Purpose and Scope
The purpose of this procedure is to provide safe guidance for excavating on the property of Miami University. The requirements of this document apply to all employees and contractors performing excavation activities on Miami’s campus.
Policy
Any excavations on the Grounds must be approved in advance by the Physical Facilities Department. Because most University utilities are located underground, digging can damage buried utilities and result in serious safety hazards to workers, damage to utilities and property, and service interruptions.
Scope
Any activity that results in the movement, placement, probing, boring, or removal of earth, rock, or other material in or on the ground by the use of any tools or equipment, , or by removal of vegetation below grade using mechanized equipment. Forms of excavating include but are not limited to auguring, backfilling, digging, ditching, drilling, driving, grading, piling, pulling-in, ripping, scraping, trenching, tunneling, and hydro excavation. Driving wooden stakes by use of hand tools to a depth of six (6) inches or less below existing grade shall not constitute excavation.
Procedures
Utility marking shall be completed by Miami’s Electrical Shop or the contractor responsible for managing the project. Contractors may choose to have utilities marked by a third party company of the contractor’s choosing. The following colors will be used to mark the utilities in the work zone:
- RED = Electric power lines, cables, conduit, and lighting cables
- YELLOW = Gas, oil, steam, petroleum, or gaseous material
- ORANGE = Communication, alarm, or signal lines, cables, or conduit
- BLUE = Potable water
- GREEN = Sewer and drain lines
- PURPLE = Reclaimed water, irrigation, and slurry
- PINK = Temporary survey markings
- WHITE = Proposed excavation
Responsibilities
Supervisors or project managers [for contract work]:
- Submitting the following information through PFD’s Work Order system for tracking and/or marking:
- MU Project Number
- Project description
- Means of excavation
- Start date for work
- Location of work (street/address)
- Map of exact location must be attached and area must be marked in white paint/flags
Request the work order for Environmental Health & Safety to be assigned Task Code SF001 at the beginning of the request. The initial status of this tracking work order should be “Planned & Scheduled.”
- The person marking the area is aware of the project site limits. Temporary barricades, warning signs, hazard or warning lights, or safety fences will be employed as needed.
- Ensure that no excavation work is initiated until utility marking is complete.
- Ensuring that the utility markings remain clearly visible for the duration of the project.
- Should a utility become damaged during the course of excavation, the Director of Building Maintenance or their designee shall be immediately notified.
Compliance with this procedure shall not be required of authorized persons responding to emergency situations. However, these persons shall take every reasonable precaution to protect life and property.
This procedure does not apply to planting by Miami Grounds Department within flower beds.
Revision History