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Excavator Operator Certification Exam Prep · Question

During an excavation for a new footing, an excavator operator encounters an unmarked buried electrical cable while machine digging in an area previously marked by a utility locator. What is the immediate action the operator should take?

Upon striking or even encountering an unmarked utility, the immediate action is to stop all work, secure the area to prevent further damage or injury, and notif

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Question: During an excavation for a new footing, an excavator operator encounters an unmarked buried electrical cable while machine digging in an area previously marked by a utility locator. What is the immediate action the operator should take?

Answer options:

  • Carefully try to uncover more of the cable to identify its type. ✅ Stop all work, secure the area, and notify the site supervisor and utility owner.
  • Continue digging slowly and by hand until the cable is fully exposed.
  • Bury the cable back up and re-request a utility locate.

Correct answer: Stop all work, secure the area, and notify the site supervisor and utility owner.

Explanation: Upon striking or even encountering an unmarked utility, the immediate action is to stop all work, secure the area to prevent further damage or injury, and notify the site supervisor and the utility owner. Attempting to uncover it or continuing to dig presents significant safety risks.

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