Stump grinding specifications

[Tom Dunlap]

There are many old stumps on campus and some fresh ones from trees that I've had to remove. Now its time to get estimates for grinding the stumps and cleaning up the debris.

Does anyone have a copy of bid specs for stump grinding. You may have written them if you're contracting the work or you may have had to bid according to a set of specifications.

There are so many variables to consider. One of the biggest concerns is who is responsible for assuring that the utilities are located. If the contractor is and they cause damage then it would be clearly their responsibility to straighten things out. If the university arranges marking the utilities including irrigation and their is damage would this absolve the contractor? I'm considering writing in a line about any damage within a specified distance from the location marker.

I appreciate any insights!

 

[marlinspiker]

Tom,

In PA we have whats called a PA 1 call where the utility companies send people out to the site and mark all the utilities with paint that washes away in a week or so. We dont touch a stump without using them. You might want to check if your state has a similar service. It takes the guess work out of the equation and ensures the safety of the crew.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

I am fully aware of state 'One Calls'.

Dial '811' from anywhere in the US and your call will be routed to the correct contact.

http://www.call811.com/state-specific.aspx

More than likely I'll take care of the locates. The process of soliciting bids, getting them approved, contracting the work and completing the work will take a while. During that time the original utility locate marks will likely de-grade. I plan on keeping them fresh.

If the university takes on the responsibility of having the locates done and maintaining the markings then it takes on the responsibility if damage is done outside of the marking zone. Most of the locates are good to within 2-3' of the marking. If the contractor goes inside the 2-3' zone without hand digging the damage would be their liability. The verbiage for spelling this out is part of what I'm looking for.

 

[rfwoodvt]

Hey Tom,

DIGSAFE here in the northeast only handles member utilities.

It is generally assumed that it is the contractor's responsibility to call them. Part of the ticket also includes the name of who will be doing the work.

That said what we do is specify in our agreement that we will call DIGSAFE and the customer is not to do so. We also require all other Underground Utilities and Structures that do not belong to DIGSAFE members need to be located and marked by the customer.

Damage to marked stuff is our problem, unmarked or improperly marked is theirs.

We further specify that if we are injured or have damages to our equipment due to improperly, inadequately, or otherwise unmarked Non-DS utilties then the customer is responsible for recovery,rescue, repair and medical expenses we incur from the same.

Also if utilities are too close to the stump we will grind at our discretion.

Other specifications we use involve removal of grindings, placement topsoil and planting grass.

Most of the time we simply specify grindings to be left in the hole.

As for what verbiage, well that can be plain english or lawyerese. Depending on who you work for you might be able to your legal department the plain english and they will translate that to contract language.

Speaking of which, do you know what a cue ball and a lawyer have in common?

The harder you hit them the more english you can get out of them! (sorry, just had to)

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Thanks Rick, for the insights and the humor!

 

[rfwoodvt]

Glad you enjoyed the humor Tom!

Everyone loves a good lawyer joke.

Boy I must have been tired last night when I wrote that last gibberish...my grammar really left a lot to be desired.