Title: Subsurface
Investigations
Facility:
Idaho National Laboratory
Point of Contact:
David Inskeep, (208) 526-4724,
david.inskeep@inl.gov
or Clark Scott, (208) 526-2919, clark.scott@inl.gov
Brief Description of Best Practice:
Subsurface investigation survey processes (see
Best Practice for Subsurface Investigations)
Why the Best Practice was used:
In 2004
the INL Environmental Safety and Health (ES&H) organization
made a request to provide better information on the
subsurface investigation process prior to excavations.
What are the benefits of the Best Practice:
Improvement of the designation of interferences in the
subsurface investigation processes, to minimize unplanned
interruption of utilities, to mitigate project delays due to
repair of damaged utilities and to promote greater safety
working conditions for INL employees and subcontractor
employees.
What problems/issues were associated with the Best Practice:
Additional associated costs due to providing an enhanced
subsurface investigation.
How the success of the Best Practice was measured:
Trending of excavation “hits” has shown there have been
fewer unexpected findings, less damage to utilities and
overall worker safety has improved significantly.
Description of
process experience using the Best Practice:
The INL regularly uses
this process to improve the designation of interferences in
the subsurface investigation process, to minimize unplanned
interruption of utilities, and to mitigate project delays
due to repair of damaged utilities. The method also
inherently supplies information for remarking purposes,
versus re-surveying, as well as developing institutional
memory and incident forensic capabilities.
The process has improved
worker safety through a better understanding of the
subsurface prior to excavation/penetration as well as better
hazard communication between workers, safety personnel and
management. The
process has improved savings from unplanned costs to
projects due to utility strikes and has aided greatly in the
design and work control development stage of a project
through improved information in the contracting and bid
process.
