Safety on Wheels

HDD’s Growing Safety Focus

The HDD industry is like the wild west—sometimes 811 isn’t exactly where they said they’d be, and rarely do things go according to plan. There’s a reason “poke and hope” is a mantra in this business.

However, these uncertainties pose significant risks to crews, bystanders, and communities, and could have catastrophic consequences—both financial and fatal. We've all heard the horror stories of major utility strikes—and no one wants to be the one in the headlines.

That’s what safety is becoming a growing concern for government and private utility companies alike. In fact, more and more states are requiring HDD crews to provide bore planning documentation, obtain safety certifications, have inspectors on-site, and more.

For instance, Ohio requires a Horizonal Directional Drilling Contingency Plan to be on-site at each jobsite, and Minnesota is mandating all crews laying fiber to be safety certified through the recently enacted Safety-Qualified Underground Telecommunications Installer Certification Program.

So, what’s a crew to do—especially when you're already juggling the demands of day-to-day operations?

We Have a Tool for That

The TeraTrak R1 is a measuring wheel and bore planning device that’s smart enough to calculate your topography to a +/- 2” elevation accuracy, but simple enough to be used by anyone.

While we typically talk about the TeraTrak as a terrain-measuring tool, at its core, it’s really a safety tool.

Here’s why:

• It ensures you have a clear understanding of the terrain, eliminating surprises. What may look like a flat bore can hide tricky topography—and in our field, inches can make all the difference.
• It will alert you if your plan isn't feasible, such as when there’s too much rod bend or insufficient clearance around utilities. Safety starts with preparation, and the R1’s setback calculation ensures you’re on the right track from the start.
• It helps you determine a safe setback distance, enabling you to create a secure entry plan.
• It lets you mark utilities and required clearances, then calculates the necessary adjustments for a safe bore plan, helping you avoid costly utility strikes

In short, the TeraTrak R1 isn’t just about measuring—it’s a vital safety tool that ensures your plan is not only feasible but safe.

Terry-Trak Crosier on the Case

This past November, Territory Manager Terry Crosier attended Tampa Electric Company (TECO)’s invitation-only quarterly safety meeting, where he had the opportunity to showcase the TeraTrak R1 as an essential safety tool to a large group of underground contractors. With more than 40 attendees, including TECO’s safety division, the focus of the meeting was to review reported damages and discuss strategies for minimizing future incidents. Although the meeting mostly focused on aerial mishaps related to overhead powerlines, one major takeaway for TECO’s safety committee was the performance of Barrow Power, a contractor that had made significant strides in production while maintaining a low damage rate.

The reason for Barrow Power’s success? The company had purchased a TeraTrak R1 the previous year. According to David Sparks, Barrow Power’s superintendent, the R1 allows their HDD crews to plan well in advance of their pilot bores, avoiding common obstacles and underground utilities. The safety committee, intrigued by Barrow Power’s approach, asked David to present to the group and explain how the R1 was integral to their safety strategy.

This was a perfect opportunity for Terry to step in and demonstrate the safety benefits of the TeraTrak R1 to a room full of contractors and safety professionals. With only 15 minutes for the presentation, Terry had to deliver a concise yet impactful overview. Despite the tight time frame, the interest and engagement from the contractors were palpable. Questions from the group stretched out as long as the presentation itself, underscoring the genuine interest in the TeraTrak and how it could help mitigate risks on the job.

Terry’s presentation succeeded in planting the seeds for change, especially when it came to companies like Team Fishel, Powertown, and Dyneteck Solutions, all of which expressed interest in the R1. Notably, Team Fishel discussed placing an order for a TeraTrak R1 the very next day after the meeting; they’re slating it as a late 2024 or early 2025 purchase, pending the decision of their accounting managers. Furthermore, TECO’s safety committee made it clear to their contractors that they should be utilizing the best equipment available—such as the R1—to conduct a safe job.

In the end, Terry’s pitch didn’t just highlight the TeraTrak R1’s capabilities; it framed it as a vital safety tool that could help prevent costly mistakes and protect workers. The conversation sparked by this meeting is expected to drive more contractors to invest in the R1, helping to further cement its reputation as a game-changer in underground utility safety.