Ground Disturbance Level 2

Disclaimer
Table of Contents
Statement from the Alberta Common Ground Alliance Training Standards Committee
Introduction
Module A: Damage Prevention
	Chapter 1: Why Is Damage Prevention Important?
	Chapter 2: Consequences of Contact
		Definitions of Damage
		Contacting a Buried Facility
			Definition of Contact
				Alberta Pipeline Rules
Activity A.2.a
	An Historical Example of Contact
	Buried Facility Contact Incident Statistics
Activity A.2.b
	Compliance Tools and Penalties for Contravention of the Regulations
		1. Suspension of Operations and Regulatory Inquiries
		2. Administrative Penalties
		3. Creative Sentencing/Surcharges Levied by Courts
			National Energy Board Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations
			Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act
			Alberta Mines and Mineral Act
		4. Fines and/or Jail Terms on Summary Conviction or Conviction on Indictment
			Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act
			Alberta Pipeline Act
			Alberta Gas Distribution Act
			Alberta Safety Codes Act
			Alberta Surveys Act
		5. Criminal Conviction, Penalties, and Fines for Corporations or Individuals Found in Contravention of Regulations
			Criminal Code of Canada
				Other Offences – Organizations
				Duty of persons directing work
			National Energy Board Act
	Non-Regulatory Damage Recourses
		Civil Action and Recourses by Various Parties Involved
	Proactive Damage Prevention
	Interrelationships of Stakeholders
Activity A.3
	The Digging Community
		Equipment Operators
	Buried Facility Operators
	Buried Facility Locators
	Regulatory Agencies
	Municipalities
	One-Call Centres
	Training Providers
	The National Energy Board
	Provincial Energy and Pipeline Regulators
	Occupational Health and Safety
	Safety Codes Legislation
	Other Legislation
Activity A.4.a
	The National Energy Board
	Provincial Energy and Pipeline Regulators
		Alberta Energy Regulator
	Occupational Health and Safety
	Safety Codes Legislation
		Alberta Safety Codes Council
	Other Legislation
	Damage Prevention Organizations
Activity A.4.b
	Damage Prevention Organizations in Alberta
		Alberta Common Ground Alliance (ABCGA)
		Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP)
		Canadian Association of Pipeline and Utility Locating Contractors (CAPULC)
	Damage Prevention Best Practices Publications
Activity A.4.c
	Best Practices Publications in Alberta
		The Damage Prevention Process in Alberta
		Guidelines for Working Near Buried Facilities (The EAPUOC Manual)
		Guidance Notes – National Energy Board Regulations for Pipeline Damage Prevention
		“Best Practices”
		CSA Z247, Damage Prevention for the Protection of Underground Infrastructure
	Regulatory Training Requirements
	Alberta Regulatory Training Requirements
		Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act
		Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Regulation
		Alberta Pipeline Rules
	Industry Training Requirements
	Training Standards and Goals
Activity A.5.b
	Training Standards and Goals
		The Alberta Common Ground Alliance
Module B: Ground Disturbance Planning
	Chapter 1: Ground Disturbance Defined
		National Energy Board Act
Activity B.1
	Alberta Regulatory Definitions of Ground Disturbance
	Industry or Best Practices Definitions of Ground Disturbance
		Examples of Industry/Best Practices Definitions
	Codes of Practice
Activity B.2
	Recommended Ground Disturbance Code of Practice Contents
	Benefits of Developing a Code of Practice
		Benefits for Project Owners
		Benefits for Buried Facility Operators
		Benefits for Ground Disturbers
	Hazard Assessment, Elimination, and Control
Activity B.3.a
	Legislative Hazard Assessment, Elimination, and Control Requirements
		Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code
			An example of a hazard assessment document:
	Emergency Response Plans
Activity B.3.b
	Legislative Emergency Response Plan Requirements
		Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code
	Industry Emergency Response Plan Requirements
		The following page contains a sample emergency response plan.
		Water
		Requirements for Approvals
Activity B.4
	Entities That May Need to Be Contacted to Obtain an Approval
		Provincial Regulators or Provincially Regulated Facility Licensees
			Alberta Pipeline Act
			Alberta Pipeline Rules
		National Energy Board
			National Energy Board Act
				Activities requiring permission from the pipeline company:
			National Energy Board Pipeline Damage Prevention Regulations – Authorizations
		The Federal Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and the First Nations Bands Affected
		Local Municipalities or Counties
			The following page contains an example of a municipal excavation permit.
		Private Land Owners
	Survey Infrastructure Approvals
		Criminal Code of Canada R.S. 1985, c. C-46, Part XI, Sections 442 and 443
		Alberta Surveys Act, Part 4 – Miscellaneous; Offence
	Approval Timelines
		National Energy Board Pipeline Damage Prevention Regulations – Obligations of Pipeline Companies
			Alberta Pipeline Act
	Land Ownership
		Private Land
		Crown Land
Activity B.5.a
	Land Ownership
	Landowner Agreement Requirements
		Other Contacts
		Private Facility Owner Responsibilities
		Privately Owned Facility Challenges
		Crown Land
	Ground Disturbance Agreements
		Right of Way Purchase Agreement
		Facility Crossing Agreements
		Road Crossing Agreements
	General Employer Supervisory Responsibilities
Activity B.6.a
	Requirements for Assessing Worker Competency for Supervising Ground Disturbance
		Worker Competency
		Alberta Pipeline Rules
	Project Owner Supervisory Responsibilities
	Ground Disturbance Supervisor Responsibilities
	Ground Disturber Onsite Supervision Responsibilities
	Buried Facility Operator Supervisory Responsibilities
	Landowner Supervisory Responsibilities
Activity B.6.b
	Project Owner Responsibilities
	Ground Disturbance Supervisor Responsibilities
	Ground Disturber Responsibilities
	Buried Facility Operator Responsibilities
	Landowner Responsibilities
		National Energy Board Pipeline Damage Prevention Regulations – Authorizations
			Authorization — agricultural activity
	Crew Member Responsibilities
	Facility Crossing Points: Requirements for Site Restrictions
Activity B.6.c
	Requirements for Site Restrictions
		1. Temporary Fencing
			Alberta Pipeline Rules
		2. Vehicular Crossings of Buried Facilities
			National Energy Board Act
			National Energy Board Pipeline Damage Prevention Regulations – Authorizations
			Alberta Pipeline Rules
Module C: Preparing for a Ground Disturbance
	Chapter 1: Conducting a Search
		Regulatory Requirements for Conducting a Search
			Alberta Pipeline Act
			Alberta Pipeline Rules
			National Energy Board Pipeline Damage Prevention Regulations – Authorizations
		Resources for Locating Buried Facilities
Activity C.1
	Resources for Locating Buried Facilities
		1. Regulatory Agencies
		2. One-Call Centres
		3. Facility Markers
		4. Visible Indicators
		5. Land Title Deeds (Certificates of Title)
			A sample certificate of title. Note the caveats and utility right of ways attached to this title.
		7. Discussions with Landowners
		8. Municipal Authorities
		9. Local Utilities
		10. Water Wells and Their Associated Facilities
		11. Buried Facility Operators
		12. Operations or Area Personnel
		13. Company Land Departments
		14. Surveys, Plot Plans, and Other Maps and References
		15. Private Mapping Companies
	Regulatory Requirements for Giving Advanced Notice
	Regulatory Requirements for Responding to Advanced Notices
	Industry Requirements for Responding to Advanced Notices
Activity C.2
	Industry Requirements for Responding to Advanced Notices
		CCGA’s Best Practices
		ABCGA’s The Damage Prevention Process in Alberta
		Other Expectations
	Lack of Response
	Notification Management
	Locating Responsibilities
	The Responsibility to Request That Locating Be Done
Activity C.3.a
	Requirements for Requesting Locates
		Following is an example of a processed locate request.
	Locating Buried Facilities
	Emergency Locate Requests
Activity C.3.b
	Locators
	The Electromagnetic Process
	Active Locating
	Factors that Affect Locating
		Physical Factors
		Human Factors
	Locator Responsibilities
		The following pages contain examples of locate drawings.
	Emergency Locate Requests
	Priority Locate Requests
	Pre-marking
	The Uniform Colour Code for Marking Buried Facilities
	Common Marking Challenges
		Uniform Colour Code Exceptions
		Selecting Locate Marks
		Managing Locate Marks
		Lifespan of Locates
	Locate Documentation
		National Energy Board Pipeline Damage Prevention Regulations – Obligations of Pipeline Companies
Activity C.4
	Locate Marking Responsibilities for Locators
	Common Marking Challenges
		Uniform Colour Code Exceptions
		Selecting Locate Marks
		Managing Locate Marks
		Lifespan of Locate Marks
			The Damage Prevention Process in Alberta
	Locate Documentation
		Regulatory Requirements for Locate Documentation
			Alberta Pipeline Rules
		National Energy Board Pipeline Damage Prevention Regulations – Authorizations
	Non-Standard Hand Expose Zones
		Federal Exemptions to Hand Expose Zones
			National Energy Board Pipeline Damage Prevention Regulations – Authorizations
		Provincial Exemptions to Hand Expose Zones
	Chapter 6: Pre-Job Meetings
		Regulatory Requirements for Communication
			National Energy Board Pipeline Damage Prevention Regulations – Authorizations
		Pre-Job Meetings
Activity C.6
	Pre-Job Meetings
		The Purpose of Pre-Job Meetings
		Pre-Job Meeting Topics
			A sample pre-job meeting agenda is included on the following pages.
Module D: The Execution and Completion of a Ground Disturbance
	Chapter 1: Permits
		Safe Work Permits
		Confined Space Entry Permits
		Ground Disturbance Permits
			Purposes and Benefits
Activity D.1
	Safe Work Permits
		The next page contains an example of a hot work permit.
	Tailgate Meeting Topics
	Tailgate Meeting Documentation
	Tailgate Meeting Frequency
	Hand Excavation Defined
		Alberta Pipeline Rules, Section 65
	Hand Exposure Techniques
	Special Circumstances for Hand Exposure
		Ground Disturbances Parallel to or within the Hand Expose Zone
		Buried Facilities Covered with Asphalt or Concrete
		Buried Facilities in Frozen Ground
		Buried Facilities in Soft or Sandy Soils
		Buried or Exposed Abandoned Facilities
	Chapter 4: Excavation and Backfilling Procedures
		Mechanical Excavation Equipment Limits of Approach
		Trenching and Excavating Awareness
Activity D.4
	Alberta OHS Ground Disturbance Regulations
		Power Line Contact
	Backfilling Underground Facilities
		Filling the Void Created by Excavating
		Backfilling Notifications
			National Energy Board Pipeline Damage Prevention Regulations – Authorizations
			Alberta Pipeline Rules
			Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code
		Backfill Inspections
			Appendix D.4.
	The Responsibility for Reporting
Activity D.5.a
	Regulatory Responsibility for Reporting Incidents – Measures to Be Taken
		National Energy Board Pipeline Damage Prevention Regulations – Authorizations
		Alberta Pipeline Act, Part 6
	Best Management Practices
	ABCGA’s Virtual Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT)
		A sample completed Virtual DIRT report is included on the following pages.
	Regulatory Requirements for Incident Investigations
Activity D.5.b
	Regulatory Requirements for Incident Reporting
		Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act
			Administrative Items Regulation (AIR)
	Regulatory Requirements for Incident Investigations
		Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act
		Alberta Administrative Items Regulation
Practical Exercise Materials
	Module Objectives Review
		Module A
		Module B
		Module C
		Module D
	Practical Exercise Phase I.A: Damage Prevention Responsibilities
		Scenario
		Frequent Causes of Buried Facility Damage
		Sample Ground Disturbance Checklist
			GROUND DISTURBANCE PERMIT
	Practical Exercise Phase I.B: Code of Practice
		Scenario Continued
	Practical Exercise Phase I.C: Document Checklist
		List of Possible Ground Disturbance Documents
	Practical Exercise Phase III: Mechanical Execution and Closeout
		Steps for a Safe Ground Disturbance
Conclusion
Appendix A.2
	Regulatory Examples of Compliance Tools and Penalties for Contravention of the Regulations
		1. Suspension of Operations and Regulatory Inquiries
			A. National Energy Board Act
		2. Administrative Penalties
			A. Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act
		3. Creative Sentencing/Surcharges Levied by Courts
			A. National Energy Board Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations
			B. Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act
			C. Alberta Mines and Mineral Act
		4. Fines and/or Jail Terms on Summary Conviction or Conviction on Indictment
			A. Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act
			B. Alberta Pipeline Act
			C. Alberta Gas Distribution Act
			D. Alberta Safety Codes Act
			E. Alberta Surveys Act
		5. Criminal Conviction, Penalties, and Fines for Corporations or Individuals Found in Contravention of Regulations
			A. Criminal Code of Canada
			B. National Energy Board Act
Appendix B.2
	Sources of Information for Developing a Code of Practice
Appendix B.5
	Easement or Right of Way Agreements
	Common Types of Right of Way Agreements
		IRP 17 (2009); Glossary, Pages 31-35
	Sample Facility Crossing Agreement
		NATURAL GAS UTILITY FACILITY CROSSING AGREEMENT
		1. Terms and Conditions
		2. Location and Notices
		Schedule “A”
	Sample Road Crossing Agreement
		M.D. of Happy Valley No. 201 Development
Appendix C.2.a
	Regulatory Requirements to Notify
		National Energy Board Pipeline Damage Prevention Regulations – Authorizations
		Alberta Pipeline Rules
		Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code
		Alberta Electric Utility Code
Appendix C.2.b
	Regulatory Requirements for Responding to Advanced Notices
		National Energy Board Pipeline Damage Prevention Regulations – Obligations of Pipeline Companies
		Alberta Pipeline Rules
		Alberta Electrical Utility Code
Appendix C.5.a
	Provincial Hand Expose Zone Requirements
		Alberta Pipeline Rules
		Alberta Electrical Utility Code
		Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code
Appendix C.5.b
	Provincial Exemptions to Hand Expose Zones
		Alberta Pipeline Rules
		Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code
Appendix D.4
	Regulations Covering Mechanical Excavation Equipment Approach Distances
		2. Alberta Pipeline Rules
		3. Alberta Electrical Utility Code
		4. Alberta OHS Code, Part 32
			The following pages include a sample backfill inspection report and sample facility
		2. Alberta Safety Codes Act
		3. Alberta Administrative Items Regulation
	4. STANDATA Electrical Safety Information Bulletin Reporting Requirements (January 2014)
		What needs to be reported?
		What is an accident to a person?
		What is a power line contact?
		What does “any person who knows of” actually mean?
Acronyms Used in the Program
	See Appendix D.5.
Bibliography – Ground Disturbance 201 Related Regulations