School Gas Line Damage: A Case Study in Multiple Party Failures

(Why “Know Before You Dig” is more than just our company name and slogan)

Last Friday, I got a call from a new client after their crew caused a school gas line damage at a construction site. Why does it always happen on a Friday?

They were preparing to install an artificial turf field and were using this large injection rig with multiple ports to stabilize the soil.

 It didn’t take long to figure out what went wrong, because everything did.

When “Clear” Isn’t Good Enough 

The gas meter for the school is located outside the fenced property. That means everything after the meter is private infrastructure, not covered by Texas 811. Despite this, the gas company’s locator sprayed “MTX CLR” on the sidewalk outside the fence, meaning no conflict was found within their scope.

Let’s break that down:

• MTX refers to the utility owner.

• CLR means “Clear”—no conflict in the area marked.

But here’s the problem: No locate record. No sketch. No photo. No documentation. Just two words on concrete. In Texas, that’s standard. You get a vague positive response from Texas 811 that says “marked,” but what was marked? Where was it marked? What wasn’t? You don’t know. And that’s dangerous.

The Engineering Firm Didn’t Acquire a Private or Design Locate

This was a fully engineered site with construction plans. I’ve reviewed the plans myself and only a sewer easement and manhole are shown. No gas line. No power. No private electrical or irrigation lines. The only warning was for the contractor to call the appropriate utility company 48 hours before excavation. This statement below on the contract drawing is not good enough when privately-owned buried utility lines exist.  

It’s clear that a full locate wasn’t commissioned before the design was finalized. That’s inexcusable. The field is fenced. The site is private. Public locates will never tell the full story. A qualified locate company should have been brought in during the design phase.

If they had, that gas line—and the electrical line also found in the area—would have been documented on the drawings. We offer these services: https://www.knowbeforeyoudig.com/services/design-utility-locates 

The Contractor Took the Plans at Face Value

The contractor used a hydraulic ram to inject soil stabilizers deep into the ground. They struck a plastic gas line. The leak triggered an emergency response—the fire department was called. 

Fortunately, school was closed for summer break. Had this happened during the school year, it could have required a full evacuation.

The real issue? The contractor made a critical assumption: that all buried lines were marked, simply because the gas locator had written “clear” on the sidewalk. But they never verified what had actually been cleared.

• No inventory of utility appurtenances on-site

• No recognition that the regulator at the building wall clearly indicated a gas service was active

• No connection made between the meter outside the fence and the field work area

• No private locator was brought in to verify or investigate further

These oversights could have been avoided. A simple walkthrough, a few questions, and a private locate could’ve changed the outcome. Learn more about our Private Locate and Design Services

The Breakdown That Led to a Strike

This wasn’t one person’s fault, it was a chain failure:

• Texas 811 provided no map, no locate sketch, just a vague status.

• The engineering firm failed to request a private/design locate.

• The gas line after the meter was private and went unmarked.

• The contractor didn’t verify all services or bring in a private locate contractor.

• There were no records, no documentation, and too many assumptions.

This wasn’t a single mistake, it was a series of oversights that all aligned to cause the strike.

Why Know Before You Dig Training Exists

Injection point between gas and electrical line.

This incident is exactly why we created the Know Before You Dig training program. It’s not enough to call 811. It’s not enough to see spray paint and assume you’re safe.

• Engineering teams must bring in locate professionals during design.

• Contractors must verify what was located, and what wasn’t.

• Everyone on-site must understand that “no mark” is not always equal to “no utility line present”

• Take ownership of your safety and learn how to identify these gaps.

• We offer free Know Before You Dig – Public & Private Utility Infrastructure Awareness training to our clients.

There are too many gaps in the standard process, especially in states like Texas where 811 provides no real documentation of what was done. We’re here to help you close those gaps.

Know What’s Below and Own Your Safety!

Let us help you avoid these failures before they cost you time, money, or safety. Contact us today to schedule your private or design locate.