An Overview Mission Statement Iowa One Call, as mandated by law, operates a statewide notification system to provide effective communications to protect.

An Overview

Mission Statement

Iowa One Call, as mandated by law, operates a statewide notification system to provide effective communications to protect the

citizens and underground facilities of Iowa.

Vision Statement

To completely eliminate excavation-related damage to underground facilities in Iowa.

Iowa One Call Is A Required Law Iowa Code, Chapter 480

The Notification Center Shall: • Be organized as nonprofit• Be governed by elected industry representatives - Determine operating procedures /system process - Adhere to “Open Meetings” & “Public Records” laws

• Implement the latest technological improvements• Provide the most accurate data available• Provide an annual report & annual outside audit

Iowa One Call Is A Required Law Iowa Code, Chapter 480

Underground Facility Operators Shall:• Provide current mapped facilities database to IOC• Provide locating/marking services (at no charge)• Share in the cost (pay for) of the notification center• Provide “positive response” within required time• Adhere to established marking standards (APWA)• Provide after hours & emergency contact info. to IOC

Iowa One Call Is A Required Law Iowa Code, Chapter 480

Prior to Excavating in Iowa, All Persons Shall:• Provide a notice of excavation to Iowa One Call

at least 48-hours in advance (excluding Sat/Sun/holidays)• Provide a detailed description of the excavation• Provide contact info (accessible during excavation)• Preserve the markings at all time during excavation• Excavate only within the proposed area of excavation• Hand-Dig in the Tolerance Zone (alternative methods)• Notify operators of any damages to their facilities

What Is An Excavation?Chapter 480, Iowa Code

When a structure, earth, rock or other material in or on the ground is moved, removed, compressed or otherwise displaced…

Including, but not limited to, grading, trenching, tiling, digging, drilling, augering, tunneling, scraping, cable or pipe plowing, driving and demolition of structures…

Examples of Excavations

Excavation Does Not Include

• Normal farming operations.

• Residential, commercial, or similar gardening.

• The opening of a grave site in a cemetery.

• Normal activities involved in land surveying pursuant to Iowa Code, Chapter 542B.

Excavation Does Not Include

• Operations in a solid waste disposal site which has planned for underground facilities.

• The replacement of an existing traffic sign at its current location and at no more than its current depth.

• Normal road or highway maintenance which does not change the original grade of the roadway or the ditch.

“Normal Farming”

• Plowing, cultivation, planting, harvesting… (and similar operations routine to most farms)• But does NOT include:

– Chisel plowing– Sub-soiling– Ripping– Drain tile installations– Terracing– Digging/driving posts in new locations– And any other operations penetrating the soil 15”

Attend the IOC Ag/Farm Safety Meetings March 3 - March 11

Planning for Damage Prevention

• Schedule projects in advance: Allow time for facility locates

• Know Jobsite details: Local codes, regulations & requirements, site description (location, size/affected area)• Take all necessary precautions: Prepared safety plan (damage contingencies) Safe excavating practices

Preparations for Notifying IOCNote: Not all developments are mapped.

• Be prepared to provide detailed information: Use landmarks ( rivers, buildings, major streets &

intersections, mile-markers, boundaries, etc.).• GPS, Lat/Long Coordinates• Locates outside a city require: county, township,

Range & section number. (References: Plat books, assessors office, IDOT, “Google”)

Required InformationExcavations Within a City

• A street address or block and lot numbers, or both, of the proposed area of excavation.

• The name and address of the excavator.• The excavator’s telephone number.• The type and extent of the proposed excavation.• Whether the discharge of explosives is anticipated.• The date and time when excavation is scheduled to begin.• Approximate location of the excavation on the property.• If known, the name of the housing development and

property owner.

Required InformationExcavations Outside of a City

• The name of the county, township, range, and section.• The name and address of the excavator.• The excavator’s telephone number.• The type and extent of the proposed excavation.• Whether the discharge of explosives is anticipated.• The date and time when excavation is scheduled to begin.• Approximate location of the excavation on the property.• If known, the quarter section, E911 address and global

positioning system coordinate, name of property owner, name of housing development with street address or block and lot numbers, or both.

Methods for Reaching IOC

• 811 Abbreviated Dialing System

• ITIC Online Ticketing System

• Standard Dialing (800-292-8989)

ITIC Online Ticket System

ITIC Online Ticket System

ITIC Online Ticket System

ITIC Online Ticket System

ITIC Online Ticket System

ITIC Online Ticket System

ITIC Online Ticket System

Damage Prevention

Excavators must have a firm understanding of the different types and functions

of underground facilities

White-LiningFor Proposed Excavation

• The locator needs to locate only near the proposed area allowing for more precise markings.

• Saves time and the locator can respond to the next job sooner.

• Better communication between excavators and locators

• Shown to reduce excavation-related damage

Reasonable Business PracticesIndustry Standards

• No unreasonable/extensive locate requests - in excess of reasonable excavation work schedules - when relocates might be needed due to premature notice

• Limited locates per requests: - urban areas: 10 addresses/same street/same 100 block or 3 blocks continuous - rural areas: 1 mile continuous • Reasonable notification and response times: - emergency and damage notifications (as soon as practical) - emergency locate response (reasonable amount of time)

Types of Locate Requests

• Regular 48-Hours advance notice (excluding Saturdays, Sundays & legal holidays)

• Dig-In (to report damage)

• Emergency Notification

Emergency Notification

“A condition where there is clear and immediate danger to life or health, or essential services, or a potentially significant loss of property.”

No Varying Degree of Emergencies Urgent / Emergency (Same Thing)

NOTE: All responses given by excavators are recorded and maintained for a period of six years)

Other Ticket Types

• Joint Meet Locates (initiates a regular locate)

• Re-Locates (refresh) – Generates a new ticket

• No Response (does NOT initiate a re-locate)

• Modifications (will generate a new ticket)

• Design Request System (for licensed designers only – e.g.: surveyors, engineers, architects…)

48-Hour Timeline

Begins at the time the operator receives the notification from IOC

Continues uninterrupted (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays).

The Call CenterShall Maintain the Latest Technological Improvements

• Statewide database of underground facilities• Statewide toll-free telephone based input system• Web based electronic input systems• Multiple transmission protocols (outputting tickets)• 24-hour access • Free service to all excavators• Emergency / disaster recovery protocols• Tracking and documentation of all ticket status

The Call Center

Excavator Notifies Iowa One Call

ITIC (Online)

Call Center(Telephone)

Ticket LoggedInto IOC System

Ticket isProcessed

Ticket is Sent

to Operators

Operators Respond(or communicates)

Within 48-hours

ITIC TicketsReviewed for Errors

Ticket Errors Willbe Reported to the

Excavator & Operators

The Call Center

Excavator Notifies Iowa One Call

ITIC (Online)

Call Center(Telephone)

Ticket LoggedInto IOC System

Ticket isProcessed

Ticket is Sent

to Operators

Operators Respond(or communicates)

Within 48-hours

ITIC TicketsReviewed for Errors

Ticket Errors Willbe Reported to the

Excavator & Operators

Who Makes the Notification?

The excavator who will engage in the excavation

• Never use someone else’s locate ticket• Make your own one call locate notification• Sub-contractors don’t share with contractors• Excavators must call in their own locate tickets

for residential projects (NOT the homeowners)• Never rely on someone else’s locate markings

The Operator’s ResponsibilitiesAll operators must provide Positive Response• Locate/mark all affected underground facilities• Provide notice of all “no-conflict” tickets

(when there are no facilities within the dig area)

• Complete locates within required timeline• Provide “re-locates” when necessary• Provide timely standbys upon request• Maintain updated mapping database with IOC

(geographic mapping of underground facilities)

• Share in the cost of the IOC notification system

Other Operator Services

Not required by law

• Joint Meet Locates (excavators and locators must work together)

• Stand Bys (some operators may require this – for safety)

• Design Request Services (work with designers – for damage prevention)

The Excavator’s Responsibilities For Damage Prevention

• Respect and preserve the locate markings • Establish proper communications channels• Report and document inconsistencies• Emergency preparedness (contingency plan)• Reasonable business practices (respect system)• Practice safe excavating procedures at all times

The Excavator and the Markings

Preserve the Markings During Excavation(at all times throughout the excavation)

Respect all locate markings at the dig site

Establish suitable reference points

Call for relocates only when necessary

Exposing FacilitiesIowa Code, Chapter 480.4(3)(a)(1)

“…If, in the opinion of the operator, the planned excavation requires that the precise location of the underground facilities be determined, the excavator, unless otherwise agreed upon between the excavator and the operator, shall hand dig test holes to determine the location of the facilities unless the operator specifies an alternative method.”

When Does A Locate Ticket Expire?

A locate ticket is valid indefinitely provided:

• The markings are preserved and clearly visible (at all times throughout the excavation)

• Suitable reference points have been established (at all times throughout the excavation)

How Long Do the Markings Last?

Markings must be applied in a manner that will last for a minimum of:

• Five working days on nonpermanent surfaces• Ten working days on permanent surfaces

Don’t Excavate Beyond the Defined Area

Excavations must be contained within the actual proposed area of excavation provided at the time the excavator makes the notice to Iowa One Call.

To perform excavations beyond the proposed area of excavation noted on the original locate request

requires a new locate ticket.

No Locator ResponsesWhat to Do If Locates Are Not Completed After 48-Hours

• Call IOC and report a “No Response”– Specify which facility has not been located– IOC will send a “No Response” notice to operator– Excavator’s “No Response” notice is documented– Delay excavation until locator responds (suggested)

• Excavation can begin after legal 48-hour timeline– Potential safety, or liability issue may exist– Must proceed with care to avoid damaging facilities

Documentation A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

• Documenting the locate markings– Are they complete?– Are they accurate (was there a “dig-in”)?– Were they applied properly (paint and flags)?– Did the locator fail to respond within 48-hours?

• Reasonable business practices– Are the markings Intuitive (clearly conveyed)?– Consistency (compared to similar projects)?– Industry standards (Common Ground Alliance)

(Always Keep Good Records/documentation)

Report Damaged Facilities

State Law (Iowa Code): Excavator must notify owner/operator when any damage occurs to underground facilities Note: In an Emergency, notify 911

Federal law: Requires 911 notification if damage results in escape

of any flammable, toxic, or corrosive gas or liquid

Excavation-Related Damage Cost and Consequences

• More than 4,000 reported dig-ins in Iowa annually• Thousands of dollars in liability to excavators• Essential service outages to Iowa communities• Environmental and property damage• Major down time for construction projects• Major costs to contractor/excavator operations• Increased insurance rates• Serious risk to life and health

Enforcement

The Attorney General of Iowa will Take Any Action Necessary to Enforce the Penalty Provisions of the “Iowa One Call Law”

(Chapter 480, Iowa Code)

Stay Involved :: Stay Informed

Iowa One Call Electronic Newsletter Register Online at: www.iowaonecall.com

Common Ground Iowa (CGI) www.commongroundiowa.com

Thank You For Attending

Q & A

Contacts: Ben Booth - [email protected] 515-707-3998

Stephen Stonebraker – [email protected]

515-577-2368