While most Canadians have heard the imperative to “Call Before You Dig,” nearly 12,000 incidents result in an estimated $1 billion CAD in damages to underground utilities annually when property owners and tenants fail to complete underground utility surveys before breaking ground. Here are the real dangers of skipping these essential surveys and why Meridian Surveys should be one of those numbers you call before picking up a shovel.
The Very Real Health and Safety Risks of Skipping Underground Utility Surveys
One of the biggest dangers of skipping an underground utility survey is the risk to personal and public safety. Most underground utilities, such as natural gas and electrical lines, are incredibly hazardous if disturbed. A simple misstep can result in dangerous leaks or even explosions. For example, cutting into a natural gas line can lead to deadly explosions, while damaging electricity cables could cause fatal electrocutions. For construction workers and local residents, this potential for injury or loss of life is a significant threat and nothing to gloss over.
Additionally, even less severe disruptions to utilities like water and wastewater lines can create dangerous conditions. A ruptured water line, for instance, can lead to flooding, soil erosion, or hazardous wastewater contamination, putting everyone in the area at risk of infection or mould.
The Legal and Economic Impacts of Skipping Your Utility Survey
Failing to conduct an underground utilities survey doesn’t just threaten public well-being; it can also result in significant legal and financial consequences. In addition to the health and safety risks, if damage occurs during an unauthorized excavation or construction project, you will likely be liable for the repairs and damages, which would cost thousands of dollars, depending on the type of utility involved.
More than just repair costs, there are also the legal ramifications to consider. Damaging a utility line, especially critical services like electrical or natural gas, can lead to expensive civil lawsuits or fines from municipal governments, utility companies, and regulatory bodies. Depending on the severity of the damage and location of the incident, you could be expected to pay damages for business interruptions, loss of services, or even compensation for third-party personal injuries.
For example, a construction company that accidentally damages a gas pipeline could face millions of dollars in damages and might even be required to cover legal fees if an injured party files a lawsuit. Likewise, a residential owner who fails to utilize underground utility surveying services could, depending on the severity, face municipal fines, negligence charges, and restitution for interrupted services to neighbouring properties.
The Threats to Property Value and Structural Integrity When You Damage Underground Utilities
Skipping an underground utility survey can also have long-term consequences on property value and the structural integrity of your property or construction project. Damaging underground utilities during construction can affect the surrounding land by causing soil instability or altering the local water table. In turn, these changes result in foundation issues, cracking, shifting of the property structure, or evaporation of dangerous gases into homes.
Not only does this harm the building you’re working near, but it will also likely impact the property’s value. Major damage caused by a broken utility line must be disclosed, and buyers or investors are unlikely to desire a property with a history of utility damage, especially if it has affected the foundation or future functionality of the structure. In addition to structural damage, problems with utilities like water or wastewater lines can result in ongoing issues like mould and rot that is expensive to repair and may not be immediately visible, leaving you with ongoing complications. Suddenly, it doesn’t seem that worthwhile to skip your utility survey, does it?
Call Meridian Surveys Today to Safeguard Your Project Against the Risks of Damaged Underground Utility Lines
When you skip an underground utility survey, you risk more than saving a couple of weeks on your project timeline— you risk your well-being, that of utility technicians and builders, access to vital resources, and your local economy. It’s just not worth the risk. That’s why calling a company like Meridian Surveys is critical for your underground utility surveying needs. If you’ll be completing a project that requires digging this year, visit our website or contact our team today, and trust our expert team to identify potential hazards, costly mistakes, and help keep your project on track.