Working in Saskatchewan? What to Know About Ground Disturbance Training and the SK Add-on

Saskatchewan's OHS regulations don't name a ground disturbance course, and the Ground Disturbance 201 standards are written for Alberta, BC and Manitoba, not Saskatchewan. The law does set hard rules for locating and hand-exposing buried lines, and most owners set their own training rules. Here's what Alberta crews need to know before they cross the border.

Saskatchewan's OHS regulations don't require a specific ground disturbance course or ticket. The regulations do require you to locate and mark every buried pipeline, cable and conduit before you dig, and to hand-expose any line within 600 millimetres before machines work there. The ticket your crew needs is usually set by the owner or prime contractor, so ask them. Some accept Alberta Ground Disturbance 201 on its own, and some want a Saskatchewan add-on on top.

Key facts about ground disturbance in Saskatchewan

• The law: Saskatchewan's Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020, section 17-3, covers locating buried lines, hand exposure and what to do if a line is hit.
• No named course: the phrase "ground disturbance" doesn't appear in the Saskatchewan OHS regulations, and they don't name a required course.
• Training standards: Utility Safety Partners (formerly the Alberta Common Ground Alliance) publishes Ground Disturbance 201 standards for Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba. It doesn't list one for Saskatchewan.
• Who decides: in practice, the owner or prime contractor sets the training your crew needs on their site.
• Locates: Sask 1st Call takes locate requests at 1-866-828-4888 or online. Routine tickets need at least three full business days, and the service is free.
• Hand exposure: within 600 mm of a buried line, it must be exposed by hand digging or another approved method before mechanical digging.
• Add-ons: a Saskatchewan add-on is a short course on Saskatchewan's rules and locate process. It sits on top of a full ground disturbance course; it doesn't replace one.

Do I need a Saskatchewan ground disturbance ticket?

Not by law. Saskatchewan's OHS regulations set out what must happen before and during digging. They don't name a course that workers must hold. We read through the full Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020, and the words "ground disturbance" don't appear in them.

That doesn't mean you can show up without training. The companies that own pipelines, facilities and utilities set their own rules for contractors. Many of them spell out the exact ticket they want in their contractor requirements or pre-job paperwork.

So the practical answer is: your client decides. Before you mobilize, ask the owner or prime contractor which ground disturbance training they accept. Get the answer in writing if you can. It saves a wasted trip, and it's a record you can show if the question comes up on site.

Does Alberta Ground Disturbance 201 work in Saskatchewan?

It can, but it depends on the client. Saskatchewan doesn't have its own Ground Disturbance 201 standard, so there's no Saskatchewan version of the ticket to compare against. Alberta GD 201 is a natural choice for crews that already work in Alberta.

Keep in mind what the Alberta course is built on. The Utility Safety Partners standards say each province with a GD 201 standard has its own, specific to that province's regulations and best practices. Alberta GD 201 teaches Alberta's rules and Alberta's locate system. It won't teach Saskatchewan's regulation numbers or how Sask 1st Call works.

That's the gap a Saskatchewan add-on is meant to fill. Some clients accept Alberta GD 201 on its own. Some want an add-on too. Some want a Saskatchewan-specific course from a particular provider. Ask first.

What is the Saskatchewan ground disturbance add-on?

A Saskatchewan add-on is a short course that builds on ground disturbance training a worker already has. It focuses on what's different in Saskatchewan: the provincial regulations, the Sask 1st Call process, and how the two provinces compare.

It's an add-on, not a full course. It doesn't cover the basics of planning a ground disturbance, supervising one or working safely near buried lines. Those come from the full course. An add-on is built to sit on top of a full course, so check the provider's prerequisites before you buy.

On-Track Safety doesn't currently list a Saskatchewan add-on in our online store. We do sell Ground Disturbance 201, which is the foundation most add-ons build on. If your client names a specific Saskatchewan course, our safety experts can help you sort out where to get it.

Is there a Saskatchewan Ground Disturbance 201 standard?

No. Ground Disturbance 201 training standards are published by Utility Safety Partners, the group formerly called the Alberta Common Ground Alliance. Its overview of standards lists GD 201 standards for Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba. Saskatchewan isn't on the list.

Those standards set the minimum content and testing for GD 201 courses, both instructor-led and online. They're written for people who want to become ground disturbance supervisors. They cover regulations, damage prevention best practices and industry guidelines. They don't cover the geotechnical side of excavation, like soil types and shoring.

Utility Safety Partners also has a Ground Disturbance 101 standard for Alberta. It's written for field workers rather than supervisors.

What do Saskatchewan's regulations require before you dig?

Section 17-3 of Saskatchewan's Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020 is the key rule. It applies to excavations, trenches, tunnels and excavated shafts, other than those covered by the mines regulations. Here's what it says, in plain terms:

1. Locate and mark. The employer or contractor must accurately find every underground pipeline, cable and conduit in the work area and mark them clearly. This has to happen before using power tools or powered mobile equipment on an excavation, trench, tunnel, shaft or borehole, and before breaking ground with any equipment deep enough to hit a buried line.
2. Hand-expose within 600 mm. If soil within 600 millimetres of an existing line will be disturbed, the line must be exposed by hand digging or another approved method before mechanical digging starts in that area.
3. Support exposed lines. Once a line is exposed, it must be supported so it isn't damaged during backfilling or when the ground settles later.
4. If you hit a line, act right away. Notify the owner of the pipeline, cable or conduit immediately, and protect any worker who may be at risk until the unsafe condition is fixed.

The same part of the regulations also covers trenching and excavation walls. For example, equipment, spoil piles, rocks and materials must be kept at least one metre from the edge of an excavation or trench.

What is Sask 1st Call?

Sask 1st Call is Saskatchewan's locate request service for anyone planning to dig or excavate. You make one request, and it notifies its member companies that have buried facilities in your work area. Those members then locate and mark their lines.

• How to request: call 1-866-828-4888, or submit a request online through the Sask 1st Call website.
• Hours: regular requests are taken 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. The phone line is open 24/7 for emergencies.
• Notice: members need at least three full business days for a routine ticket, not counting the day you make the request.
• Cost: free. There's no charge to the person asking, and members locate their own lines at no cost.
• How long marks last: locate marks are valid for 30 calendar days from the date they were placed.
• Emergencies: for an emergency or priority request, call Sask 1st Call right away.

How is Saskatchewan different from Alberta?

The basic idea is the same in both provinces: find the lines, mark them, expose them carefully, then dig. The details are different, and those details are what trip crews up.

• Different law: in Saskatchewan the key rule is section 17-3 of the OHS Regulations, 2020. Alberta workers learn Alberta's OHS Code and its own rules in GD 201.
• Different locate service: Saskatchewan uses Sask 1st Call. Alberta crews use Alberta's own locate system.
• Different training framework: Alberta has endorsed GD 201 and GD 101 standards. Saskatchewan has no provincial GD 201 standard, so each client sets its own expectations.
• Different paperwork: owners in each province have their own permits, crossing agreements and contractor rules.

If your crew only knows the Alberta process, the Saskatchewan-specific parts are where mistakes happen. Calling the wrong locate service, missing the three-day notice or not knowing the 600 mm rule can all stop a job.

Who should take ground disturbance training before working in Saskatchewan?

• Supervisors and competent persons who plan and oversee digging
• Equipment operators working near buried lines
• Spotters and ground workers who hand-expose lines
• Anyone who requests locates or issues and receives ground disturbance permits
• Crews working near pipelines, utilities or facilities in Saskatchewan

The Utility Safety Partners standards write GD 201 for people who supervise ground disturbances and GD 101 for field workers. Check what your client wants for each role.

How to get your crew ready

1. Ask the owner or prime contractor which ground disturbance training they accept, for supervisors and for workers.
2. Make sure supervisors hold current Ground Disturbance 201 training.
3. Add a Saskatchewan add-on or course if the client asks for one.
4. Brief the crew on section 17-3: locate, mark, hand-expose within 600 mm, support exposed lines, and report any contact.
5. Submit your Sask 1st Call request at least three full business days before you dig, and contact any owners who aren't members.
6. Keep training records and locate tickets on site.

Related training

• Ground Disturbance 201 online course
• Ground Disturbance 101
• Safe Excavation
• Excavation and Trench Safety (CAN)
• All online safety courses