Need to Make some money with my Tractor.

[LBrown59]

Yes " Dig Alert " is a free service. It would be best for me to call before I dug at an owners property.

* I guess I thought doing a favor for a neighbor, they would call. Even thought the responsibility would be mine for damages if I broke something. I am not a grading contractor or engineer, but I guess it would not relieve me of any responsibility if I damaged underground utilities. David

*Doing a favor with no charge involved -would that change the responsibility picture?

 

[LBrown59]

FYI, now there is a nationwide free one call service. Just dial '811' and you will be connected to the correct one call provider for the area of excavation. Feel free to pass this important phone number on to everyone. There is a HUGE shift in accountability when you make that call 48 hours prior to excavation. The burden is now on the utility company to make sure their line<s> are marked with location and depth. I have found it to be to my advantage to be present if possible when they do the line locate, just to make sure I find out the depth. Sometimes they do not mark that information on the stake or flag. Also, if they mismark, or if they don't show up, then it's their nickel if something gets cut or damaged. Using the one call service is very very easy.

*811

Thanks

k

* This number don't cover all

 

[jacobweaver32]

Good thread, you guys got me thinking about calling 811 now. Can I do that and have them mark off anything in my property, so that I know in the future? As I am going to be putting in a mess of drain lines soon, poles for a barn and a colvert for my driveway by the road because the current colvert is causing a sink hole and my gravel is disappearing.

Thanks,Jake

 

[Toiyabe]

The rules vary from state to state. Generally you are supposed to call the locator before you dig, not before you design. There may be a maximum before digging that you can call. Not that you'll get in trouble for calling two months out, but you might not be legally covered. You should check your local location service's website.

Note that the locator service exists to protect its members, which are certain utilities (gas, power, telecom, water etc.) They won't find stuff that doesn't belong to the members, such as your own septic or underground power. Outside of the the right-of-way, you will probably know about anything underground that doesn't belong to you.

 

[ducati996]

I dunno I think this guys needs to really think about what he wants to do when he grows up - sounds like he already has the tools to make money (plumbing), but dosent do it? But would rather sit with a big tractor that he cant transport and wish things to happen without a clue on how to make money - makes no sense to me

Wish you the very best of luck -

 

[Dirthog]

In Pa it is not less than 10 days or more than 90 for design the One Call it self Must be made not less than 3 nor more than 10 working days be for excavation and working days are mon through fri no weekends also if you are not on site or have equipment there for than more 10 days you must have them remarked or it is your responsable if you hit something. We mark lines all the time to bid jobs so we know what other utility's are on site and know what we have to deal with. And as was said before they will not be responsable for privite line they will mark them most of the time but they do not have to do so.

 

[kbota]

* This number don't cover all

I'll not debate this issue with you, but 811 was legislated at the federal level. I'm not an expert on this system, but it is designed and supposed to work across the continental USA.

For more information go to;
How 811 Works | Call 811 - Know what's below

One important point is that this system is only as good as its members, however, if a utility is not a member, then the courts take a dim view of them in regard to their protection of the public. As far as I know, virtually all pipelines, gas companies, and telephone companies are required to be members. I work for a pipeline, and we are required by law to be a member of the state one call system. There are possibly some small water systems who are not. I would call them directly and ask for a locate.

Again, doing this only takes a five minute phone call, and it provides tremendous legal protection along with real life protection if you happen to have a high pressure gas pipeline at your excavation site. Most folks don't have any idea of what can happen if you rupture a high pressure large diameter natural gas pipeline, but it can be spectacular and deadly.

Good luck, and call 811. If nothing else, call your local utilities individually. Be sure and make note of when you call and who you talk to. Keep this on file until you are finished.

k

 

[LoneCowboy]

Locates
Here in Colorado anyway, you must call at least 48 hours (2 business days) before digging and the locates are only good for 30 days.
however, it's free, and on big jobs, you just put in a regular ticket to have them come out once a week and refresh them.
Locates aren't exact, they are only within 18inches and they never tell you the depth. If you are 19" away from the line and hit it, locates pay, at 17", you pay.
Phone is pretty expensive, if you hit a fiber optic, you're out of business, no matter how much insurance you have. (can't be patched).
Gas is the most exciting.

Generally, the utilities only mark what they own. So, the electric company owns to the meter, after that, it's your problem, they won't locate it. Same thing with water, gas, etc. They own to the meter, beyond that i'ts your problem. You can pay for private locates, but those aren't included.

HTH

 

[dogranch]

I guess this became a topic on safe digging and not so much making money so i'll chime in cuz i make big money when the digging isn't safe. I am in cable repair in georgia and fix cut cables all the time around nw atlanta due to people not calling before they dig. I don't know about the 811 number but down here every phone pedestal has on it the number to call for around georgia. You should call that number if you are going to dig more than about 6" anywhere. Or if you have a brain and live on big acres you can wing it and probably be okay. You should see the bills people get for putting up a new mailbox. Cable=12" back of curb, mailbox=12" back of curb, post rots and people buy that 30" spike at home depot you can bolt a 4x4 to and pound it into the ground--and the phone cable. we come out with a backhoe and after all the other utilities are marked we tear up your yard and send you a bill for a few grand. Hit a fiber and i hope you paid your homeowners insurance. If you are lucky you hit small phone cable or catv, I'd hate to be around when you hit power. Don't risk it and call everytime, I live in the middle of 17 acres and just built a house. I was placing tile from my gutters out away from the house. I saw them put in the power, and i did the phone myself but i called just to be sure my memory didnt fail me. on a side note i still hit the well line cuz the ahole contractor only put it 6" deep and i wasnt there for that. they wont mark private itmes like that but if you catch the person doing it and ask nicely they might because the locator can hook to your well power and find it just like the others. Hope i dont sound like a know it all but I paid for my backhoe attachment with the OT I made last year from fixing stuff like that.

 

[davidseaquist]

I want to thank you guys for all of the information on liabilities of running equipment on other peoples properties.
And the importance of calling 811- Dig Alert. I won't do any digging or grading without first calling ahead. I will try and do plumbing on a part time basis until I am released from the Air Force. If I still own my tractor. I will be open do doing some tractor jobs that I feel comfortable with. David