Resources

When it comes to certification and qualification standards, here’s what the expert team at Merut Construction brings to the table.

Hydrovac work is dangerous work, and highly knowledgeable and experienced hydrovac professionals understand this. That’s why it’s imperative for these teams to employ a multifaceted approach to hydrovac fleet safety.

What are hydro excavation trucks used for? Safety, precision, efficiency, eco-friendliness and bottom-line benefits, to name a few. These are the major advantages reaped by digging projects that utilize hydrovac trucks and qualified teams.

Vacuum excavation remains a leading method deployed by construction and utility crews for project digging in a variety of applications. Leveraging the kinetic energy from a high-velocity stream of air or water, vacuum excavation operators have the unique ability to break up ground soil and then remove it through a powerful suction hose to reuse as backfill or transport for disposal.

As a civil contractor specializing in a range of specific construction services, we not only engage directly with clients to carry out excavation tasks, but also partner with general and electrical contractors on large-scale projects. In subcontracting for these types of complex projects, we work to maintain high levels of quality, safety and efficiency, providing the added value of WBENC certification and specialized expertise.

As the nation expands in population and evolves in capability, there’s an ever-growing need for new and improved infrastructure. But while enterprises like telecommunications advancement, management of electric, gas and water utilities, construction and roadway development continue to proliferate, land mass stays the same—all while existing frameworks become outdated or deteriorated.

In a variety of construction and utility applications, hydrovac trucks have become increasingly deployed by crews to carry out excavation work in a safer, more precise and more efficient way. Hydro excavation is often the preferred method over more cumbersome traditional approaches, particularly as the technology continues to evolve. In addition to large, production-style trucks, the market now offers smaller versions that are ideal for a number of specific work conditions.

From decreased safety risk and manual labor to increased time and cost efficiencies, there’s no shortage of benefits derived from applying vacuum excavation in a variety of industries. Vacuum excavation methods enable faster, more precise digging efforts, prevent unnecessary environmental damage, severely reduce the potential for strikes on buried infrastructure and allow for cleaner work areas and more versatile implementation.

Many excavation projects require workers to operate in and around trenches, which are some of the most dangerous areas on a work site. Trenches are prone to collapsing, and that makes them a monumental hazard to the crew. If a trench collapse occurs while one or more workers are inside, there’s a major risk for severe injury and death. For this very reason, shoring boxes are implemented at various excavation sites and have become a fundamental element of supporting both safety and efficiency.

Excavation and trenching are among the most hazardous operations in construction today, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. From dangerous cave-ins to potentially lethal strikes on utility lines, there’s an abundance of hazards involved in this line of work. That means it’s crucial for project teams to ensure high standards of excavation safety and safe digging practices in order to protect workers from serious physical harm.

The hydrovac market is on the rise. Driven largely by the safety and efficiency advantages that hydrovac methods lend to construction and utility projects, the mounting interest in hydro excavation services has expanded the market significantly. But while increased availability of equipment and contractors is beneficial for the industry, it’s important to note that not all teams are created equal. Even if you have top-of-the-line hydrovac trucks at your disposal, there’s simply nothing more critical than contracting the services of an experienced, well-trained, dedicated and safety-focused crew.

Damages to buried infrastructure in North America are on the rise. Every year, Common Ground Alliance releases a comprehensive report based on its Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT). The most recent DIRT Report indicates that total damages increased 4.5% year-over-year to 532,000. The societal costs of damages to buried utilities in the U.S. is estimated at $30 billion for the year, which includes both direct costs, like facility repair, and indirect costs, such as property damage, medical bills and businesses being unable to operate.