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Subsurface Utility Clearance Management Program 2.9 3.4 Preferred Methods of Clearing the Subsurface (Pre-Clearing) At least one of the methods listed below shall be carried out during pre-clearing activities.The Project Team is responsible for evaluating risks associated with the Scope of Work to determine which method is selected. If none of the following pre-clearing activities are performed, a Subsurface Utility Clearance Variance must be submitted to the OM. This Subsurface Utility Clearance Variance must provide clear lines of evidence that there are no utilities present within the intrusive work zone. Examples include demolition permits of the site, utility closure documents indicating no live utilities on-site, as-builts, site history, etc. The following approaches shall be considered and implemented based on the Scope of Work. • Soft Digging o This is the preferred method of utility clearance when clearing higher-risk utilities. Soil should be cleared through the use of a vacuum truck/equivalent, an accompanying air knife (preferred), or a water lance to break up and loosen the soil for removal with the vacuum. • Hand Digging o Soil should be broken up and removed using a shovel or other appropriate hand tools without excessive force. Limit the use of dig bars or other tools that, if used incorrectly, can significantly damage utilities. • Hand Augering o The hand auger must be turned slowly using even hand pressure without excessive force. Rounded-edge augers are preferred. Hand augers should not be used in pea stone/pea gravel where utilities may be present and could potentially be damaged by the hand auger.The abrupt absence of soil recovery in a hand auger could indicate utilities as pea gravel or sand may have spilled out of the auger(exception: native soil conditions that typically result in poor hand auger recoveries). If any resistance is encountered while operating the hand auger for pre-clearance, the equipment will be removed, and the exploratory test hole will be visually inspected by onsite personnel for any obstructions or indications of subsurface structures. 3.4.1 Guidance for Tools and Equipment Personnel performing pre-clearance activities shall keep tools and equipment in safe working order and be properly inspected before use. If tools or equipment are broken, they will be tagged and removed from service. The following specify additional guidelines regarding tools and equipment: • Hand-digging tools must have a non-conductive handle, such as fiberglass, wood, or composite, or fully insulated handles and potential contact surfaces. • Blades on shovels and post-hole diggers should have rounded or blunt edges. • Pick axes or pointed spades should not be used for physical clearance. • Crowbars, pinch-bars, or pry bars should not be used to break hardened soil or backfill except when authorized by the Site Supervisor (SS). This should only be used to loosen materials like bricks or larger stones. • Electric-powered equipment must have ground-fault protection. • Should there be refusal or difficulty with advancing hand tools, the contractor shall stop work and notify the Roux SS or Site Health and Safety Officer(SHSO) immediately. 03/2025 Corporate Health and Safety Management Program I ROUX 16