For Underground Utilities, how many hours in advance must the blaster notify the utility company?

For Underground Utilities, how many hours in advance must the blaster notify the utility company?

• A. 24 hours
• B. 48 hours
• C. 72 hours
• D. 96 hours

Answer: (C)

Notifying utility companies before blasting is about giving them enough time to locate and mark all underground lines and coordinate safety measures for the site. The standard lead time in this context is 72 hours. This window allows the utility to map buried cables or pipes, communicate any necessary outages or restrictions, and ensure there’s no conflict with other operations. Shorter times, like 24 or 48 hours, typically don’t provide enough time for accurate markings and coordination, while 96 hours is longer than required and can cause unnecessary delays. Always follow the required pre-blast notification procedures to help prevent utility strikes and protect workers and the public.

Notifying utility companies before blasting is about giving them enough time to locate and mark all underground lines and coordinate safety measures for the site. The standard lead time in this context is 72 hours. This window allows the utility to map buried cables or pipes, communicate any necessary outages or restrictions, and ensure there’s no conflict with other operations. Shorter times, like 24 or 48 hours, typically don’t provide enough time for accurate markings and coordination, while 96 hours is longer than required and can cause unnecessary delays. Always follow the required pre-blast notification procedures to help prevent utility strikes and protect workers and the public.