When asked what’s the best thing about being a utility locator, Matthew Fuller explained it’s a work environment where there is always something to learn.

“Every day is different. Not just different work sites. There are different problems to solve and different utilities to locate. No two days are the same,” Matt said.

Based in South Australia, Matt says he finds locating at substations the most fascinating.

‘There’s always a lot going on. Old stuff, new stuff. Earthing grids. My head spins every time,” Matt said.

“Although one of the strangest locates was to cut off an old water service to Yatala prison (Northfield, SA) and install a new one for the new prison upgrade.”

“We had so much trouble locating the old cast iron service, we ended up hydrovacing a hole large enough to fit someone who could then actually hold the direct connect clip on the main. We then discovered the service trunked in three separate connections. Not quite what we were expecting,” said Matt.

With October being National Safe Work Month, we asked Matt what safety means to him when out locating.

“Safety is always at the front of my mind. We all want to go home safe. I always look to keep worksites free of trip hazards, by not leaving things laying around. We also make sure we use our pit barriers,” Matt said.

Matt has been locating for two years and this year he went for his certification and passed. Now a Certified Locator, Matt said achieving this national recognition is a must if you’re serious about locating.

“It’s a requirement now for most work sites. If you’re interested in locating, I recommend completing a training course and getting experience before attempting certification.”

“For me, becoming Certified means credibility,” Matt said.  

If you’re interested in connecting with Matt, feel free to reach out:  

Connect with Matt on LinkedIn.  

Find out more about becoming a Certified Locator here.

To contact a Certified Locator for your next project search here.

 

With five years of locating experience under his belt Aaron Soetens, from Dynamic Hydro Excavations, decided to go to the next level and become a Certified Locator.

“With locating I’m always learning something new. So, it made sense to take the next step and get that formal recognition.”

“With the support of my workplace I’m now part of our industry’s effort to promote locating best practice and set myself apart from DIY locators,” explains Aaron.

One of the best things Aaron enjoys about locating is also one of his most challenging – and that’s distortion caused by multiple underground services.

“When there’s banks of conduits criss-crossing over each other’s path, it causes interference and overcoming that makes for a more challenging locate. But then that’s part of the problem-solving aspect that I enjoy about mapping services,” said Aaron.

“The job also takes me to some really cool and interesting places like old building sites, huge warehouses and even the odd adventure to a subtropical island,” said Aaron.

The job also has its moments. One of those was coming face-to-face with a brown snake when working in a pit. Knowing his own limits, Aaron called on the services of a snake catcher to ‘relocate’ the curious critter.

While taking care of personal safety is a priority, so too is contributing to workplace safety and making sure any locate job is carried out with care and attention to detail.

“For me it’s not just about the satisfaction of doing the job right, it’s also about keeping my workmates safe so they also get home safe. Delivering safe and best locating practice is a priority for us,” said Aaron.

When asked about any tips for others interested in locating or becoming certified, Aaron says the more training the better – and recommends obtaining certification to help cut out the cowboys in the industry.

Congratulations Aaron on becoming a Certified Locator. You’re now part of a unique group recognised for applying a high-level of locating skills and knowledge to help protect Australia’s utility network from damage and contribute to a safer workplace and community. 

If you’re interested in connecting with Aaron, feel free to reach out: 

Connect with Aaron on LinkedIn.  

Find out more about becoming a Certified Locator here.

To contact a Certified Locator for your next project search here.

 

Based in sunny Queensland, Matty Carr has been a utility locator for a number of years. Looking to take a further step in his career development, Matty recently attained his certification, which gives holders national industry recognition and also helps with future career prospects.   

As a locator, Matty has had some interesting encounters, including finding an abandoned safe!

“A couple of years ago I was looking for a stormwater manhole in a wetlands area when I came across an open safe. In it I discovered quite a few unopened money bags. Unfortunately, they were all empty!” Matty said.

The most fascinating place Matty has been to locate is the stormwater outlets under Brisbane’s CBD. He was very impressed by the solid infrastructure built so many years ago.

“My favourite thing about being a locator is the autonomy of the role. It is also very satisfying to manage a project from start to finish, ” he said.

For anyone interested in becoming certified, Matty recommends watching the online training videos and getting as much practical experience as possible in the lead up to the assessment.

Great advice Matty. Congratulations again on becoming a Certified Locator – we hope you ‘locate’ a better stocked safe next time.

If you’re interested in connecting with Matty, feel free to reach out: 

Connect with Matty on LinkedIn.   

Find out more about becoming a Certified Locator here.

To contact a Certified Locator for your next project search here.

 

After 10 years in the industry as a drafter, Cameron spent the last 12 months in the field locating when he decided to take the next step and become a Certified Locator.

“I like that the certification gives me industry recognition. I think it will also provide more career opportunities,” Cameron said.

Overcoming nerves before the practical assessment, Cameron put his knowledge into action and achieved his goal to pass and get his certification.

“One of the highlights of being a locator is definitely the problem solving and finding ways to get the most accurate locate on tricky lines,” he said.

“On one job, rather than only rely on the locating equipment, I attached a camera onto a pole that I fed into a 100mm PVC pipe, which was sticking out of the ground, and I discovered a major stormwater junction pit. That was pretty satisfying, as well as a learning experience,” he said.

If you’re curious about becoming a Certified Locator, Cameron suggests getting a good understanding of the fundamentals of EM locators and doing some online learning.

“Read, watch online videos, and absorb as much as you can. There are different ways of learning, you just don’t know when someone might show you something in a way that makes you understand it better,” he said.

Great advice Cameron. Congratulations again and welcome to the ranks of Certified Locators.

If you’re interested in connecting with Cameron, feel free to reach out: 

Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn.    

Find out more about becoming a Certified Locator here.

To contact a Certified Locator for your next project search here.