Soft services are the locates, permits and project management that have to be in place around an excavation. OE obtains the locates, or uses alternate locate agreements where they apply, obtains the required permits, and sends homeowner notifications when required.
OE's project management covers site inspection and assessment, a project plan and timeline, coordination with other service providers, monitoring of work execution and schedules, updates on job site progress, and a debrief on project completion. OE applies LEAN thinking to eliminate wait times and duplication of work, and to reduce costs to Customers. On Turnkey SUE test holes, the same work is part of Project Coordination.
Ontario locate and permit note: requesting a locate through Ontario Dig Authority is free and required by law. Single-address requests are completed within 5 business days, and advanced requests within 10, and the complete locate package must be kept at the excavation site. Work in a municipal right-of-way also needs the municipality's permit; King Township, for example, requires a Road Occupancy Permit for all activities in its right-of-way.