Online Locating and Marking / Ground Disturbance Training
Ground disturbance — any activity that could impact an underground utility, including excavation, drilling, blasting, trenching, boring, or piling — is one of the highest-risk activities in Canadian construction and industrial work. Contacting an underground gas line, electrical cable, or high-pressure pipeline can cause immediate death, catastrophic property damage, and environmental disasters. Under BC OHS Regulation Part 20 (Excavation, Trenching and Shoring) and BC's Damage Prevention framework (Common Ground BC), workers performing ground disturbance must complete documented training.
Gama Safety Canada's Online Locating and Marking course delivers BC-aligned training covering utility locating, marking, BC 1 Call notification, and safe ground disturbance procedures. Complete on any device at your own pace. Instant digital certificate. Physical wallet card mailed to your address at no extra cost.
The BC 1 Call Process
Before any ground disturbance in BC, workers MUST contact BC 1 Call — the province's one-call notification service. Call 1-800-474-6886 or submit online at bc1c.ca. Contact:
- At least 3 business days before starting work
- Provide project location, dates, and scope
- Get a ticket number — required as proof of notification
- Wait for member utilities to locate and mark their infrastructure at your site
- Verify locates before digging — expect flags, paint, or hub markers
Skipping BC 1 Call is not just illegal — it's often fatal. Every year, workers die contacting underground utilities that would have been marked if they'd called.
APWA Colour Code — Universal Utility Marking
Across North America, utility markings use the APWA (American Public Works Association) uniform colour code. Every worker performing ground disturbance MUST know these colours:
- RED — Electric power lines, cables, conduit, and lighting cables
- YELLOW — Gas, oil, steam, petroleum, or other flammable/explosive materials
- ORANGE — Communication (telephone, cable TV, alarm, signal, fibre)
- BLUE — Potable water
- PURPLE / VIOLET — Reclaimed water, irrigation, slurry lines
- GREEN — Sewers and drain lines (sanitary and storm)
- PINK — Temporary survey markings
- WHITE — Proposed excavation limits or routes
The Hand-Exposure Zone
Under BC's Damage Prevention regulations, workers must use ONLY hand tools or hydrovac excavation within the hand-exposure zone — typically 30 cm (12 inches) on either side of a marked underground utility. Mechanical excavation with backhoes, excavators, or trenchers is prohibited within this zone. This rule prevents accidental strikes on utilities even when locates are slightly off.
The Six Steps of Ground Disturbance
- Assess the site — Identify potential underground utilities, review site plans, check property records
- Notify BC 1 Call — Submit locate request at least 3 business days before work
- Wait for locates — Allow member utilities time to mark their infrastructure
- Verify locates before digging — Visually confirm markings are present and consistent with expected utilities
- Excavate carefully — Hand tools or hydrovac within the hand-exposure zone; mechanical excavation only outside this zone
- Backfill and restore — Protect exposed utilities during backfilling; document any utility damage or near-misses
What You'll Learn
- Ground disturbance definition and scope
- BC 1 Call notification process (bc1c.ca)
- APWA uniform colour code for utility markings
- Common types of underground utilities in BC
- Reading and interpreting utility markings (paint, flags, hub markers)
- The hand-exposure zone (30 cm rule)
- Approved excavation methods within the exposure zone (hand tools, hydrovac)
- Damage prevention procedures
- Emergency response for utility strikes (gas, electrical, water, sewer)
- Documentation and record-keeping
- Regulatory framework — BC OHS Regulation Part 20, Common Ground BC
Who Needs Locating and Marking Training?
- Excavation contractors and operators
- Utility installers (electrical, gas, water, telecom)
- Oil & gas pipeline construction workers
- Water and sewer contractors
- Foundation contractors and drillers
- Landscapers installing irrigation, fencing, or hardscaping
- Fence installation contractors
- Directional drilling operators
- Boring and micro-tunnelling workers
- Concrete and paving contractors
- Sign installation contractors (post holes)
- Municipal public works employees
- Solar and geothermal installers
- Emergency response workers
- Site supervisors and safety personnel
Bundle with Related Safety Courses
Why Choose Gama Safety Canada's Online Locating and Marking Course?
- BC 1 Call and Common Ground BC aligned — meets BC damage prevention standards
- WorkSafeBC-compliant — BC OHS Regulation Part 20
- Instant certificate download — pass the exam, download immediately
- Physical wallet card mailed FREE — durable card arrives within 5–7 business days
- Accepted Canada-wide — recognized by excavation, utility, and construction employers
- 100% self-paced — complete in 2–3 hours on any device
- Unlimited exam attempts — no extra charge if you retake
- Multilingual support — English, Spanish, Punjabi, Tagalog
- Corporate group pricing — for excavation, utility, and construction contractors
- Trusted by 100+ certified workers — 5.0-star rated on REVIEWS.io
