How does the term “reasonable care apply to trenchless excavation such as horizontal directional drilling?
• We define trenchless excavation as any excavation method in which the excavator can not visually observe the cutting edge of the digging tool. Trenchless excavation includes HDD as well as cable plowing and cuts made with a rock saw. Reasonable care during trenchless excavation requires the excavator to determine the depth of the existing facility when the excavation path enters the tolerance zone of an existing facility. The only accurate means of determining depth is to uncover or “pothole” the existing facility to insure that the proposed excavation will not damage it. The depth of the observation hole is recommended to be one foot deeper than the proposed excavation path or one foot below the existing facility. The observation hole should be left open until all phases of the trenchless excavation are complete.
• Staff defines trenchless excavation as any excavation method in which the excavator can not visually observe the cutting edge of the digging tool. Trenchless excavation includes HDD as well as cable plowing and cuts made with a rock saw. Reasonable care during trenchless excavation requires the excavator to determine the depth of the existing facility when the excavation path enters the tolerance zone of an existing facility. The only accurate means of determining depth is to uncover or “pothole” the existing facility to insure that the proposed excavation will not damage it. The depth of the observation hole is recommended to be one foot deeper than the proposed excavation path or one foot below the existing facility. The observation hole should be left open until all phases of the trenchless excavation are complete.
