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Gathering Site Information
Planning the Initial Route
Before you can begin boring, you need to plan the route you
will bore and prepare as follows:
•
Create a basic plan for the bore, mapping out the
proposed route.
– Note any obstacles which may affect the bore such as
large trees, bodies of water, buildings, etc.
– Plan the route of the bore to avoid as many obstacles
as possible.
– Determine the depth of any bodies of water to be
crossed to ensure that you can get deep enough under
them.
•
Determine the depth you need to install the material at
and the minimum bend radius both of the drill pipe and
of the material being installed. This will seriously affect
how long the bore needs to be and at what angle you can
begin and end; refer to
•
Have the area of the bore marked for utility lines (in the
US call 811). Ensure that all lines are marked on your
blueprints/bore plan as well.
•
Contact the local authorities to arrange for any permits
and traffic control that you will need to conduct the job.
Inspecting the Proposed Job Site
Physically inspect the site as follows:
•
Note the terrain, slopes, valleys, hills, and any features
not planned for previously.
Determine the degree of slope at both the proposed entry
point and exit point.
•
Determine what the soil types are in the area and, if
possible, what they are at the depth you will be boring.
You may need to dig test holes at intervals along the bore
path to fully determine this.
•
Walk the area of the bore looking for any possible
unmarked obstructions. Look for manholes, pedestals,
old foundations, etc.
•
Identify all hazards of which you will be passing within
3 m (10 ft).
Planning the Bore Path (page
DANGER
Contacting underground hazards with the
machine while drilling or reaming can cause
explosion, electrocution, breathing problems,
severe trauma, and death to you or bystanders.
– Ensure that all personnel at the job site wear
personal protective equipment including
a hard hat, eye protection, electrically
insulated safety boots and gloves, and
hearing protection.
– Keep bystanders and spectators away from
the job site, including the complete bore
path.
– Locate and expose all electric and gas lines
that you will be crossing by careful hand
digging.
– Ensure that you use the Zap-Alert system
whenever operating the machine.
34).
Common hazards include the following:
– Gas lines
DANGER
Drilling into a gas line can cause an explosion
or fire, burning, injuring, or killing you or
others in the vicinity of the break.
◊ Do not smoke or have any source of flame
near gas lines or at either end of a bore
that will be crossing a gas line.
◊ Keep bystanders and spectators away
from the job site, including the complete
bore path.
◊ Locate and expose all gas lines that you
will be crossing by careful hand digging.
◊ Have the gas company turn off the gas
to any lines you will be crossing before
drilling.
◊ Use the receiver to track the exact position
of the drill head when approaching gas
lines.
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