Utility Locator-IP Proposal

Olgoonik Corporation•Livingston, TX

About The Position

The Line Locator is responsible for identifying, marking, and documenting the location of underground utilities-such as pipelines, cables, water lines, gas lines, and fiber optic lines-within the project work area. This role is critical for preventing strikes, ensuring safe excavation, and maintaining compliance with One-Call requirements, client specifications, and regulatory standards (PHMSA, DOT, OSHA). The Line Locator works closely with the Superintendent, excavation crews, safety personnel, and survey teams to prevent damage to existing infrastructure.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
2 years locating experience (oil and gas, telecom, or utility sector preferred).
Proficient with electronic locating equipment and mapping tools.
Understanding of One-Call laws and excavation safety regulations.
Ability to read alignment sheets, GIS data, as-built drawings, and survey maps.
Strong communication and situational awareness skills.
Ability to work in all weather, rough terrain, and high-traffic construction zones.

Responsibilities

Uses electronic locating equipment, transmitters, receivers, clamps, and sondes to identify underground utilities.
Marks all located lines with paint, flags, stakes, whiskers, or pin flags per client or state color standards.
Verifies depths, alignment, and approximate offsets of buried utilities.
Accurately identifies gas, water, sewer, telecom, electric, and existing pipelines.
Responds to One-Call tickets (811) and ensures proper marking within required timeframes.
Maintains documentation for each locate, including: 1. Maps 2. Photos 3. Ticket numbers 4. GPS coordinates 5. Time/date stamps
Communicates with the One-Call systems for clearances, emergencies, and updates.
Ensures all excavations follow legal and contractual One-Call requirements.
Reviews drawings, as-builts, alignment sheets, and GIS maps to confirm utility locations.
Compares existing documents with real-world field findings.
Provides accurate sketches or digital mapping updates of located utilities.
Works with survey teams to collect data for new or updated utility maps.
Meets with digging crews before excavation begins to explain utility locations.
Provides spotter assistance during digging, probing, or hand-exposing utilities.
Monitors trenching and excavation near critical utilities and pipelines.
Ensures soft-digging methods (vac truck, hand digging) are used when required.
Operates locating devices such as: 1. Electromagnetic locators 2. GPR (ground penetrating radar) when needed 3. Transmitters & signal clamps 4. GPS or GIS tablets
Maintains all locating equipment in proper working order.
Conducts daily equipment inspections and troubleshoot signal issues.
Communicates utility risk areas to foremen, operators, safety coordinators, and superintendents.
Marks utilities clearly and explains their path, depth, and offset to the crews.
Works closely with project managers and client inspectors.
Assists in planning trench routes, bore paths, and access roads around existing utilities.
Maintains daily logs of locates performed.
Provides documentation for potential conflicts or high-risk areas.
Prepares reports for missed or unknown utilities ("unmapped line discoveries").
Records utility strikes or near-misses and support investigation/root-cause processes.
Follows all OSHA excavation safety, pipeline safety, and utility locating standards.
Identifies hazards such as: 1. High-pressure lines 2. Fiber optics 3. Water/gas mains 4. Electric transmission lines
Ensures excavation crews remain aware of no-dig zones and critical infrastructure.
Promotes safe digging practices and enforce stop-work authority if utilities are at risk.