When you have questions, concerns or issues, who (or what) do you turn to? Maybe a co-worker, employee or friend? Or do you type it in your search engine?
Whatever your default method of help, there are always additional resources that can assist you on your jobsite, specifically in the utility and trenchless industry. Here are a few to get you started in the right direction.
811
Knowing where utilities are located on the jobsite is integral to a job well done. But to do that, you have to know how to operate your utility locator to stay efficient and correctly assess where utility lines are on the jobsite. Before you use a utility locator, an important (and sometimes required) step to take is to call 811. All you have to do is call the national phone number and inform the operator where you intend to dig. That information is then routed to the local One Call center, and utility companies will typically send technicians out to mark underground utilities within a couple days.
Missed and mislocated utilities can lead to significant costs and safety concerns. According to the Common Ground Alliance 2019 DIRT Annual Report, there were 456,290 utility strikes and near misses reported in the U.S. and Canada in 2019. The fourth leading cause of these utility strikes is due to locating issues, where the utility line was inaccurately located or wasn’t marked correctly, according to the report. So, make sure you have a locator on hand and give 811 a call.
Distribution Contractors Association
Another key resource for utility contractors is the Distribution Contractors Association (DCA). They recently launched a new website that has a variety of resources and tools dedicated to trenchless technology. They also have educational topics you can dive into, such as what is horizontal directional drilling (HDD), the equipment and fluids used, as well as the benefits of HDD and trenchless technology. Plus, there are videos of experts completing projects across the world.
“The new DCA Trenchless website provides much-needed factual information about horizontal directional drilling,” explains Dustin Kraft, regional manager at Vermeer. “We encourage anyone wanting to know more about HDD to check out the website, as it is a great educational source.”
Vermeer Corporation has a long-standing partnership with DCA to provide a voice for labor relations in the natural gas and underground utility industry.
Vermeer dealer
The third resource is your local Vermeer dealer. Here’s why: To set yourself up for success, you need to examine the physical location where the work is going to be performed and develop a plan that uses the most efficient process for your location, ground conditions and overall objective. Sometimes, it can be difficult to determine what is the most efficient way to do it.
In those cases, a Vermeer dealer can offer an experienced opinion. An HDD tooling specialist can also advise on the right tooling and drill string. Reach out to your Vermeer dealer to help identify the most efficient solution for your unique application.
When in need, start with these three resources.
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