When it comes to construction, excavation, and any type of digging project, one of the most critical safety precautions is ensuring that you don’t accidentally damage any underground utilities. These utilities, such as gas, electricity, water, or telecommunications lines, are not only expensive to repair but can also pose serious risks to workers, homes in the area and the environment. In Ontario, it’s the law for homeowners, contractors and excavators to request underground utility locates before digging, and this process must be handled through Ontario One Call.
Ontario One Call is a service designed to protect people, homes and properties, and underground infrastructure by helping locate and identify underground utilities. In this article, we will look at why it's essential for contractors to order locates from Ontario One Call, the legal side of locates, and the responsibilities required to ensure a safe and compliant dig.
What Are Underground Utility Locates?
Underground utility locates are services used to map the location of underground utilities such as electrical lines, gas pipes, water mains, phone cables and fibre optics. The process involves marking the location of these utilities on the ground with paint, flags, or other markers.
Before beginning any excavation project, including drilling post holes, contractors or excavators must ensure that they have accurate information regarding where these utilities are located. By requesting locates from Ontario One Call, contractors can reduce the risk of damaging these utilities during digging activities. Ontario One call is a single point of contact that will send the locate requests to the locators of each utility in your area. Often times, utility companies sub contract the locating services to other companies. Ontario One Call knows which sub contractors are responsible for the locates in your area.
1. It’s the Law in Ontario
Perhaps the simplest reason why homeowners, contractors or excavators must order underground utility locates through Ontario One Call is that it’s the law. The Ontario Underground Infrastructure Notification System Act, 2012 mandates that anyone planning to dig or excavate in the province must request locates through Ontario One Call. This applies to all types of excavation, including residential, commercial, industrial and road projects.
The law requires that locates be requested at least five business days before any excavation begins. This period ensures that utility companies have time to identify and mark the location of their underground infrastructure. However, in our experience, it often takes locators close to ten business days to complete the locates. If anyone begins digging without obtaining the necessary locates, they are violating the law, and this can result in fines, legal liability, and, in the worst cases, significant damage to infrastructure and injury.
2. Protecting Worker Safety
Excavation work can be dangerous, especially when contractors are not aware of the locations of underground utilities. Striking a gas line, electrical cable, or water pipe during excavation can have major consequences. These accidents can result in serious injuries or even fatalities for workers on the site.
For instance, hitting a gas line can cause an explosion or fire. Damaging electrical lines can result in electrocution. Furthermore, puncturing a water or sewage pipe could lead to flooding or contamination. By ordering underground utility locates from Ontario One Call, we can avoid these risks by ensuring that all utilities are clearly marked and avoided during excavation work.
Worker safety should always be a top priority, and following the legal requirements for utility locates is one of the easiest ways to prevent accidents.
3. Preventing Expensive Damage and Delays
Damaging underground utilities during excavation can be very expensive. Emergency utility repair costs, project delays, and fines can add up quickly. For instance, if an electrical line is accidentally severed during excavation, not only will it be an expensive repair, the neighbourhood would likely be out out of power until repairs are made. If a gas line is struck, people in nearby homes may be asked to leave the area until a repair is completed or even worse, an explosion could happen! In addition to the cost of repairs, a damaged utility could cause delays to the timeline of your project. Utility companies need to send workers to repair the damage. They would also need to start an investigation into the cause of the accident, which can take days or even weeks, depending on the severity. Furthermore, crews may be asked to stop working until the repairs and investigations are completed, adding significant downtime to the project.
By ensuring that underground utility locates are ordered before digging begins, contractors can avoid the costs and delays associated with accidental damage.
4. Legal Liability and Financial Consequences
The consequences of failing to order utility locates can go far beyond fines or penalties. Contractors who damage underground utilities due to negligence could be held legally and financially responsible for the repairs. Additionally, if workers are injured as a result, the contractor could face liability for medical costs, workers' compensation claims, and legal action from affected parties.
As the law requires everyone to order underground utility locates, the failure to do so could lead to lawsuits. Insurance companies may refuse to cover the costs of accidents caused by a failure to request locates, leaving contractors liable for the full expense of repairs and damages. It’s essential for contractors to follow the legal process and ensure that utility locates are ordered to avoid these costly consequences.
5. The Importance of Ordering Locates in the Contractor’s Name
One critical detail that contractors must be aware of is that locates must be ordered under the contractor’s name or the name of the excavator performing the work. This is because the contractor is ultimately responsible for the safety and compliance of the excavation work. When the locate request is made in the contractor's name, it ensures that they are held accountable for any issues that may arise during the excavation process.
When utility locates are ordered through Ontario One Call, contractors are required to provide the specific details of the excavation project, including the planned dig location and the expected date of excavation. Having the locates in the contractor’s name guarantees that the request is linked to the specific project and helps to avoid confusion or delays in the locate process. This also ensures that any discrepancies regarding utility locations or damage claims are directed to the contractor, not a homeowner.
6. Benefits for Homeowners and Property Owners
For homeowners and property owners, when your contractor orders locates, it ensures peace of mind during construction projects. It protects your property from accidental damage and minimizes the risk of costly repairs due to damaged utilities. Furthermore, it confidence for homeowners by ensuring that contractors follow all legal requirements and best practices for excavation and safety.
For property owners hiring contractors, confirming that utility locates have been requested and ordered in the contractor’s name can help to avoid disputes and potential liability. It ensures that the contractor is following the law and taking the necessary steps to protect the homeowner, the property and the workers involved.
7. It’s a Simple Process
Ordering locates through Ontario One Call is simple. Contractors can easily request locates online, and the system will automatically contact all relevant utility companies in the area. Utility companies will then send representatives to mark the locations of their infrastructure.
This process is designed to be simple and efficient, rather than trying to figure out which utilities are in the area and reaching out to each one to order locates. This ensures that contractors have the information they need in a timely manner, usually within five business days. The cost of requesting locates is free. Utility companies foot the bill for locate services.
Conclusion: Safety, Compliance, and Peace of Mind
Ordering underground utility locates from Ontario One Call is not only a legal requirement, its also a crucial step in ensuring safety, protecting infrastructure, and preventing costly accidents. For contractors, failing to obtain locates can result in legal penalties, financial liability, and damage to reputation. For homeowners and property owners, it ensures that construction work is carried out responsibly and with minimal risk to their property or utilities.
In Ontario, the law requires that locates be requested in the contractor's or excavator's name, reinforcing the their responsibility for safe excavation practices. It’s a simple process that provides significant benefits in terms of safety, compliance, and project success. By adhering to this essential step, contractors can protect their workers, ensure the smooth completion of their projects, and avoid the financial and legal consequences that come with damaging underground utilities.
At the end of the day, the small effort it takes to order underground utility locates is well worth the peace of mind, safety, and financial protection it provides. Don’t skip this critical step—ensure you follow the law and keep your projects safe by using Ontario One Call.