# Job Hazard Analysis: Utility locating and potholing URL: https://hardhatbinder.com/en/jha/excavation/utility-locating Last updated: 2026-10-23 Locating buried utilities with an electromagnetic locator and exposing them by vacuum excavation (hydro-vac or air-vac) and hand digging to verify depth and location before excavation. Work may be in roadways, sidewalks, yards, or active job sites, near gas, electric, water, sewer, and telecom lines. > A general example for this task. Your JHA should reflect your crew, equipment and site — review it with a competent person before work starts. ## Steps, hazards and controls ### 1. Confirm the 811 ticket and review marks and plans - **Digging on an unmarked, mismarked, or expired ticket area** (High): Verify the 811 ticket is active and every utility on the list has responded before any digging.; Walk the site with the paint marks, as-builts, and ticket; look for meters, risers, valve boxes, and pedestals that show unmarked lines.; If marks are missing or don't match what you see, stop and call 811 for a re-mark.; Hold a tailgate briefing on which lines are present, especially gas and electric. ### 2. Set up the work zone and traffic control - **Workers struck by passing traffic** (High): Set cones, signs, and barricades per the traffic control plan before anyone steps into the road.; Use a trained flagger with a STOP/SLOW paddle when traffic must be controlled.; Park the vac truck to shield the work area and turn on the beacon lights.; Wear a Class 2 or 3 high-visibility vest at all times. - **Vac truck backing over a worker** (High): Use a spotter whenever the truck backs up; the driver stops if the spotter is out of sight.; Check that the backup alarm works before the shift. ### 3. Sweep the area with the locator and mark the lines - **Shock when clamping or connecting the transmitter to a line or meter** (Medium): Connect the transmitter only to approved access points; never open electric meters or panels.; Use the inductive clamp instead of a direct hookup on lines that may be energized.; Wear insulated gloves when handling leads near electrical equipment. - **Slips and trips on uneven ground, curbs, and holes while watching the locator** (Low): Stop walking to read the screen; look at the ground before each step.; Wear work boots with good tread. ### 4. Saw-cut or core the pavement at the pothole location - **Silica dust from cutting concrete or asphalt** (High): Use a core drill or saw with water feed running the whole cut.; Stand upwind and keep other workers away from the slurry mist.; Wear a respirator if the water system fails or the cut runs longer than the exposure control plan allows. - **Saw blade kickback and cuts** (Medium): Check the blade guard and blade condition before starting.; Keep both hands on the saw and stand to the side of the blade. - **Loud noise from the saw** (Medium): Wear earplugs or earmuffs while cutting. ### 5. Pothole with the vacuum excavator and hand tools to expose the utility - **Striking a gas or electric line, causing fire, explosion, or electrocution** (High): Use vacuum excavation inside the tolerance zone; no backhoe or mini-ex within 18-24 in of the marks.; Keep the hydro-vac water pressure at the lowest setting that works and keep the wand moving.; Use a blunt-tip shovel or probe gently when hand digging; never use a pick or digging bar near the line.; Keep a fire extinguisher at the truck and no smoking at the hole. - **Injection or cuts from the high-pressure water wand** (Medium): Never point the wand at anyone; keep hands and feet out of the spray.; Release pressure before changing tips or clearing clogs.; Wear a face shield over safety glasses and waterproof gloves. - **Suction hose catching hands or clothing** (Medium): Keep hands off the hose opening and use the hose handles.; Know where the emergency stop is and shut down before clearing a blockage. - **Noise from the vac truck blower** (Medium): Wear hearing protection when the vacuum is running. ### 6. Verify, measure, and record the utility - **Damaging the coating or line while cleaning it off** (Medium): Clean around the line with low pressure or by hand; don't stand on or pry on the pipe.; Report any nick, dent, or coating damage to the utility owner before backfilling. - **Falling into or tripping on the open pothole** (Medium): Cover or barricade the pothole whenever no one is working at it.; Measure from outside the hole; never climb into a pothole. ### 7. Backfill, restore the surface, and clean up - **Strains from shoveling backfill and lifting plate covers** (Medium): Use the vac truck or a skid steer to place backfill where possible.; Two-person lift for steel plates and covers; lift with your legs. - **Vibration and noise from the plate compactor or jumping jack** (Low): Rotate operators and wear hearing protection. - **Slips on slurry and mud** (Low): Wash slurry off the pavement and dump the tank only at an approved disposal site.; Pick up cones last, working against traffic from behind the truck. ## Required PPE - Hard hat — ANSI Z89.1, worn at all times on site. - High-visibility vest — Class 2 minimum; Class 3 at night or on high-speed roads. - Safety glasses — ANSI Z87.1 at all times. - Face shield — Over safety glasses when running the hydro-vac wand or saw. - Hearing protection — Earplugs or earmuffs when the vac truck, saw, or compactor is running. - Gloves — Waterproof gloves for hydro-vac work; insulated gloves when hooking up the locator near electrical equipment. - Steel-toe boots — Waterproof, slip-resistant soles. - Respirator — N95 or better when saw-cutting if water dust control is not enough, per the silica plan. ## Training - 811 and utility marking color code training, including tolerance zone rules. - Locator operation training on the specific model used. - Vacuum excavator operation, including pressure settings and emergency stop. - Flagger training for anyone controlling traffic. - Silica exposure control training for saw-cutting and coring. - Commercial driver's license (CDL) for vac truck drivers when required by the vehicle weight. - Gas leak and line-strike emergency response. ## Emergency If a gas line is hit: shut off all equipment, do not start engines or use phones near the hole, evacuate everyone upwind at least 300 ft, then call 911 and the gas company and give the site address. If a power line is hit: stay clear of the equipment and the person, call 911, and do not touch anyone until the power is confirmed off. ## Official sources - [29 CFR 1926.651](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-1926.651) — Excavations — specific requirements - [29 CFR 1926.21](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-1926.21) — Safety training and education - [29 CFR 1926.201](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-1926.201) — Signaling (flaggers) - [29 CFR 1926.600](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-1926.600) — Motor vehicles and mechanized equipment — equipment - [29 CFR 1926.416](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-1926.416) — Electrical — general requirements - [29 CFR 1926.1153](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-1926.1153) — Respirable crystalline silica - [29 CFR 1926.101](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-1926.101) — Hearing protection - [29 CFR 1926.28](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-1926.28) — Personal protective equipment --- Source: HardHat Binder, operated by Leadspire LLC. Templates to be reviewed by a competent person before use; not legal advice; not affiliated with OSHA.