Hand Digging Near Buried Utility Infrastructure: Best Practices for Safe Excavation

Hand Dig in Tolerance Zone

Each utility owner has specific guidelines for how to safely excavate near their buried infrastructure. Even when general regulations, best practices, or standards suggest a particular method, if a utility owner has its own rules, you must follow them. Always consult with each utility owner or refer to their published guidelines to determine the acceptable method of excavation within the tolerance distance of their buried facilities. Based on my experience, here are some best practices to follow when hand digging around any buried facility.

Purpose of Hand Digging

These best practices for hand digging near buried utility infrastructure are designed to reduce risk and ensure compliance with utility owner standards.

Hand digging is used to prevent damage to buried facilities through careful, controlled excavation. While methods like vacuum excavation are effective, they require trained operators familiar with regulations for different types of underground infrastructure. Hand digging, by contrast, is a more cost-effective option that can be performed safely when proper techniques are followed to avoid striking buried facilities.

Best Practices for Hand Digging Near Buried Facilities

Below are some common practices within the excavation industry that can help reduce damage when hand digging a test hole to expose a buried facility.

Hand Digging Test Holes Directly on Top of a Buried Facility

• Use a blunt-nosed shovel.

• Hand dig parallel to the line. Digging across the buried facility increases the risk of striking it.

• Keep the shovel angle no greater than 45 degrees to allow it to slide along the buried facility if contact is made.

• Use only arm strength with the shovel. Avoid foot pressure or stabbing motions, which can cause damage.

• Consult the utility owner if you need to undermine the buried facility. The utility owner should provide guidance on how to properly support the facility once exposed, as this is critical to avoid sagging. If unsupported, pipes or cables may sag over time, leading to stress or displacement along the length of the facility, which can result in gradual pull on upstream or downstream connections.

Hand Digging to the Side of the Buried Facility

• Machine excavate a trench parallel to the buried facility outside the tolerance zone, deeper than the anticipated depth, ensuring clearance from other utilities.

• From within the trench, using safe trenching practices, use a blunt-nosed shovel to dig parallel to the facility, prying the soil away in a controlled motion until you reach the buried facility. This method is easier because the soil can be pried directly into the excavated trench, allowing a machine to safely lift the soil out. This reduces the need for manual lifting and minimizes strenuous work.

• Keep the shovel angle no greater than 45 degrees to allow it to slide along the buried facility if contact is made.

• Use only arm strength with the shovel to minimize risk. Avoid foot pressure or stabbing motions.

• Remove accumulated soil from the trench using a machine bucket outside the hand-expose zone.

Important Reminders

If you’re digging within the tolerance distance of a buried facility, you must expose it before using any mechanical equipment to dig or drill. Some assume they can dig or vacuum excavate deeper than the expected depth of the facility and start drilling without fully uncovering it. However, exposing the buried facility within the tolerance zone is essential before using mechanical equipment nearby, and you must adhere to the utility owner’s guidelines regarding proximity to exposed utility infrastructure.

If you have any comments with regards to this post or a point of view that you would like to share, please message me at grant@knowbeforeyoudig.com. Have a Safe and Wonderful Day!

Published November 2nd, 2024