ASTTBC Registered Utility Locating Technicians (RULT)
The ASTTBC Registered Utility Locator (RULT) certification program is the first of its kind in BC
What is RULT?
RULT is a professional designation created to recognize the experience and key competencies of utility locators who work in various industries. RULT technicians provide invaluable support to the ground disturbance community. Those competencies, established by the ASTTBC policy, demonstrate that qualified practitioners can deliver an enhanced level of practice to ensure public safety.
What is ASTTBC?
The Applied Science Technologists & Technicians of British Columbia (ASTTBC) is a regulating body that ensures technologists, technicians, and technical specialists are qualified to competently, safely, and ethically practice their trade in BC. ASTTBC regulates 10,000 applied science and engineering technology professionals across the province and in Yukon. Additionally, the organization holds the power to investigate and discipline BC’s applied science and engineering technology professionals.
What does being RULT certified mean?
Being awarded the right to carry the RULT designation demonstrates the following:
- You have met the ASTTBC competency and enrolment standards
- You are committed to a mandatory continuous professional development policy
- You are held to a high standard of ethics and professionalism in practice
- You are subject to periodic peer reviews and audits
ASTTBC registered utility locator technicians provide the ground disturbance community and public with the confidence needed to complete projects competently and safely.
How Do You Become a RULT?
To become a registered underground utility locator technician an applicant must understand and apply all the principals of utility location. At the very least this will include a full understanding of the process of verifying, identifying and labelling public and private utility mains and other services located primarily underground.
All RULT applicants must be able to demonstrate a minimum of 2-years relevant work experience as an underground utility locator as well as providing a detailed project history. Applicants must adhere to the ASTT act, regulations and code of practice whilst working in accordance with all relevant national and international standards.
A RULT-certified utility locator unloads her GPR equipment from a GeoScan van
Why its important to use a qualified locator
Any project, irrespective of size, has the potential to damage assets located around the work site, leading to service interruptions, delays, costly repairs and in worst case scenarios, significant workplace injuries.
Safety is a fundamental aspect of any project and RULT locators provide the ground disturbance community with a wealth of technical expertise, providing critical support roles in relation to risk management by being registered industry leaders in their field.
Requesting RULT as part of an RFP
RFPs (Request For Proposal) outline the bidding process and contract terms and provide guidance on how bids should be formatted and presented.
Specifically requesting a qualified RULT locator as part of the tender process gives the client the highest level of confidence that they are hiring an industry recognized, qualified, utility locate technician and allows for fair comparable bids.
A Registered Utility Locating Technician marks utilities in an intersection
Here is a great example of a utility locating job, where being RULT qualified really shows its importance.