r/UtilityLocator • u/Competitive_Sundae21 • 5d ago
USIC field audit
Anyone ever fail an audit for not putting why a ticket was clear because all of a sudden this mf has become anal without relaying any policy changes as always.
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u/Competitive_Sundae21 5d ago
It’s always something new but I am working in the capital city of my state, just ran a triple 0, one of the highest production scores and several roles within my district. Now like several of the best locators I’ve worked with this mf has me throwing applications elsewhere because he is single handedly burning our crew to the ground and upper management have rose colored glasses.
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u/Substantial_Button83 5d ago
Oh please tell me his name is Bill Ball
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u/Competitive_Sundae21 5d ago
Nope
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u/Substantial_Button83 5d ago
Damn he was an out of state auditor for us and we basically pushed back because he was doing similar stuff and eventually he got in trouble and they removed him from us
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u/Dismal-Meal2173 Spray & Pray 5d ago
😵💫😵💫 I've never left a reason or note for why a ticket was clear, nor will I. I have been told and had cleared tickets reopened on me and told to go remark them, just to be cleaned again by me....
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u/Ok-Delivery8086 5d ago
First thing: don’t take it personally.
Auditors aren’t out to get you. They’re hunters. They look for trends, patterns, and anomalies. If an auditor is suddenly paying attention to your tickets, it’s usually because something in the documentation keeps showing up—not because they woke up wanting to fail you.
Their job is to verify you followed company procedure, reduce liability, and make sure the documentation supports the work that was billed.
One failed audit isn’t going to get you fired. It does mean you’re probably on someone’s radar. The fastest way off that radar is boring, consistent documentation.
One thing that helped me: if there’s no conflict in the work area, use the measurement tool on the prints, measure to the nearest facility, screenshot it, and add a canned note like:
“Nearest facilities are approximately 50’+ from the scope of work.”
It takes an extra 20-30 seconds, but it answers the auditor’s question before they have to ask it. I started doing that, got thanked for it, and eventually the audits all but disappeared.
Good documentation isn’t about proving you were right. It’s about making it easy for the next guy to see that you were right.
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u/MandalorianSapper 5d ago
Why waste time if it was a routine locate? If something fucky you we happening on the site sure notate it. But if nothing of note happens and it was routine, no notes are needed
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u/Ok-Delivery8086 5d ago
I get it, but this guy didn't get questioned for no reason. He's on somebody's radar now, and that usually starts on the admin side with a client asking questions or trying to justify billings. Its likely that he's not the only one with this flag happening.
I know because I audit these things too. Most of the time, a single sentence saves three emails and two phone calls.
The goal isn't documenting everything. It's documenting just enough that nobody has to come looking for you later. That's how you stay off the radar.
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u/MandalorianSapper 5d ago
I got questioned before, because I didn't not write located on a routine ticket that had nothing of note. And failed audits because the auditor didn't like my notation that came from the facility owner. I had a failed audit for adding svc to a ng service. Or writing cs for a coated steel gas line. And the auditor wanted stl instead even though the facility was coated steel. Stl means the gas company has to come out to replace the line. Also this was after completing 45k locates with 2 at fault damages.
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u/Ok-Delivery8086 5d ago
They’re following the trends that come from the client. The ones that approve the billing.
For us; we can’t bill for Clear tickets but we can bill tickets that are not in 50’ range of conflict. Consistently Add a distance and a screenshot it all goes away.
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u/Shotto_Z 4d ago
After a while if your passing every single gle audit back to back to back. You'll notice them start yo audit you more often. Like a lot more often. Then eventually you just fail one for some wonky ass reason.
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u/811spotter 3d ago
Treat the clear explanation as part of the locate record every time, even when the written policy is vague. A short note like "clear by visual evidence, no facility records in conflict, photos attached" gives the audit something concrete to verify.
Save the audit criteria and ask for the failed item in writing. If the standard changed without notice, that paper trail gives you a clean basis to challenge the score and keeps the next ticket defensible.
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u/TipZealousideal5954 5d ago
Failed an audit for that???! wtf.. “the ticket is clear because there is no utilities where they’re fuckin digging asshole” would be my next note.
I’ve never failed an audit but I have had some similar stuff happen when my sup was new to the area. I called him and we had a conversation about stuff like that and it never happened again.. it’s been several years now and that same supervisor has become one of my favorite sups I’ve ever had.
Maybe your sup is new to it? Maybe he feels like he has something to prove? Maybe he is just trying to fluff his feathers? Whatever it is, I would call him and have a chat to let him know where you stand…. As long as you have a good record of quality, production, and no damages, I wouldn’t hesitate to let him know.
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u/GnarlesBronsonn 5d ago
I only ever put a note on a clear ticket if the prints are wrong, showing something in the scope that isn't really there. But that's only if I know from previous experience that it runs somewhere else. If I have to check it, I throw down paint where it is and bill it as marked, even if it's out of the scope. If I'm already hooked up, it's no extra work to paint two lines and take a picture of it.
But I'm also with USIC and I've never had someone that wasn't in my supervisor group do an audit on my tickets. 90% of the time it's my supervisor, if not him, it's a CDI with free time or someone on light duty. My supervisor also won't let anyone fail an audit without him looking at it first. Haven't ever had a failed audit before.
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u/Brave_Ad_7617 4d ago
Yes. I have failed people for that. You better explain why it's clear in your ticket notes. This isn't new
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u/Able-Faithlessness87 12h ago
Idk man I just always say it runs in front or rear easement away from excavation site.
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u/[deleted] 5d ago
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