Operators want to prevent pipeline damage during excavation since it saves on repair time, reduces customer outages, and keeps everyone safe. In fact, line locating is one of the most important tasks at a time when safety and reduced emissions are front and center.
That challenge leads to a big question that we hear a lot: are internal employees or external contractors the best for the job?
We won’t take sides in this debate, but we will share what we’ve heard from clients and colleagues in the industry.
External Contractor Line Locating Advantages
A contractor may be ideal for a job if you don’t know how often you’ll need a qualified worker for a particular task. The jobs may range in size, calling for different numbers of employees and varying equipment from one week to another.
In addition, a contractor will have the right equipment on hand and experience using it. Bringing in a specialist for an important task may be a wise move rather than investing in equipment and training that you may not use very often.
Internal Employee Locating Advantages
However, if the investments in salary, training, and equipment aren’t prohibitive for your company, there are a lot of advantages to entrusting internal employees with marking your lines. For starters, you’ll have the advantage of oversight and accountability for their training and performance on the job.
Workers who are familiar with your maps and location of your pipelines are more likely to accurately locate lines. That familiarity and sense of ownership over the pipelines may give them an advantage over a contractor visiting a location for the first time.
Why Not Both Methods?
Many operators deploy operators and contractors for line locating. It’s vital to have experienced employees on hand who know their pipeline infrastructure, but they also value tapping into experienced workers at contractor companies who are already fully trained and equipped for the job.
At the very least, we hear that operators highly value their investment in training and qualifying their own workforce for marking lines, even if they know a contractor is just a call away.
Learn More with ITS
Keep up with the latest regulatory and industry trends during the free Regulation Navigation webinar hosted by ITS on March 12, 2025 at 10 am CT (topic to be announced soon).
