Professional Excavators
ITIC - Online Ticketing System for Professional Excavators
White Lining
Excavators are required by law to identify the area of proposed excavation using white paint, stakes, or other suitable white markings in a manner that will enable utility operators to know the boundaries of the proposed excavation activities.
When Should I Call?
Contact Iowa One Call any time you plan to excavate. Whether it’s a small or a large construction project, you must submit a locate request at least 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays) prior to excavation. Iowa One Call will notify the owners/operators of underground facilities who participate in Iowa One Call. The various underground facility operators will dispatch “locate” personnel to the area to mark the underground facility locations with flags and paint markings, showing where underground facilities are located so the excavator can avoid damaging the facilities. Iowa law applies to professional contractors as well as homeowners, and encompasses a wide array of outdoor projects including:- Installing a fence
- Planting trees or shrubs
- Building a patio, addition, deck, garage, outdoor shed or any similar structure that requires any form of digging
- Putting in a new driveway
- Installing a septic system or water drainage system
- Terracing or landscaping
Things To Remember
A ticket is valid for 20 calendar days from the time of the call.
Hand dig or vacuum excavate within the tolerance zone to expose the facility (18″ on either side of the markings).
Our Excavator Manual Contains All of Your Need-to-Know Information!
For more information about excavator responsibilities, check out our Excavator Manual.Best Practices are derived from existing multi-industry, governmental and public practices that are determined to be “best” in enhancing safety and through rigorous review and evaluation processes developed by the CGA.
What is the Process for Safe Digging?
1) Excavator Files Locate Request
Effective July 1, 2014, excavators must use white paint, white flags, white stakes, or a combination thereof, to mark the proposed area of excavation (with exceptions. see Iowa Code Section 480.4.e).
4) Excavator digs with care, avoiding damages
2) Iowa One Call processes & submits locate requests to facility operators
3) Facility operators mark dig site or advise if they are ‘clear’
What is the Process for Safe Digging?
1) Excavator Files Locate Request
(White-lining or pre-marking the dig site is strongly encouraged)