Hand Digging
Check utility depth
for yourself.
Before you can safely cross or work close to an underground utility, you
must first verify its depth. Flags and locator marks tell you the direction the
utility is running, but not how deeply it is buried. The only way to be sure of
utility depth is to carefully expose it and see for yourself.
Proper hand-digging tools and techniques will protect both you and the
utility:
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Use a blunt-nosed shovel to loosen the soil, and a regular shovel to remove
it. Do not use a pickax or a pointed spade. Do not stab at the soil or stomp on
the shovel with both feet.
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Work with a gentle prying action and dig at an angle, so the shovel will
slide along the surface of the wire, conduit, or pipe. Or, dig to the depth
where you expect the utility to be, but off to the side. Then use a prying
motion to break away soil as you approach the utility laterally.
Use proper hand-digging tools and techniques to safely verify the depth
of any buried utilities you must cross or work near.
(© 2001 VISTA Training, Inc.)
Copyright 2002 Culverco, LLC. All rights reserved. Not for print
reproduction or distribution.
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