Excavator Responsibilities

Excavators are responsible for complying with Alabama’s Underground Damage Prevention Law and following all locate procedures before and during excavation.

Required Before Excavation

Before any excavation begins, the following requirements must be met:

• Submit a valid locate request within the required notice period
• Confirm all notified operators have responded
• Maintain a valid locate request ticket for the duration of the work
• Follow all marking and tolerance zone requirements
• Immediately report any damage to underground facilities

Locate Request Requirements

Excavation must be performed under a valid locate request ticket that accurately reflects the work being performed.

Valid locate request requirements

  • Correct work location
  • Accurate scope
  • Start date compliance
  • Renewal requirements

Invalid or common violations

  • Digging outside described area
  • Expired locate request ticket
  • Beginning before required wait time
  • Failing to update scope changes