Close call with the excavator on that retaining wall job today
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SawdustSavant
·6mo·4 replies·5 participants
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SawdustSavant⭐ ExpertOP6mo
161
Out here in Arizona the heat makes you push too hard, but we almost had a real problem digging for this 20-foot retaining wall with the Bobcat E35. I was operating it myself since the helper called in sick, and I got a little too close to that gas line the surveyor marked. Luckily, I spotted the yellow flag in time and backed off, but it got my heart racing. If you're doing any trenching for landscape walls, always double-check those utilities with 811, even if the client swears it's clear. Saw a similar story on r/landscaping last week about a guy who nicked a line and had to shut down the whole site. Also, someone in the Landscaping Professionals Facebook group mentioned using a softer touch on the controls to feel the ground better. Moral of the story, take that extra minute to verify, could save you a ton of headache and fines.
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AmpedUpApprentice⚒️ Journeyman3mo
2
What kinda soil were you working with out there? Loose dirt makes spotting those lines way harder.
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PipeDreamer15⚒️ Journeyman1mo
26
Damn, that sounds frustrating as hell, especially in the heat. I've had a few of those moments myself, like when my buddy almost took out a sprinkler line with the skid steer. Makes you paranoid every time now, but better safe than dealing with the gas company.
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RoofRat883⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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yeah, been there with the excavator myself, heart drops every damn time you hear that scrape.
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BackflowBuddy⚒️ Journeyman1mo
5
ever had one of those close calls where you almost nicked a gas line? what kinda setup you using for locating utilities on that job? i'm always paranoid about it myself.
