Five Vacuum Excavation Practices HDD Crews Should Follow
Trenchless Technology magazine has published a set of vacuum excavation best practices for horizontal directional drilling crews, citing Common Ground Alliance 2024 DIRT Report data showing that failure to maintain clearance after verifying marks, digging before potholing, and improper excavation practices together account for more than a quarter of the nearly 200,000 reported utility strikes in a single year. The five practices include potholing every utility crossing before the bore begins (exposing at least 5 ft on each side of the bore centerline), controlling drilling fluid returns at entry and exit pits, training every operator on pressure settings and nozzle selection, enforcing exclusion zones between equipment and open potholes, and documenting every pothole with photos and measurements reviewed before the bore advances. TRUVAC product manager Cory Schueller is quoted noting that vacuum excavation reduces slip, trip and fall hazards, limits groundwater contamination from drill mud, and lowers crew exposure by cutting the need for mechanical excavation.
What It Means for Subcontractors
- HDD subs can use documented pre-bore potholing (photos, measurements, 5-ft clearance on each side of centerline) as evidence for insurers when negotiating premiums or bidding jobs with strict damage-prevention requirements.
- Crews should position vacuum excavators at both entry and exit pits during reaming passes, when fluid volumes peak, to avoid slip hazards and potential regulatory violations tied to unmanaged drill mud.
- Site supervisors should formalize exclusion zones and require workers to avoid entering potholes deeper than knee height without shoring or sloping, per OSHA requirements, before vacuum excavation work begins.
