years to implement!

2005: (July) Article “Network Failures ‘avoidable’ says Chch Engineering firm” published by LORD Civil in “NZ Local Government” magazine

Bursting into Print (to no avail) !!

……”given ‘suitable will’ a widespread implementation of the LORD Civil proposals is possible by the end of the year, with formal training qualifications, training providers, and draft systems being on standby for that eventuality”

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‘Best Practice’ Documented in a Patent

• 2005 (Nov): Patent applied for by LORD Civil..

‘Method for a Quality of Outcome-based approach to the location, mapping, and management

• f sub-surface utilities’
• Remains pending
• Key points:
• Survey approach & mark-out guided by “quality of outcome”

practices

• Mutliple geophysical tools & indications overlaid
• Pre-excavation QA mark-out & GIS component too
• Training of operators vital part of IP!

Towards a Formal Implementation

• Major 3 yr. project tried to rollout IP across all of East Australia
• Roading NZ supportive…
• 2007: LORD Civil approaches InfraTrain and NZIHT CEOs…
• Briefs on LORD Civil IP & associated pending training needs of

the Industry to receive competency and on-going competency re- assessment (part of LORD IP)

• Enthusiastic response BUT…
• Agreement by all parties that the timing was ahead of the wider

Industry interest

• LORD to liaise with, & motivate, the Industry to embrace the

concepts proposed.

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An almost unique absence by international standards of an adequate and robust enough legislative and supporting regulatory framework surrounding utility location issues!!

• Contractors often chose to forego location & self manage the risk!
• At best many simply used a basic ‘cable avoidance’ system
• Health & Safety & asset damage over-ridden by cost considerations

The Problem

Return from job Risk of consequential dam age

The Problem

• The criticality and true cost of damage to buried assets became

acute

• Minimal tolerance by asset owners and stakeholders to asset

damage

• Technology offered a range of practical solutions
• International trend toward enhanced levels of location best

practice

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In NZ…

• Little real commitment on behalf of civil industry or local authorities

to address this until last few years!

• Regional exceptions
• Few (nom. 6-8) ‘professional location providers’ in NZ to service

all needs until that time.

• Early innovations & ideas, including training, had to be parked up

The Problem

BUT, all (finally) did change, and fast, recently…

The Problem

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Moving Forward at Last!

• Simultaneous Stimulus..
• Chch earthquake sub-surface assessment & rebuild
• UFB rollout (Australia & NZ)
• Appetite at last for strike penalties
• Tightening OSH legislation 2014
• Wider Industry found itself unprepared to respond
• No formal guidelines or training in place
• Many new entrants ‘having a go’ with ad hoc training
• Increasing pressure to formulate a response

…What to do & how to deliver?

Moving Forward at Last!

• 2012: SCIRT, LORD Civil and CBLG

work on AS5488

• 2013: LORD works with SCIRT to

develop a formal ‘best practice’ location procedure based on LORD Civil IP

• Quality level approach
• Includes location tolerances for each
• Training is cited as part of process
• Informally delivered initially

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Moving Forward at Last!

In 2013 things continued to move quickly:

• NZTA CEO convenes ‘Safety Leadership Forum’
• Significantly, involved all stakeholders (incl. contractors, NZUAG,

SCIRT, Roading NZ, Contractors Federation)

• Very much lead by safety & work processes
• Looking for early implementation
• SCIRT proposes NZTA adopts ‘Best Practice’ document

nationally…well received

• LORD Civil works to formalise associated competency-

assessed training to IP…

LORD Civil Training Solution

• 2014…NZ Industry finally demands a training solution!
• LORD Civil launches a competency-assessed training course.
• Based on LORD Civil IP
• No known peer
• NZ-wide delivery
• Yet to sit on NZQA framework

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The 2 day course caters to nominally 4 students. It involves:

• an overview of relevant theory (3 hrs)
• a practical field training session (8 hrs)
• a written exam (20 mins.)
• a practical assessment (20 mins. ea.)

Total contact time 16 hours.

LORD Civil Training Solution

THEORY

(Follows SCIRT / NZTA structure)

• Scope, general information and definitions (0.7 hrs).
• Subsurface utility location application (0.3 hrs).
• Site processes, plant and equipment (1.5 hours).
• Health and safety (0.1 hrs).
• Environmental matters (0.1 hrs).
• Abbreviations, mark out, and colour coding (0.1 hrs)
• Quality levels (0.2 hrs)

LORD Civil Training Solution

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Formally prepared Tutor Guides

• Detail of delivery
• Detail of

assessment processes

• Precise timings

LORD Civil Training Solution

Formally prepared Course Questionnaire (multi-choice)

• Tutor chooses from list of

questions

• Pass 15/16
• Option to have questions

read

• Two chance concept

LORD Civil Training Solution

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Formally prepared Course Notes

• Practical
• Detailed
• Procedural
• Aimed at a good understanding
• f processes
• Examples & tips

LORD Civil Training Solution

A Certificate of Competency is issued to all competent attendees after an exam and practical assessment by the trainer.

LORD Civil Training Solution

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The Certificate details

• n the rear the topics

examined in and the competency achieved

LORD Civil Training Solution LORD Civil Training Solution

The class photo to wrap it up!

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‘Best practice’ implementation at last?

Well-equipped, well-trained contractors

‘Best practice’ implementation at last?

Minimal incidents

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• An Industry response has been achieved in NZ for ‘best practice’ utility

location

• A 17 year vision & effort but credit to NZTA CEO
• An associated competency-assessed training course in place
• A NZ-wide roll out is nigh.
• A major contribution to safety & infrastructure management
• Australian contractors will likely follow the NZ model soon

Summary & Observation

Committed to improving the ‘best practice’ in subsurface location

www.lordcivil.com