Strengthening Collaboration Between Field Staff and Asset Owners in Ground Disturbance and Overhead Work

Katia Dejardin, HSE Manager, UnEarthed Excavation Ltd.

Ground disturbance and overhead work — from excavation and grading to landscaping and civil
construction — rely on more than just equipment and locates. They rely on people
communicating effectively, solving problems together, and respecting each other’s
responsibilities. Whether it’s an operator, a locator, or a representative from ATCO, EPCOR,
APEX Utilities, Fortis Alberta or TransMountain, collaboration between field staff and asset
owners is what keeps everyone safe and projects moving smoothly.

Communication That Works in Practice
Effective collaboration starts before anyone breaks ground. Pre-job meetings, hazard
assessments, and joint site walks help crews and utility owners align on expectations. This is
where field staff confirm which locates have been received, verify validity dates, and discuss
high-risk areas. Asset owners, in turn, can share important details about depth variations,
abandoned lines, or unique protection requirements.

On-site, good communication looks like crews asking questions the moment something doesn’t
make sense — rather than assuming. For instance, if a locate mark appears incomplete or the
paint has been washed out by rain, the foreman immediately contacts the appropriate utility
owner or Utility Safety Partners to confirm. If it’s unclear who owns the line, the crew reaches
out to Utility Safety Partners (USP) for assistance identifying the correct contact.

In Alberta, collaboration often involves multiple facility owners such as ATCO Gas (North and
South), APEX Utilities, EPCOR (Safety Codes), and Fortis Alberta. Each has its own
regional processes and response teams. Field supervisors keep these contacts handy and know
who to call for clarification or support — because waiting to verify is always safer than guessing.

Handling Challenges and Disagreements
In the real world, not everything goes according to plan. Sometimes the marks don’t line up with
the drawings. Sometimes a project timeline pressures the crew to move faster than ideal. And
occasionally, there’s disagreement between a contractor and an asset owner about who should be
on-site or how close the work can safely proceed.

This is where professionalism and communication matter most. Instead of letting frustration take
over, experienced crews pause work, involve the safety lead, and engage the facility owner’s
representative directly. If a resolution isn’t immediate, the matter is escalated to a damage
prevention advisor (for example, ATCO Damage Prevention North or South). The goal is
always the same: protect people, property, and infrastructure.

Importantly, Damage Prevention Advisors are not there to reprimand or scold. Their purpose is
to assist, educate, and facilitate open communication between the worksite and the asset owner.
They help clarify requirements, explain safe work practices, and support both parties in
preventing damage. In many cases, they become valuable resources, helping crews understand 
the “why” behind the rules and ensuring everyone leaves the site with a shared understanding of
how to proceed safely.

Crews that model this collaborative behavior not only prevent incidents — they build credibility.
Asset owners quickly recognize which contractors they can trust to do the right thing, even when
it means slowing down to stay safe.

Shared Responsibility for Safety
Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety Code (Part 32 – Excavating and Tunneling; Part 17 –
Overhead Powerlines) and the Pipeline Act clearly outline shared responsibilities. Those
performing the work must follow locate conditions, expose lines by hand or hydrovac within the
tolerance zone, and maintain minimum approach distances from overhead powerlines. Facility
owners must provide accurate, timely information and respond to field requests in good faith.
When both sides live up to these duties, the result is fewer damages, less downtime, and — most
importantly — everyone goes home safe.

Collaboration in Action
True collaboration is built on consistency and mutual respect. It’s the field lead who doublechecks an overhead clearance with Fortis before raising a boom. It’s the ATCO representative
who stops by a job to review a complex tie-in and offer guidance. It’s the EPCOR Safety Codes
contact who answers a late-day call when working in close proximity.

These everyday interactions build the trust that underpins safe construction. Disagreements are
handled through conversation; not confrontation, through planning; not assumption.

Moving Forward
As Alberta’s infrastructure continues to expand, ground disturbance and overhead work will only
grow more complex. Technology such as digital mapping, GPS locates, and shared project apps
can help, but they can’t replace communication.

At the end of the day, safety depends on people — those in the field who ask questions, those in
the office who support them, and those who own the assets and share responsibility for
protecting them. When everyone works together, collaboration becomes more than a process —
it becomes a culture.