­Selecting The Best Colorado Excavation Contractor

When many people are kicking off a new project, they’ll make the mistake of putting price above all else, selecting the contractor who can do the job the cheapest instead of who can do the job the best. When you’re picking out an excavation contractor, however, there are many, much greater things than price that should factor into your final decision. In this article, we’ll let you in on what the other key factors of hiring an excavation contractor are, and how you can ultimately select the best.

Excavation Contractor Experience

It is easy to see why we put experience first. A lack of expertise cannot be compensated for by a cheaper quote, especially in a professional job where one mistake can endanger the entire project or even human lives. Developing infrastructures or digging the foundations for a client’s house requires a completely different set of skills.

Communication

If you don’t hire an excavating company to talk, why are good communication skills important? Experience shows that the customer is not truly satisfied until what they have dreamed of is achieved. This requires the service provider to be open to communication and to give the client space to outline their ideas. Equally important, however, is honest feedback. Non-professional customers do not always have the necessary knowledge and experience to assess whether their ideas are feasible.

The best Colorado excavation contractor will assist the client with the necessary support during the planning and consultation process so that a realistic concept can be developed.

Licensing, certifications, and insurance

The operation of heavy machinery is a risky job that involves regulations, so digging requires a license from the county and state. To lay a strong foundation for structures or hardscapes, it is essential to understand the building and digging codes.

Because heavy, costly equipment and human operators are involved, it is imperative to provide insurance coverage for any unintended accidents. The operator should have a backup plan for costs if, during dirt removal, he damages something underground.

The right machinery

It is also crucial that the excavation company has the right tools and machinery. It is by no means certain that the largest and most powerful machines will be the best solution for your project. There are often situations where smaller, more mobile excavators are needed – for example, to maneuver along hard-to-reach side walls or to work on soils that cannot support heavy loads.

The machinery required should be determined during the negotiation process. Therefore, it is important that the service provider either has these machines or has timely access to them.

The price as the last factor

If all else is given, it is worth looking at the price. The excavation contractor’s quote must include all costs, including the following:

• Parking
• Transportation of the machinery
• Removal of gravel
• The provision of the necessary toilets and other infrastructure

The best service providers do not trick with their prices, you will not find any hidden costs with them and in the end, you will not pay more than you agreed. Of course, some previously unforeseen factors may come to light during the excavation work (since you cannot see into the ground during negotiations), but an experienced professional will anticipate this, factor in the risks, and communicate them transparently to the client.

If you are looking for a transparently working, honest, and experienced excavation company partner, give us a call or check out our website – we are always happy to support you!

The demolition process is inherently a potentially dangerous one, and those who go in unprepared are putting themselves and those around them at risk. Before heading out onto a demolition job site, it’s crucial that each person present on the site follow their safety hazard checklist before beginning work.

Proper training and certification is also crucial, though no matter how skilled or experienced an individual is, nothing can act as a suitable stand in for correct safety protocol and regulations. In this article, we describe the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations that must be followed during all excavation & demolition operations. We’ll also include a safety hazard checklist of our own, though keep in mind it is not a one-size-fits-all substitute for your company’s own safety checklist.

What is OSHA?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is in charge of protecting worker health and safety in the United States. The OSHA policies include demolition and excavation regulations to avoid any potential safety hazards on the safety hazard checklist.

What Are the General OSHA Rules for Demolition Work?

Demolition should follow the reverse construction order, and following the safety hazard checklist is extremely important. Electrical and other utilities should be disconnected before demolition begins. Preparatory Steps are extremely important, in most cases, you are required to have an “engineering survey” performed. Demolition should be performed only under the supervision of a qualified professional. Persons under the age of 18 are prohibited from performing the work. The demolition area must be fenced and posted with a warning sign. A public use permit must be obtained for use of the sidewalk.

Additional, yet critical guidelines to follow on the construction and demolition safety hazard checklist:

• Separate heavy equipment items away from trench edges.
• Identify activities or any equipment that could affect trench stability. 
• Keep material at least 2 feet (0.61 meters) and keep excavated soil from trench edges.
• Test for atmospheric hazards such as hazardous fumes, toxic gases, & low oxygen when workers are more than 4 feet deep.
• Supervise trenches at the start of each shift
• Supervise trenches following water intrusions.
• Supervise trenches after any circumstance that could have changed conditions in the trench. 
• Ensure that personal wear high-visibility clothing when exposed to traffic.

What Are The Regulations For Excavation?

Excavations are defined as any man-made cut, hollow, trench, or depression in the soil’s surface caused by earth removal, according to OSHA. Here are some of the most important things on the demolition safety hazard checklist:

• Excavation contractor shall obtain general information as to the description, nature, and location of underground facilities in the area of such proposed excavation and all underground utilities should be properly marked.  
• Notice of the duration, commencement and extent of the excavation work shall be given at least two business days prior to not including the day of actual notice.
• Before beginning work, an evaluation of safety threats should be done. Make sure you have the proper protection and equipment. Employers must assess what personal protective equipment is necessary and make it available to employees. 
• Employees should be educated on workplace risks and how to utilize the equipment properly.
• The home foundation/basement excavation is less than 7 1/2 feet deep, or it is benched for at least 2 feet horizontally for every 5 feet vertical height or less.
• At the bottom of the excavation, the minimum horizontal width (excavation face to formwork/wall) is as broad as possible but not less than 2 feet.
• There is no water, surface tension fractures, or other environmental variables that might compromise the excavation’s stability.
• While laborers are in the excavation, there is no heavy machinery running in the neighborhood that generates vibration.

If you are looking to work with a professional excavation & demolition service provider experienced in working under strict conditions, call our customer success team to schedule an estimate – we are always happy to help. You can reach us by finding our contact information on our contact page.