Michael J. Graham - Jonesboro - Arkansas

 

Cline Trenching Onboarding 

Onboarding 

• Video Overview of Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD)

• Video HDD 

• Directional Drill Operator Job Description (Arrow Electric)

• Safety First

Vocabulary 

Carrot
Drill	Drilling machine - creates underground bores in order to pull back duct for various applications.
Reel Trailer
Allen Wrench	Used to remove and replace bolts from carrot.
Duct Tape	We always tape the ends of the duct to prevent water, debris from entering the conduit.
Electrical Tape	Used to strengthen and lubricate the mule tape (located inside of the duct) when splicing two ducts with a football. When football is placed the mule tape from ducts are tied in a knot. Electrical tape is used to secure the knot and create lubrication if the knot gets snagged in the duct.
Duck Bill	Drill bit. This is used to steer the bore and serves as a place to hook up the duct to be pulled back.
White Flags/White Paint	White is the color used by contractors denoting the projected path of the bore. White flags with our company logo are used in areas to alert the existing utility locators (people hired by an existing utility company i.e. gas, water, sewer, electric, communication) of the bore path. White paint is used in areas where flags cannot work such as across roadways, rocky or gravel areas… etc.
Tails	Location where the duct is sticking out of the ground. Often it is the location of a splice, handhole or duct termination.
Mule Tape	Mule tape is preloaded into the duct we are placing in the ground. It serves as a method for the fiber installers to tie onto fiber and pull it through the duct. Mule tape may also be used for various purposes as a strong rope. A spool of mule tape is located on the truck pulling the reel trailer.
Son	Radio device located on the drill’s starter rod. This communicates the precise location of the bit to the box operator and drill operator.
Probe Rod	4’ long probe used in spotting utilities along the bore path.
Shovel	Your one and only friend. “There are many like it but this one is yours.”
Starter Rod	The rod attached to the Son and duck bill.
Rods	Steel tubes that attach to each other lengthen the reach of the duck bill. Rods contain a small hole where water and the drilling chemical mix may pass through to the duck bill. This water lubricates the duck bill and cools it as it passes through the ground.
Water/Clay Cutter	Water is sometimes mixed with clay cutter or other chemicals passing through the rods to the duck bill creating lubrication and cooling for the drill bit.
Locates	Existing utilities must be notified by white flags or white paint of the drill path.
Spotting Utilities	Main function of Hand 1 and 2.  Before we bore we must physically expose all existing utilities marked along our path. See Color Coded Chart.  Dig holes perpendicular to the painted locate mark. Locates from utilities have an 18’’ on each side of the mark margin of error. This means that the mark is the most probable location of the utility, but they are allowed to be off 18’’ in each direction off the mark. It is our primary job not to disrupt any existing utility by order of law. Get your shovel and dig perpendicular to the mark and expose the utility. When found, measure the depth of the utility and write it on the grass next to hole with marking paint or on the corresponding flag of the spotted utility with a sharpie.

• The Tools

• Shovel 

• Pipe Cutters

• Duct Tape

• Electrical Tap

• Vice on Truck

• Swivel 

• Yoke 

• Carrots

• Allen Wrench 

• Caution Tape

• Cones

• Tape Measure

• The Machinery 

• Drill 

• Mini Excavator

• Trucks  

• The People 

Role	Description
Labor Hand 1	Spot utilities along drill path When found measure and report depth via flag or paint Ensure carrots are in pipe Aware of restoration needs
Labor Hand 2	Determine reel trailer placement and place reel to pull back duct.  Aware of map - knows locations of splices, installs football, knows locations of hand holes, knows how many ducts are being pulled Checks restoration after the drill has passed the spot hole location.
Operator 1	Operates mini excavator  Communicates with drill operator on placement of hole in which drill bit will come into. Aware of map
Drill Operator	Makes unbelievable bores into places unthinkable to the common man.
Box Operator	Uses mystical power to guide drill operators communicating overall bit location.

Pipe wrench

Carrot placed into duct

Vice

This is a video of the process explaining the swivel, carrots. 

Existing underground utility is fully spotted. At this point Hand 1 will denote depth of utility and communicate it via writing it on a flag or painting depth on grass next to hole.

Plays

The Closed Loop - One Drill -  5 people

Drill Operator	The Quarterback - Arrives at site with expert understanding of map and has working knowledge of the map, purpose and safety landscape.  Observes pre-flagging and utility locate marks/colors  Verifies the bore path with locator assistance Moves flags from pre-flag location to the actual bore path.  Circles utilities to be located with white paint Drill
Locator	The Coach - Assists the Drill Operator in planning the bore path.  Guides the drill toward ending location.  Ensures ducts are hooked up correctly by directing Labor Hand 1 or 2 to attach the duct to the drill head.  Monitors pump and water in tank
Labor Operator (Mini Ex Operator)	The Linebacker -  Chief Spotter - Directs the Labor Hands to spot holes along the bore path and participates in spotting activities until he assesses the need to pull off and starts excavating holes for the pull-up.  Works with the Drill Operator and Locator to begin the excavator operation work needed along the bore path.  Digs in tails with spotter  Splice needed ducts Covers holes neatly with minimum trackout Stay behind with a spotter to clean up hand holes, splices, yard and street.  Sweep off street
Labor Hand 1	Lineman - Digs holes perpendicular to colored utility markings to expose utilities. Measures and indicates depth with white paint and or sharpie on flag.  Knows 811 color coded markings chart Knows map Restoration As drill bit passes spot hole, this person is responsible for filling spot holes and restores the client’s yard meeting excellent quality standards.  Assists as spotter for Labor Operator as needed. Assists Pipe Guy as needed.
Labor Hand 2 (Pipe Guy)	Primary responsibility is to have duct material ready to be pulled into ground immediately after the Drill Operator has finished a shot.  Carrots in pipe with 5’ of extra mule tape Swivel  Has duct tape and cutters at the ready Digs holes perpendicular to colored utility markings to expose utilities. Measures and indicates depth with white paint and or sharpie on flag.  Knows 811 color coded markings chart Aware of map  Helps with restoration

Play

Long shot, cross shot - 2 drills 10 people

Labor Hand 1, 2, 3 and Labor Operator	Recon Team - 4 people Spotters dig holes 1000’ in front of the big drill according to the Drill Operator’s white painted circles to locate existing utilities.  Labor Operator will pull off spotting crew as necessary to excavate holes for the drill operator.  Labor Hand (Pipe Guy) will pull off to ready the duct material for pulling when necessary.
Drill Operator 1 (Big Drill)	The Quarterback - Arrives at site with expert understanding of the map and has working knowledge of the map, purpose and safety landscape.  Observes pre-flagging and utility locate marks/colors  Verifies the bore path with locator assistance Moves flags from pre-flag location to the actual bore path.  Circles utilities to be located with white paint Drill
Locator 1	The Coach - Assists the Drill Operator in planning the bore path.  Guides the drill toward ending location.  Ensures ducts are hooked up correctly by directing Labor Hand 1 or 2 to attach the duct to the drill head.  Monitors pump and water in tank
Drill Operator 2 (Small Drill) Three people on this mini crew blend back to the big drill crew as needed.	The Quarterback - Arrives at site with expert understanding of the map and has working knowledge of the map, purpose and safety landscape.  Plans ahead in the morning meeting with Jerry for which cross shots to do.  Observe the cross shot utility spotting needed. Directs Labor Hand to dig spot holes and or box termination hole. Labor Hand is also the Pipe Guy for this crew.
Locator 2	The Coach - Assists the Drill Operator in planning the bore path.  Guides the drill toward ending location.  Ensures ducts are hooked up correctly by directing Labor Hand 1 or 2 to attach the duct to the drill head.  Monitors pump and water in tank