Question

22 - Which of the below would the excavator not be responsible for?

1 - Locating and marking utilities
2 - Call one call center if owner fails to
3 - Avoid damage to utilities
4 - Wait until all utilities are marked before digging

Answer 1

The excavator is not responsible for calling the one call center if the owner fails to do so; this is generally the owner or contractor's duty. Excavators are accountable for locating marks for utilities, avoiding damage to them, and waiting for all utility markings before digging.

Step-by-step explanation:

The excavator would not be responsible for the action described in option number two: Call one call center if owner fails to. This responsibility typically falls on the property owner or the contractor in charge of the project. An excavator's duty is to perform the physical work of excavation while maintaining the safety and integrity of the site. They are responsible for avoiding damage to utilities (option 3), the locating and marking of utilities before starting work to ensure that excavation does not interfere with underground services (option 1), and they must wait until all utilities are correctly marked before beginning to dig to prevent any accidental damage (option 4). These protocols align with practices of controlled excavations, ensuring that damage to the utilities and surrounding area is minimized, much like archaeologists who leave artifacts in situ to preserve context and avoid damage during an archaeological excavation.