Deadly and Avoidable Danger

Featured In: Dig Different

It can happen in an instant: A metal drill bit taps an electric utility line and deadly current arcs through the equipment, spelling catastrophe for the unlucky operator.

Electrical strikes are not the most common of excavation dangers, but are one of few that can produce immediate fatalities. Fortunately, there are steps operators can take — some basic, some more advanced — to protect against electrical strikes.

Easy As 8-1-1

This danger is real whenever a contractor works in the ground, but some services are more at risk than others. Topping that list is directional drilling.

“The primary safety issue you run into with the directional drills is always underground electrical strikes, having the tool from your equipment contacting a buried power line that either was mismarked or the operator just didn’t know was there,” says Carl Osterhaus, manager of channel and technical product support for Toro, a drill manufacturer. 

First and foremost, the most obvious preventive measure is locating utilities in the ground before doing any excavation.

“The major factors we look at are calling One Call (811), to get existing utilities located for the job site where excavation will occur,” says Alex Wagner, product safety and compliance engineer with Ditch Witch. “After existing utilities have been located, it’s imperative those locates are verified, usually by means of soft excavation.”

But locating isn’t a flawless process, and even after taking all the precautions possible, operators can still run into problems. 

Prepare For The Worst

There are a number of personal protective equipment options out there for operators, such as electrically insulated boots and gloves, as well as bonding mats. The best way to protect operators, though, is to incorporate protections into digging equipment.

“Electric strike systems are standard equipment on all Ditch Witch drills,” says Stacy Long, senior product safety and compliance engineer for Ditch Witch. “The system can detect when an underground electrical line has been struck and alerts the operators and bystanders when the strike has occurred.”

Ditch Witch and HammerHead Trenchless incorporate what they call ESID, or electrical strike identification devices, into their products.

“Basically it grounds the operator to the machine,” says Josh Hood, product line manager at HammerHead Trenchless. “Let’s say we hit a line, or even come close to an electric line, it can actually alarm you and let you know that you’ve made contact. And it will sense how much power the machine is seeing. The operator can be touching the machine — doesn’t matter. As long as he stays on this mat, he’s protected.”

Electrical strike systems are an ISO requirement for drills, and Toro uses a similar system called ZapAlert.

“We spend a lot of time also making sure that the machines are just as safe as they can be from an operator’s standpoint,” Osterhaus says. “We have a lot of effort put into what can we do that if the machine is used properly but also, if somebody takes a shortcut, what can we do to the machine to make sure that even though they took a shortcut, they still don’t get in trouble.”

Safety Is The Future

Preventive measures are all well and good, but the industry is also trending toward new services and technologies that seek to avoid the danger altogether.

One such service that HammerHead Trenchless invested in is gas-slitting technology. Similar to pipe bursting, the gas utility replacement method avoids excavation and new drilling altogether — and for the most part, significantly lessens the likelihood of electrical strikes.

“By using the same-path technology, your chances of having an electrical strike or something of that nature are greatly reduced because you’re not putting a new hole in the ground,” Hood says.

The danger isn’t eliminated, as Hood notes that sometimes operators will run into a situation where the electrical line was laid in the same trench as a gas utility.

Another technology that does in fact eliminate the danger, if used properly, is remote operation.

“On our latest winch, we actually have a radio remote control, so the operator can fully function a winch without ever touching it,” Hood says. “So, though we did use the ESID on it too and he’ll still know if power came to it, if he’s not touching the winch, the alarm will still go off but he’ll be safe because he’s using a radio remote.”

Promoting Awareness

While there are many methods to protect workers from the dangers of electrical strikes, the most important thing is simply recognizing the danger is present. After that, a little preparation goes a long way.

In addition to their safety solutions, Ditch Witch, HammerHead Trenchless and Toro all offer safety training on their equipment through their dealerships.

Ditch Witch SAFE is an online module offering education and training resources, including a certified training program. Ditch Witch follows the Common Ground Alliance best practices, among other industry safety resources, which can also be found on their safety website, www.ditchwitch.com/safety.

“Luckily it isn’t something that you hear of very often,” Osterhaus says of electrical strikes. “There’s always the issue — the concern about striking an underground utility.”

HYDRAULIC BREAKER
Used for construction and demolition, our breakers can be used to break up asphalt, concrete or even clay. The hydraulic hammer is perfect for any small or medium job you might have. More up-time in the field is always the goal, and with only two moving parts and a few seals, there’s no reason for down-time.
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

ROCK SAW

Best suited for irrigation and fiber installation, the Rock Saw attachment can effortlessly cut through rock, concrete, and other tough materials with unmatched precision. 

Compatible Models

SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

BACKHOE
Easily move materials for rebuilds, new construction, footings, utility repairs and more with this compact and versatile attachment.
Compatible Models

SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

STUMP GRINDERS
Featuring a heavy-duty boom design, powerful stump grinding attachments quickly shred stumps down to nothing. Easy maneuvering from stump to stump and increased visibility turns more ground stumps into more profit.
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750, SK3000

MULTITASK TOOL
Your multipurpose tool for the ultimate multi-tasker is here. Engineered to grab tight to heavy materials and move them with ease and precision, the multi-task tool is your go-to for heavy applications. Easy to operate with convenient, functional levers.
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

CORE DRILL
With the MC-450 coring attachment, utility maintenance is simple and less disruptive. Featuring intuitive controls and an integrated water tank, the MC-450 is the perfect choice for quick cuts and a more productive coring process. A fully adjustable 0 to 280 rpm speed allows for enhanced control and greater productivity.
Compatible Models

SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

SOIL CULTIVATOR
Prepare food plots, gardens, and landscaping projects with a soil cultivator. It gets land ready by stirring organic material back in the soil for a healthier, more stable lawn. Buries the biggest of rocks for a looser topsoil.
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

BLADES
Whether you’re looking to increase dump height or digging depth, attaching a backfill blade is an easy way to save manpower on your jobsite while working with precision and timeliness. Available in various widths.
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

AUGER DRIVER
Ideal for landscaping and tree care, an auger attachment will expedite hole creation and allow operators to quickly plant trees or install fence posts than if they were hand-digging or relying on a hand-held auger. Available in 6" to 30" diameters.
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

TILLER
Tough and effective tillers prepare your garden by breaking up tough soil and removing unwanted weeds. Available in 4' width.
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

GRAPPLES
Tree grapples come with 48" or 57" openings to efficiently remove logs and debris from the jobsite. It has an excavator style boom design with a powder coat finish and a cylinder lock for increased safety. Brush grapples available with a gap opening of 29" and widths of 42" or 54".
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

CARRY ALL LEVELER
One of our most simple yet versatile attachments, the Carry-All Leveler is perfect for carrying bulky material, leveling soil and adding a flat, smooth finish to your project. Available in 49" width.
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

BUCKETS

From landscaping and hardscapes to tree care and construction-grade tasks, your stand-on skid steer can take on more than you think. We've got you covered with a variety of buckets from 4-in-1 to heavy and light material buckets. Widths range from 34" to 66".

Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750, SK3000

PALLET FORKS
Take on your heaviest loads with precision and dependability with Ditch Witch pallet forks. They easily attach to any of our skid steers and can easily accessorize with hay spikes, brick guards, and much more to add even more ROI. Available in widths ranging from 36-48.75" and lengths from 36-48".
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750, SK3000

MICROTRENCHER
Fiber installation and other street-located work is rapidly growing. A microtrenching attachment is key for operators looking to get into fiber installation at the street level. They cut both concrete and asphalt in controlled increments so contractors don't need to stop traffic. Maximum width options are 0.5-1.5” or 2” with maximum depths of 12” or 16”.
Compatible Models

SK1050, SK1550, SK1750, SK3000

ROTO WITCH®
The Ditch Witch Roto Witch® attachment is used for short bores underneath sidewalks, driveways and other obstacles. It offers great digging performance while minimizing jobsite restoration. Compatible with numerous Ditch Witch stand-on skid steers, the Roto Witch attachment can bore and backream up to 12" (300 mm) in diameter.
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

PLOW
Install fiber and other utilities quickly with a vibratory plow attachment for your skid steer. It creates less ground disruption and cleanup than traditional trenching to get the job done faster. Available in maximum depths of 14" and 24".
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750, SK3000

POWER RAKE
Clean, level and prep jobsites or smooth and loosen soil for sodding with a rake attachment. Most rake attachments require 10 to 14 gpm, but the higher horsepower creates even more drum torque to tear through the most demanding soil types. Width measures 4'.
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

MICROTRENCHERS
Fiber installation and other street-located work is rapidly growing. A microtrenching attachment is key for operators looking to get into fiber installation at the street level. They cut both concrete and asphalt in controlled increments so contractors don't need to stop traffic. Maximum width options are 0.5-1.5” or 2” with maximum depths of 12” or 16”.
Compatible Models

SK1050, SK1550, SK1750, SK3000

ROTO WITCH®
The Ditch Witch Roto Witch® attachment is used for short bores underneath sidewalks, driveways and other obstacles. It offers great digging performance while minimizing jobsite restoration. Compatible with numerous Ditch Witch stand-on skid steers, the Roto Witch attachment can bore and backream up to 12" (300 mm) in diameter.
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

PLOWS
Install fiber and other utilities quickly with a vibratory plow attachment for your skid steer. It creates less ground disruption and cleanup than traditional trenching to get the job done faster. Available in maximum depths of 14" and 24".
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750, SK3000

TRENCHER

Stay efficient on large jobsites with a trencher attachment for your skid steer. It’s a smart alternative to large, specialized equipment for utility installation and landscaping jobs. Available in standard 6”, 8” and 12” maximum widths with maximum depths of 36", 38", 48” and 55.5”.

Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750, SK3000