As a member operator, I receive an extremely large number of locate requests. The “Call Before You Dig” Law state that I must complete these locates within 48 hours. With the large number of requests, that is sometimes impossible. What compliance issues do I face when I can’t complete all of the locates.

Chapter 556, F.S., actually takes this circumstance into consideration. 556.105 (5), F.S., states: “If the member operator is unable to respond within such time, the member operator shall communicate with the person making the request and negotiate a new schedule and time that is agreeable to, and should not unreasonably delay, the excavator.” This meaning if your workload is too heavy to timely complete all locate requests, simply contact the excavator using the contact information provided on the dig ticket, to set up an agreeable time to complete their locate request at the earliest possible opportunity.