2025 Locator Town Hall Survey

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Locator Background & Experience

* Prior to being at your current organization, did you have any prior locator training experience?

No - None at all

Yes - I was previously trained as a Locator while employed by another organization

* Where did you receive your Locator training?

Through a locator certification program

On the job by my employer

Other

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* How long have you been in the Locator profession?

Less than 1 year

1 to 3 Years

4 to 6 Years

7 to 9 years

10 or more years

* How many Locators does your organization employ in the state of Virginia including any contract Locators?

0-5 Locators

5-25 Locators

25-50 Locators

50-100 Locators

100+ Locators

* Prior to becoming a Locator, were you aware of Virginia 811?

Yes

* For each of the following challenges, please select your top three for you as a locate technician in locating and marking utility lines accurately and on-time?

The area to be marked is not clearly defined

Incorrect information provided by excavator

A heavy workload

Inaccurate or outdated maps

Congested right-of-way

The presence of abandoned facilities

Inexperience or lack of training

Missing information that was provided to Virginia 811

Inadequate time to respond to a locate request

Lack of communication from the utility

Grounding structure of facility

Utility plant conditions

I have encountered no challenges

Other

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* For each of the following, please select your top two choices to indicate how effective each would be in improving the likelihood of accurate and on-time locates.

Making white-lining mandatory

Updated maps

Establish rules for ‘project tickets’ to increase the required time for completion

Increased communication between the excavator and the locate technician

Improved locate technology and equipment accuracy

Increasing locate technician training

Providing more than 48 hours to complete a locate request

* What do you believe is the biggest challenge facing the locating industry as a whole? Please select your top three answers.

No mandatory white-lining

Heavy workload

High employee turnover

Lack of training

Accuracy of maps

Ambiguity on state laws and regulations regarding The Act

Congested right-of-way

Labor shortage

Locate technology/tool accuracy

Other

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Electronic White Lining (EWL) Functionality and 1/3 Mile Law Change

* Are you aware you can log into Exactix to view EWL images of excavation areas when a request indicates the WTE user utilized EWL functionality?

Yes

* Have you logged into Exactix and used an EWL image to narrow the scope of the excavation area needing to be marked?

Yes

* Do you feel the EWL image is easy to read and to translate in a manner that helps you better understand the excavation area and marking needs?

Yes

* Would additional training or guidance on using EWL images in Exactix help you perform your work more effectively?

Yes

* Given the recent legal changes in §56-265.17 F, which now restricts the area covered in each locate request to one-third of a mile, have you observed that it has had a positive impact on your workflow?

Yes - I have seen some improvement

Neutral

No - I have not seen any improvement

Could you provide insights into the impacts, both expected and unexpected, on your job duties due to this change? Are there any benefits or consequences you've observed?

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Training

* How often does your company require that you complete continued education training?

Quarterly or more yearly

Less than once a year

Never

Other

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* What resources do you reference for information on locating and safe digging?

The Virginia Professional Excavator's Manual

Current Organization Materials

Pipeline Company Materials

Utility Company Materials

Virginia 811 Training Materials

OSHA Guidelines

Virginia 811 Toolbox Talks/Site Visits/Training

Company Sponsored Safety Seminars

Locator Industry Materials

Construction or Excavation Company Materials

None of the above

Other

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* Virginia 811 supports Locator efforts via the following channels and resources. Please indicate which efforts you are familiar with.

Locate Request Best Practice Guide

Virginia 811 Town Halls

VA811 Public Awareness & Training Liaison Efforts

Local Damage Prevention Committee (LDPC) Meeting Involvement

Exactix Training

None of the above

Other

In what ways do you believe Virginia 811 could enhance its training programs and initiatives by including additional training topics, specific key points, or potential partnership opportunities to further support and optimize your work?

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Thank you for taking the time to participate in our brief survey.

As a token of appreciation, all entries will be automatically entered into a drawing to win a Lowe's $50 gift card.

Please share your preferred email address to ensure timely delivery of your gift card if you win.

* Email Address:

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* Please note that the information gathered in this survey is solely for data collection, and there will be no data sharing that could compromise privacy.

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