The Other Uses of Non-destructive Digging That You May Want to Know About

Typically, non-destructive digging or any digging for that matter is most common a process that is used in the construction business. Whether it be for construction of a new house, a renovation, installation and the like. It is also commonly used in installations of lamp posts and other items that need to be buried.

Non-destructive digging which is also known as NDD is a safer and less risky alterative to mechanical or manual digging. The reason for this is instead of using the typical heavy equipment and machines like backhoes, trenchers and diggers and even hand held tools like shovels, this uses either water or air as the tool to dig the hole. Instead, it uses either high pressure jets of air or water that are powerful enough to break the ground and loosen the soil materials. At the same time, the non-destructive digging process also simultaneously vacuums out the soil materials and debris to make it easy for storage and disposal. There are two choices that one can choose from, these are air vacuum excavation and hydro excavation.

Because of the special advantages of this process, there are many other things where this can be used. For example, non-destructive digging can be used in archeological excavations and diggings. It can be used because it is easier to control and can be used in sensitive areas. Even if it gets in contact with important and sensitive artifacts, it will not do any damage. It can also be used for tree planting by preparing the holes where the plants will be placed.

For sensitive areas like refineries and electrical plants, it can be used because it will not cause a spark. It is also applicable for flammable areas. It is also very useful for roadside projects because the on-going project can be done without disrupting the flow of traffic. Sensitive areas like those with ecosystems that need to be protected. It can be used off site if needed because the nozzles can be extended. When there is a digging project where trees should be protected, non-destructive digging
can be used as well as it will protect tree roots and not cut them.

Non-destructive digging is not only applicable to typical digging needs but also for special uses. It can have advantages that people can benefit from. It is safer than mechanical digging that may have disastrous results especially when sensitive buried assets and utilities are touched. Damage to pipes, lines, cables can cause flooding, loss of service like power, internet and even gas explosions.

If you want to more about the companies that provide any of the two non-destructive digging
processes, then you can go online to look at their companies and services. You will see even the previous projects that they have done. You may even get quotations if you are interested to get
their services for your digging needs. Whatever the project may be, for sure any of the two non-
destructive digging processes can be applicable and will work wonders.

Looking for non destructive digging services? We here at Yunz Contracting can help. Just visit our site to find out more.

How Useful is Non-destructive Digging in the Business of Construction

Like in any kind of business out there, the people who own and handle these want to make as much profit as they can. In the construction business for example, they need to minimize costs but at the same time make sure that they use quality materials and produce quality results. The contractors who are in charge of the whole project have to make sure that the job is done right. The money made will not only be to keep the business going but to improve and grow the business. One thing that can be costly in the construction process is the digging part which is usually need for building foundations and the like. The use of heavy equipment and machines does not only cost money but also the repairs needed in case these do any damage to the underlying assets, utilities and infrastructure.

The most common digging method which is mechanical can be destructive. The unseen web of lines, cables, wires and even sewage systems can be damage and the repairs will be spent for by the construction company. This may lessen their profits or may even become a loss for them depending on the extent of damage. The common scenarios are broken water pipes, cut electric and telecommunication cables, burst gas pipes and a damaged sewer. There is a safer alternative that can be very useful for the contractors in the construction business. This method is called non-destructive digging.

Non-destructive digging is a safe and low risk digging alternative that can be used when any digging is needed. It is done in two ways, hydro excavation or air vacuum excavation which use either water or air instead of trenchers and diggers. The non-destructive digging method is powerful enough to break the ground and loosen the soil but at the same it can still be gentle on the assets, utilities and infrastructure that it may get in contact with.

Aside from it being safe and less risky, it has other advantages that makes it even more useful to be used by people in the construction business. These advantages are:

• It is easier to use and operate because it just uses one excavator truck. It requires less labour.
• It is more time efficient. The job gets done quickly and precisely. The need for back jobs is minimized.
• It is cost effective. There is no need to rent and spend for gas to be used in numerous heavy equipment and machines.
• It can be used offsite just by extending the nozzle. 
• This can be used in a flammable environment or area.
• Can be used in roadside projects without disrupting the flow of traffic.
• It is gentle on the environment. It protects the roots of trees that owners may want to preserve and keep intact. 

These advantages of non-destructive digging can indeed be useful in making things easier in construction. The contractors will also have the peace of mind that the job can be done without damage and additional expenses. This is something that they can take advantage of and use even for digging needs in other industries.

Looking for non destructive digging services? We here at YunzContracting can help. Just visit our site at www.YunzContracting.com.au to find out more.

Non-destructive Excavation: Hydro Excavation Method

Non-destructive excavation technology has become an important technology that is used in many industry applications these days. This is because non-destructive excavation makes it possible for the digging, excavation or exposure of underground utilities without the risk of doing damage or destruction.

Hydro excavation is a method used to in non-destructive excavation technology. This method is non-mechanical. Highly pressurized water is used to break into the ground and excavate the soil materials, rocks and other debris. As this is done, an industrial strength vacuum simultaneously sucks out all the mud, water slurry and debris to be stored in a special holding tank. The main component which is water is safe to use around the assets and utilities underground. There is very little danger that gas pipes, water pipes, electric cables, telecommunication lines, sewer systems and the like can be damaged.

It is precisely called as non-destructive excavation because unlike mechanical or manual excavation, it will not cause damage to those utilities it may reach. The reason for this is that manual or mechanical excavation uses materials, machines and equipment that may have sharp edges or too much pressure. Hydro excavation can also do the job in a more precise way that will require less back fill or back job. The process is safe and fast. It does not use a lot of equipment which means it require less workers to operate it and it can be used in smaller areas with limited space to move around in. Hydro excavation is also environmentally friendly.

Here are some examples where the hydro excavation method as a means of non-destructive excavation can be used:

·         Potholing or Daylighting- this process is usually done for installation of signs, telecommunication poles, light posts, fences and the like.

·         Slot trenching- hydro excavation makes it possible to create narrow trenches that are needed for the installation of pipes, cables, and other in-ground utilities. Hydro excavation can be used even if the ground is frozen. The water used is heated. This non-destructive excavation method makes installation of sprinklers, location of underground utilities and other underground installation easy and safe.

·         Removal of Debris- hydro excavation is the best method to use to for catch basin cleaning, cleaning of spills and sludge removal. This will make sure that the surrounding area will not be damaged.

·         Remote digging- When there is a remote area where repairs on buried pipes, fiber optic cables and the like are needed, hydro excavation can be used. The equipment used can be located farther from the actual site to make sure that there is no damage done on the actual site. Restoration work is minimized or avoided.

The different advantages and uses of hydro excavation just proves the importance of the non-destructive excavation technology.  This does all the functions of mechanical or manual digging in a safer and more cost-effective way. It is no wonder that this technology is slowly starting to take the place of the traditional way of digging. More and more people are starting to see the need to switch to non-destructive excavation.

Looking for non destructive digging services? We here at Yunz Contracting can help. Just visit our site to find out more.

Which Non-destructive Excavation Method should you Use

Non-destructive excavation has gained popularity and is more widely used in construction projects these days because of several reasons. First, it is a safe way to do diggings and excavations. It is safe for the workers as well as safe for the people within the surroundings. The reason for this is that non-destructive excavation is not as risky as mechanical digging. The utilities and assets that are buried underground are safe from damage. If electric cables get cut while excavating, power outage can ensue or someone can get electrocuted. A burst gas pipe can cause an explosion. These are some things that can be avoided when using non-destructive excavation methods.

Another reason is that it more cost efficient. It does not require many machines or workers. The projects are also done in a shorter period of time. The excavation is also more precise. It does not require back jobs.

There are two methods that non-destructive excavation can be achieved. These are hydro excavation and air vacuum excavation.

Hydro excavation uses water as the main component. High pressure water is used to break the ground and loosen the soil and other earth materials. The mud that is created as well as other debris is then vacuumed out using a special nozzle which is stored in a special holding tank. Hydro excavation can be used on just about any type of soil. It can even be used on frozen ground using hot water. The downside is that it needs thousands of litres of water just to be able to do the excavation.  Not all areas have an available water source that can spare this amount of water. It can also get messy and dangerous because of the slippery mud.

Air vacuum excavation on the other hand uses high pressure air to break the ground and loosen the soil. A special nozzle then suck out all the dry materials using a vacuum which is then stored in a holding tank. The materials that are stored can readily be used for back filling jobs if needed. The downside of this method is that it cannot be used for all soil types. Frozen ground is something that the high pressure air cannot break into. It can also make the area dusty.

The method that is recommended because it is cheaper more easily available is air vacuum excavation. It also does a cleaner job because it leaves the area dry. However, it may depend also on the type of soil that your property has.

Whichever method you choose, you still get all the good benefits from it. Both methods are still better to the conventional mechanical digging which can be risky and dangerous. If you want to know what method can be used for your area, you can get in touch with companies that provide non-destructive excavation services. They will be able to tell you what can be used. While you are at it, you can also ask for a quotation so you know the costs.

Looking for non destructive digging services? We here at Yunz Contracting can help. Just visit our site to find out more. 

Hydro Vacuum Excavation: Safe, Accurate and Non-Destructive Digging

One non-destructive digging method that civil contractors can use for their digging or trenching purposes is the hydro vacuum excavation. This method uses a vacuum/suction mechanism to break up the ground and collect excavated materials. The use of this method can bring in the long-awaited need of safety and better work results in many construction projects. How can hydro vacuum excavation benefit the digging or trenching crew?

Emphasis on Workplace Safety

Digging operations at construction and any other civil work projects can become dangerous at time, with many occupational hazards about waiting to happen from the careless use of equipment and leaving excavations unsupported. Even if you are not a civil contractor, you would really know the importance of workplace safety and proper work flow. Sadly, not all contractors and workers do care about this. With deadlines to meet, of what use are safety rules and regulations?

And that’s where hazards can occur. How many news items have you read or watched about construction workers damaging underground pipelines and cable networks and disrupting utility services in the process? What about workers being injured from collapsed excavations? What about the number of cases of fatalities? Where is safety in here if workers do not make their workplace safe or if they use dangerous work methods?

What is Hydro Vacuum Excavation?

Hydro vacuum excavation is a non-destructive digging method and one of the two vacuum excavation methods (the other being air vacuum excavation). Along with air vacuum, hydro vacuum is utilised to replace the more destructive conventional digging and trenching methods in certain sites, especially where there is underground utility assets. In a situation where buried pipelines, cable networks and other assets need to be exposed or day lighted, this is the method to be used and not excavating by mechanical drills, backhoes, crane loaders and shovels.

As the term suggests, hydro vacuum excavation utilises pressurised water in breaking up the ground. That’s for the non-mechanical and non-destructive digging purpose, and did we mention about collecting excavated spoils? It also makes use of high flowing and moving air to collect the excavated material through a vacuum hose or tube into the debris storage tank. These double functions are made possible with the equipment called suction excavator which combines the functions of a crane loader and dump truck - multi purposes of single equipment.

Applications for Hydro Vacuum Excavation

It is never that difficult and laborious to operate a truck or trailer mounted suction excavator. Just one or two personnel will do. Moreover, you can bring this equipment wherever non-destructive digging is greatly needed. Hydro vacuum excavation can be applied along a busy motorway, near public places (like schools and hospitals), near existing building and structures and in protected nature.

Aside from digging and trenching, hydro vacuum excavation can also be used for other civil works including pressure cleaning, tank and pit cleaning and removal of wastes. 

Results Guaranteed

Hydro excavation eliminates the need for manual labour and cuts down on work hours and operation costs. It helps reduce work stoppage caused by inaccurate excavation and workplace accidents and damages. It also helps save time and resources which are wasted in manual digging and operation of machines. Being a non-mechanical, eco-friendly and non-destructive digging method, hydro vacuum emphasises safe, accurate, efficient and cost-effective digging results.

Please contact Yunz Contracting and visit our website if you are needing non-destructive digging for your commercial or industrial projects. 

Safety Guidelines for Electric Power line Installation and Maintenance

Almost everything these days is somehow connected to electricity. Especially with all the new developments in technology and gadgets, electricity has become one of the most important and most used utilities. However, it is also one of the most sensitive, dangerous and expensive especially in terms of safety and maintenance.

There are many workers that work in different areas from the source until the electrical power itself reaches the users. These are not just any workers, these people are highly trained and qualified to do the job, from power line installation to repairs and maintenance.  The work presents greater risks and hazards because workers are in contact with high voltage power lines. Any mistake can cause injury or even death by electrocution. This is why it is important for to know these safety guidelines to avoid accidents from happening.

When high voltage systems are involved, do not work alone. There should be another person who is either a qualified electrical worker or even just an experienced employee in training when doing something that involves high voltage systems. This is to make sure that when something goes or case of an emergency, there is back up help.

Make sure that equipment used work properly and are well maintained. Since power lines are buried under ground, the use of heavy equipment is employed.  Like in case where a new power line installation is required, diggers and backhoes will be used to dig holes. These machines are powerful and should only be used by those trained to operate it. These should also be checked regularly before using so that they will be not be a cause for accidents. Also, proper training for the use of the equipment should be taught and updated.

Get all information needed regarding trenching and engulfment and its hazards. These are important because workers need to be safe and if they know what they are doing at the same time what they are not supposed to do, then accidents and injuries can be avoided. Training on what to do in cases of emergency should also be provided.

If work is done on high power line poles, safety guidelines and training should also be in place. It is important for one to know how to work in high places. Knowing how to bring up equipment, materials and even how to safely go up and down is as important. Training on what to do in cases of emergency especially while up on the pole is also a must.

People who work in this industry need to be safe because they work with something that is an essential part of day to day activities. They need to know safety not only for themselves but for everyone as well. Electricity and that hazards it can cause is not something to be taken lightly. If you are interested to know more about this there is a lot of information from books or you can search online. The information is good for everyone to know but better especially for those who are interested in this field or know people who do this kind of job.

Looking for non destructive digging services? We here at Yunz Contracting can help. Just visit our site  to find out more. 

Non-destructive Digging and Its Functions

Diggings and excavations are important part in most construction projects. In the past, the methods used were either mechanical or manual digging. The problem with these two methods is that it either can be a cause of great damage and destruction to underground utilities and assets. Located underground is a web of important and vital utilities like gas and water pipes, sewers, electric and phone cables.  If a backhoe or even just a hand shovel hit a part of one of these, it can cause damage leading to work delays and costly repairs. A burst water pipe or cut electric cable can be a reason to stop operations to give way for repairs needed. Work delays, together with remediation costs will result to more money and time wasted.

The development of non-destructive digging is the answer to this problem that contractors usually face in construction projects. In this method, high pressure air or water is used to break up and loosen the soil, or clay. All the soil, waste and excess water are then vacuumed out into holding tanks using a specially designed nozzle. Air or water as the medium used in making holes is not as risky in causing any damage as compared to machines likes excavators, backhoes and shovels.  Clean up is also a breeze therefore work is faster and more efficient.

Aside from minimizing the hazards to underground utilities, this method is also safer for the trained people who do the job. Risks of injuries are minimal. This, together with knowing that utilities are more protected gives contractors and owners peace of mind, free from too much worry from possible work disruptions and costly damages. 

Non-destructive digging is also beneficial to the environment. It leaves less impact on the surroundings. Even tree roots can be protected and left unharmed from the digging. Foot paths and sidewalks can remain virtually the same after a digging is done within the vicinity. If the digging is done near roads, non-destructive digging also makes it possible for less disruption in traffic flow. Less materials used as well as fewer workers do not cause a big obstruction.

If you want to consider the use of non destructive-digging and see the benefits it can give, then you can go online and look for companies or contractors that provide this kind of service. Searching online is the easiest and fastest way to do this. Try to narrow your search for those nearest the area where the project is located. Check out several websites and see who offers the best service at a fair price. Check the previous projects they have done. Get one that has been in the business for a long time and has a good history of satisfied customers and successful projects. You do not only want to protect you utilities but the whole property and the environment as well. 

It will do you know harm to try this method. You may actually find out for yourself that it will give great results, more than what you expect. 

Looking for non-destructive digging services? We here at Yunz Contracting can help. Just visit our site to find out more. 

Why Should You Choose Non Destructive Digging for Your Next Digging Projects

Diggings have many uses in construction projects. In the past, there have been stories of diggings gone wrong due to the damage caused to underground utilities. Imagine drilling through power lines causing loss of electricity or even burst water pipes causing serious flooding in the area. Other underground utilities that can be damaged through conventional drilling are gas pipes, telecommunication lines and sewage lines. Not only will damage to these wires and pipes cost a lot of money but delays and inconveniences are to be dealt with as well. This is something you do not want to happen while a digging in your property. The answer to this is non destructive digging. You may be sceptical if you do not really know about this. Below you will find more information and the benefits that you can get from this.

Non destructive digging which is also known as hydro excavation or vacuum excavation. This is a process of digging wherein high pressure water is used to loosen up the soil. The loose soil, together with excess water and other debris are then vacuumed out and directed into holding tanks using specially designed nozzles. Unlike mechanical digging which uses machines and heavy equipment to create holes, the use of water is a gentler and less risky alternative.  

The use of non destructive digging benefits everyone who is involved in the project. Worries of causing damage and costs for repairs is very minimal therefore giving everyone peace of mind. Sticking the budget is a top priority in most projects these days so costs that are kept to a minimum are always a big help. The equipment and the process used lessens the harmful the effects on the environment and even tree root systems underground can be left unharmed. 

The whole process also does not take as much time because even clean-up is a breeze since most of the debris are vacuumed out simultaneously as the digging is done. If the digging project is done in a roadside area or pedestrian walkways, this will not cause much disruption to traffic flow. Less people working with less equipment which are not too big will not be a problem to daily activity in the area. Overall, non destructive digging is cost efficient, safe and gentler on the environment. 

If non destructive digging is something you want to try for your next project, it would be best to check the companies that can do this for you. You can go online to take a look at company websites. These sites will be detailed to give you a better idea of how it really works. They have contact details that you can use to get in touch with them for any queries or questions. You just have to keep in mind that the company you work with is one that is reputable. Try to check the projects they have done in the past so you will know if they do a good job. This is to make sure that what you pay them for is worth it.

Looking for non destructive digging services? We here at Yunz Contracting can help. Just visit our site to find out more.

How to Find the Right Excavation Service Provider

Do you have an incoming construction or installation project? At this time, you should be searching for a excavation/digging contractor. Here are a few tips to help you find one:

Assess Your Project

What are you excavating for? Are you digging for a building construction project or for a utility installation project? Are you installing underground utilities, swimming pool, fallout shelter, irrigation system or what? Your choice of excavation method will depend on your project proposal.

Huge construction projects will require the use of heavy equipment like backhoes and crane loaders. But they can also be accompanied by suction excavators or any non-destructive excavation equipment. For small projects, it is not advisable to use heavy equipment and the option would be the use of suction excavator, either truck mounted or trailer mounted.

Assess Your Proposed Excavation Site

Moreover, your choice of excavation method will depend on the location itself. For instance, backhoes, crane loaders and other large machineries are not allowed in pristine environments. Contractors will need to consider manual digging, mechanical drilling or non-destructive excavation.

At times, workers are not allowed to operate large machineries and mechanical drills near schools, hospitals, homes for the aged and other establishments where excessive noise and vibration can cause great concern or noise pollution. Perhaps the workers should use manual digging or operate the suction excavator equipment.

If there are underground utilities in your proposed site, it is not advisable to use conventional digging methods. They damage or tear buried facilities apart and cause fire hazards, electrocution, explosion and pollution. The secondary effects are work delay or stoppage and injuries and fatalities. Mechanical drilling and manual digging are not even recommended. The recommended method would be non-destructive excavation, especially air or water vacuum excavation.

If you are having a swimming pool installed in your backyard, operating a small crane loader would be good for the task. But if you don’t want damages to your landscape, the suction excavator should be the preferred digging equipment.

Look For Excavation Contractors

Look for excavation contractors who can provide the most efficient service for your project. If you don’t know how to begin your search, there are certain venues where you can start:

• Internet – Many civil works contractors who offer digging/excavation services could be online. Key in certain keywords, ‘digging contractors’, ‘trench digging contractors’, or ‘non-destructive excavation’. Check if they offer the kind of digging service you need. Many contractors today offer both traditional and non-destructive digging services.
• Classified ad – Major broadsheets and magazines have listing of various civil construction services.
• Your local business or commerce board – Your local business bureau has a list of all digging contractors in your town or city. They are registered and licensed to service you.
• Referrals – Perhaps your neighbour knows of a non-destructive excavation contractor. They can help recommend you to them.

Keep a list of contractors that you would want to hire. Present your project proposal and show to them your proposed site. What methods can they recommend? How are they going to accomplish your project? Get their say on your proposal.

Perhaps they have other recommendations and solutions to how your project can be done and completed. Listen to them. They could have something better.

May these tips help you find the best excavation contractor for your project! Whether your method would be conventional or non-destructive excavation, it pays to hire the right professional to provide you the best service.

Yunz Contracting is a level 1 ASP non-destructive excavation provider. Please contact us today for professional and efficient digging service. Please visit our website too.

Air Vacuum Excavation as a Preferred Non-Destructive Excavation

Construction work is very dangerous, especially if there is some sort of excavation involved. So the first time the construction crew should do is to locate and expose any underground assets which include telecommunication cable networks, electricity cables, water pipelines, oil pipelines and underground tunnels. However, utility location can get dangerous at times because of the use of tools and equipment like mechanical drills, sharp pickaxes and huge earthmovers. Should not they be using non-destructive excavation methods?

The use of mechanical drills, sharp hand-held tools and huge earthmoving equipment can many times do more harm and good, more damage than smooth work flow. Workers tend to use them carelessly and in violation to proper work procedures, one of which is parking vehicles too close to the edge of a trench or excavation. So instead of exposing and protecting the buried assets (which they are supposed to do), they damage them, thus causing work stoppage, injuries and disruption of vital utility services.

For civil work contractors who are wary about using the aforementioned tools, they can utilise a non-destructive excavation method which is air vacuum excavation. How does this method fare against conventional digging methods?

Air vacuum excavation is a non-destructive digging, trenching and earth removal method. Being non-destructive, it is safe and easy to use. One of the benefits of air vacuum excavation is that the method is applicable in areas not fit for heavy equipment to access. It only uses a high powered vacuuming equipment to generate high pressurised air to break the soil or surface and suction or suck up dirt, loose soil or any debris.

In terms of safety, the air vacuum/suction excavator works safely around networks of underground pipes and cables. Pressurised air will not damage such utilities and you can even adjust the pressure of the air, thus preventing any hazards associated with damages to underground utilities. The excavation crew can eliminate or minimise the risk of electrocution, explosion and flooding.

More on safety, the excavation crew can help ensure the structural integrity of surrounding structures and the trenches and excavations. With no excavator tearing cables and pipes, no crane loader swinging and other machinery vibrating near unsupported excavation, no one is going to get harmed.

With regards to public safety, air vacuum excavation generates less noise. With this, excavating near homes and establishments would not become a public disturbance.

In terms of convenience, you can operate the suction excavator in limited and tight spaces where huge equipment cannot easily access and where large scale damage is not allowed like your backyard and pristine environment. This is convenient with the fact that you don’t need a dump truck and crane loader to collect excavated spoils as the long vacuum hose of the equipment can collect them into the debris storage tank.

The use of non-destructive excavation in the form of air vacuum excavation can replace the tedious and back-aching manual digging which often requires manpower and hours for completion and eliminate the occupational hazards brought by huge machineries. This method can help ensure productivity is not lost on inaccurate work results and accidents, maximise work hours and reduce delay.

For your non-destructive excavation needs, please contact Yunz Contracting today. You can also visit our website.

Non-destructive Digging Makes the Construction Industry Safer

There have been many reports about construction workplace hazards, especially involving damages to dangerous underground utilities or assets like electricity cable networks, oil and petroleum pipelines, buried fuel storage tanks and other assets that risk of pollution, fire or explosion. You have read of workers getting injured at excavation sites, some buried alive at unstable and unsupported trenches, vehicles falling into unsecured excavations, the fatalities, the work stoppages, litigations faced by contractors and the resulting investigations surrounding excavation tragedy. The construction sector is indeed on dangerous industry. What relief is there for civil contractors who want to ensure safe digging operations?

Digging and excavation operations need not to be hazardous and risky, wrist-hurting and back-breaking any longer. Thanks to technology, workers can make use of non-destructive digging technologies, one of which is vacuum excavation, a method being utilised for various digging and suctioning purposes. Non-destructive digging is a safe and cost-effective work solution for the building and construction industry that has gone through a lot of issues as results of excavation risks and hazards.

Rather than using sharp mechanical or hand-held tools or operating huge equipment, workers can utilise high pressurised air or water to break up soil, clay and other surfaces and to collect excavated material and other debris. These two functions made possible with a suction excavator that has a strong vacuum unit and long vacuum hose to break up the surface and collect them in the storage tank for later backfilling or disposal.

Is not the suction excavator just another equipment to operate? Yes, it is, but not like those huge earthmoving vehicles that you usually see in most excavation sites. Moreover, the equipment’s suction hose is not that painful to handle unlike those shovels and pickaxes whose repetitive use can cause carpal tunnel syndrome. The hose is never a sharp object too, and you can even adjust the pressure level of the air or water to break up the ground, so no risk of damage to buried utilities in here.

The use of non-destructive digging does help prevent the perils and hazards related to damaging any existing underground utilities. Working around and accessing them become safer and less complicated, no damages caused, and no risks occurred. How’s that for workplace safety?

non-destructive digging does not only reduce gaps and minimise or eliminate the possibility of damages to pipes, cables and other buried assets. It also helps reduce work delay and disruption, thus ensuring a smooth work progress and keeping you ahead of task completion. By eliminating hazards and reducing work stoppage, the construction industry will cut on operating costs and workers’ compensation.

Being a non-mechanical excavation method, non-destructive digging is a more effortless and more secure alternative for manual digging and using huge earthmoving equipment, especially in confined areas and congested thoroughfares. No hassle and fewer disturbances for the public.

Thanks to technology, the construction sectors can reap the benefits and savings of non-destructive digging. This advantage is not only for the industry, but also for the public who has already grown tired of news reports on workplace accidents and injuries.

Are you a commercial or industrial client who is in need to non-destructive digging services? Please contact YunzContracting today. You can also visit our website

Reasons of Excavation Hazards

What makes excavation sites one of the most hazardous work areas? First of all, it is already a dangerous area where workers and equipment share space and where workers operate and swing their equipment within a limited space. As a workplace rife with occupational safety violations, excavations in construction or installation projects are very deep and often unsupported. Violation already taking place as excavations and trenches must be supported. Moreover, they are also narrow, and workers who happen to be in unsupported narrow trenches are unfortunate to be in a space there chances of escaping from a possible disaster are slim.

Excavations are dug for many reasons, mainly for construction and utility installation projects. Civil contractors need to dig excavations to build structural support for buildings and other edifices, install a network of underground pipe and cable systems, to install drainage and sewerage systems, to create tunnel systems and to install other underground assets. Uses for trenching outside of construction and building purposes include irrigation systems for farms and hideout for soldiers in the battlefield.

Excavation works are one of the most dangerous works undertaken by construction workers.  There are many causes for excavation hazards. Among them are:

·        Mishandling of underground assets – One thing that makes excavation sites dangerous is the presence of underground pipe systems and electrical assets. This is usual in cases where workers strike them with their machinery and tools. Can you image striking a live wire with your drill?
·         Wrong excavation practices – Workers in unsupported excavations? Equipment parked too close to the edge? Trenches not secured? Violations of excavation safety procedures indeed.
·          Failure in recognising possible risks and hazards – How can a contractor fail to recognise risks of electrocution when working around buried electrical assets?
·         Loading of rocks, soil and other excavated debris near the excavation – This is the same with parking vehicles near excavations, and this pose a cave-in or collapse of the excavation’s walls.
·         Weak soil or bad weather condition during work times – When you excavate, the surrounding soil can no longer hold the soil that is left behind due to the absence of natural forces which hold the soil. If your excavation is not support, the walls can get weak and then collapse. Working also in excavations under a bad weather can do increase hazards. 

Excavation and trenching need not to be hazardous if only contractors plan out a proper work flow and implement safety rules and work procedures in place, and if workers know how to be careful with their assigned tasks like operating earthmoving equipment and ground-breaking tools. Contractors and workers should now perhaps look into non-destructive digging technologies to ensure safe excavation.

Yunz Contracting is a level 1 ASP non-destructive digging service provider. Please contact us today for service and visit our website.

Subsurface Utility Engineering

Back in the old days, almost all utility lines were located above ground and that the concept of non destructive excavation was found nowhere in the vocabulary of contractors and utility engineers. After all, who will need the service if all of utility lines were exposed and that building new lines and repairing existing ones were reachable anytime? A few decades later, utility engineers started to bury lines underground, and the practice is more gaining ground as it has shifted from just being a trend into becoming a norm.

Burying utilities underground have numerous advantages aside from helping a place improve their aesthetic appeal through the elimination of unsightly and messy web-like connections of cables overhead. Utilities are also more protected from destruction by man-made errors and natural calamities, thereby contributing to more consistent and stable utility services as disruption and repairs will be significantly reduced. However, burying utility lines underground is not a foolproof method, as they are also open to destruction due to improper notification, poor underground asset location techniques and ineffective excavation equipment and practices. In order to avoid dangers to subsurface assets and contractors, the concept of subsurface utility engineering or SUE was created.

Subsurface utility engineering encompasses modern line electronic tracking techniques for accurate identification and designation of buried lines, non destructive digging for the exposure of utilities, and survey mapping techniques for data management into one discipline. All of these processes will give property owners and contractors a three dimensional approach that will help document the existence, design, position and interconnection of underground assets for future project use.

Tighter budgets have prompted many utility companies to find ways to minimize their operating costs and performance delays at all stages of their projects. Without an accurate blueprint of the situation and location of underground lines, risk for their accidental damage will be increased, further delaying the completion of their jobs and increasing costs. What’s worse is that past information obtained by utility companies are rarely accurate enough to really depict their exact locations and become useful for design purposes. In addition to that, past work that has been done on them may have never been documented, making it difficult to trace contractors responsible for the work and ask them some necessary work-related queries.

Fortunately, with the advent of subsurface utility engineering, it is now possible for underground utilities to be mapped precisely. Aside from assisting contractors with the exact location and conditions of underground assets, dreaded unknown variables and contingencies faced by them daily will be avoided. If you want to make sure that you will be able to save time, costs and avoid accidents related to your projects’ underground activities, it will be very helpful to hire a subsurface utility engineer to assist you in your project’s planning stages.

Although there are newer technologies that are utilized in subsurface utility engineering like trenchless methods, contractors cannot deny the fact that potholing using non destructive excavation is still an indispensable method and will never run out of fashion as certain buried utilities may not be known to the driller. You know the drill when a contractor works blindly: time and resources are lost while the subsurface utilities and contractor’s safety are put at high risk.

Yunz Contracting is a trusted civil contractor company that has fleets of vacuum excavators to assist you with your projects’ non destructive excavation requirements. If you are looking for a contractor who provides cost-efficient, quick and safe excavation services, visit our website to know how to hire us.

Three Things Civil Contractors Can Do To Improve Safety at Site

The civil construction industry has been fraught with many accidents taking place due to the lack of safety among the workforce. There are three ways that the industry needs to do to prevent further accidents:

Employ the Right Personnel

So your builders are licensed, registered and insured? Good, but are they trained for occupational safety? The civil construction industry does not only need workers with license and insurance coverage but also with the adequate occupational safety training. The industry should pay attention to safety training as much as it pays attention to equipment upgrade and job generation as its survival lies in workers who emphasise safety in their work functions.

It is bad publicity for construction firms if they encounter accidents and word goes out that workers were not following safety rules, that contractors ignore signs of possible risks, and that management was being lax in implementing stricter safety rules and penalties. Smooth work flow all boils down to workers who perform safe and efficient work at all costs and never resorting to shortcuts.

Implement Safety Rules and Regulations at the Work Site

Accidents at work happen because the safety rules are not in place. It is not that hard enough to implement them, but workers get negligent at times and contractors don’t seem to bother about it as long as the workers can do their works. This is a blatant disregard for workers’ safety and a fodder for work delay and financial losses.

Some of the important safety rules that should be implemented in construction sites include:

·         The wearing of protective gear when inside the work premise

·         Workers should always have safe access to working grounds.

·         Equipment and tools should only be operated by competent workers. Workers should be taught how to use tools and equipment properly. They should not also leave tools lying around at the site.

·         Installing barrier guards, guard rails, flashing lights or caution sites in the area and around areas of safety concerns like deep trenches.

·         Spoil pile should be disposed according to avoid impeding work flow and prevent pollution.

·         Vehicles should be parked at designated parking sites, not near deep excavations and not even to be left at areas of safety concern after work.

·         Management should inform and educate workers on the site’s evacuation plan.

Management should also look to employ adequate medical personnel at the site to attend to injured workers immediately and provide first aid care. They should also employ professional safety inspectors and regularly train their workers to observe occupational safety and penalise them for any violations.

Provide Options for Safe and Non-Destructive Work

Construction works can be dangerous or annoying because of the methods that contractors and workers use. For instance, it is dangerous to excavate using sharp tools and drills when the ground happens to have live electric cables. It is also disturbing to conduct drilling operations near hospitals and schools. In both instances, the contractors can utilise vacuum excavation, a non-destructive excavation method. Vacuum excavation can help protect the electric cables while it digs up the ground and it can also be used as an alternative to drilling.

There are many technologies today that can replace the destructive methods long used in the civil construction industry. Contractors and management should invest in new technologies or equipment that will allow workers to perform their tasks in a safe and efficient way.

Safety, not profit, should always be the most important concern in the civil construction industry. This they can ensure by hiring safety-minded labourers, implement safety rules and providing work alternatives like non-destructive excavation in place of traditional digging methods.

Yunz Contracting provides a variety of level 1ASP civil constructing services including non-destructive excavation, traffic management, land clearing and electrical and industrial types of works.