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and knowledge necessary to do the job to a level of excellence but not have the desire to do the job well. This is true in any endeavor but in the locating industry, desire takes on a unique form because of locators’ occasional low self-perception due to external negative perception of the job.
There are people who locate 10 feet off and while there are multiple reasons this can happen, when it does, the mockery begins. How much derision can a person take before they lose their desire to do the job?
How can a line be located 10 feet off? One big reason is that some people don’t understand their locating instrument enough to fully analyze the information the receiver is giving them.
Here’s one real-life example: A veteran 811 locator mismarks the location of a 2” plastic gas main locating instead an abandoned 2” steel gas main five feet away. He says he got “good tone” on the abandoned line and that’s why he marked it. What does it mean to have got “good tone?” It’s like saying I got a good vibe that I was marking the gas main correctly.
A Sense of Purpose
The desire to provide excellent locating results is most likely based on the sense of purpose the locator feels for their job. In the case of providing accurate X, Y, and Z inputs for mapping technology, the locator may think of their purpose as building the Google Earth of the Underground.
The desire to provide excellent
locating results may also be driven by the respect one feels for their work. Verifying 811 marks, getting accurate depth estimations on those marks,
and finding private utility lines for a construction crew may make the locator feel like an invaluable member of the team due to the time and heartache that this locating work can save the crew.
Utility Mapping Technology
We trust that technology can solve issues with late response to 811 tickets because we trust that technology can produce accurate maps that can take the place of people putting down paint and flags.
To create accurate maps, the technology needs accurate X, Y and Z inputs. Where do we get those? From the guy who says he got good tone?
Mapping technology needs a lot of competent people doing locating if, in fact, technology is going to effectively replace manpower in the field.
When you consider technology reduces the amount of manpower necessary to perform field locating, we’ll ultimately reach equilibrium, a point where the number of people who want to be locators is the same as the number of people who want those jobs.
The time will come when there are more people wanting to locate than there are locating jobs. Then, only those with superior skills and knowledge and the desire to perform locating work will be locators.
Science
Each locate result is explained
by science and for locators to
provide excellent results, they must understand the basic science behind electromagnetic locating. Unfortunately, there is no industrywide acceptance
of the need for locators to know the science behind the locating equipment they use and the underground utilities they locate.
It would be impossible to find a recognized utility industry trade
that does not insist that its workers understand the ways in which science impacts the activities of the trade.
At any given time in the U.S., 25,000 people are earning their living finding the location of underground utility lines. While some people find their career path in locating, most do not
for one reason or another. One of the most unfortunate reasons is that there is no recognized accreditation level for locators that is standardized, unbiased, and credible. For there to be a career path in locating, there must a process of accreditation consisting of:
A. Testing of skills and knowledge— locator certification
B. A continuing education requirement to maintain certification
C. A “knowledge bank,” featuring the ability for industry to deposit and withdraw knowledge
Locator Certification
The training program used to train a locator doesn’t determine an individual’s locating competency. A standardized, independent, and unbiased locator certification program aims to ensure that an individual can use their skills to deliver excellent locating results.
Becoming certified is an accomplishment that instills pride. Individuals proud of their profession naturally regard clear, concise communication and problem-solving as their top priorities.
It’s encouraging to see online locator forums evolve over the years—from chaotic rants about employers, to more of a resource for those that want to learn a variety of things about
the industry. Peer-to-peer learning is powerful, but it shouldn’t be limited to online forums.
The locating industry benefits from hosting more opportunities for locators to learn from each other’s experiences and knowledge. Continuing education can come in many forms, and locator certification renewal requires peer-to- peer learning events for locators.
One of the most common things I’ve heard about locators over the years is that they don’t know much about the utilities they locate. These comments suggest that if locators knew more about the utilities they are locating, their locating would be more accurate and complete. I agree, but I can tell you this lack of basic utility knowledge extends to pretty much every other damage prevention stakeholder group as well.
A knowledge bank established
for locator certification benefits excavators, engineers, utility personnel, enforcement agency inspectors and others. These are people who need to understand that when there is a lack of accessing useful locating, utility,
and mapping information, the result
is higher rates of avoidable damage to underground lines.
Failing is Not Failure
How many candidates for certification will attain certification? Initially, a low percentage and that’s OK. People who desire to create a culture of excellence in the locating industry understand that rubber-stamping people to certification
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2024, Issue 1 West Virginia 811 • 9