Preventing Underground Incidents
If you break ground, you can hit something. Probing, digging, repairing, or locating all carry the same risk. Depth is never guaranteed, and ground cover changes over time. If your co-op is doing any work underground, the risks belong in your hazard assessment before the work starts.
Alberta's OHS Code allows hand digging up to 300 mm (about 12 inches) if you do not permanently remove cover over a buried line. Below that depth, buried facilities must be located before disturbing the ground and can be requested through Click Before You Dig.
Ground cover can change over time. Erosion, regrading, ditch maintenance and shallow backfill all reduce it. A line installed at the correct depth years ago may not be at that depth now, and depth on one property tells you nothing about the next one. Do not assume a buried line is where it should be.
Things to consider
- Soft ground. Wet or loose soil provide little resistance, so instruments are able to sink well past the depth intended.
- Shallow lines. Lines can be buried at depths that are unexpected, just below the surface.
What you can do
Here are some actions your co-op can take to prevent underground incidents:
- Identify hazards before starting work.
- Review your procedure for locating underground utilities.
- Make sure staff understand the risks of gas, water, electrical and other buried lines.
- Keep clear records of field activities, including photos and site conditions.
- Confirm emergency contacts and the nearest medical facility before starting work.
Reporting and learning
Report incidents and near misses right away. Review them with your board while details are fresh. Sharing them with the Water Federation helps every co‑op learn before the same thing happens somewhere else.
A clear picture of what is buried at a site, and a hazard assessment that accounts for it, supports safer work and better decisions. If you have questions or want to share an incident from your co‑op, the Water Federation team is here to help.
Reference: Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code (AR 191/2021), Part 32 Excavating and Tunnelling, sections 441 and 447.