Certified Locator - Why do I need to know about the Australian standard AS5488?

New Zealand currently has no standard related to the recording and communication of information about located underground services and assets. Although several guideline documents exist in New Zealand, the 2002 OSH Guide for Safety with Underground Services is the only government issued document.

AS5488 defines a set of Quality Levels (A-D) that help communicate the level of confidence associated with the location and tracing of an underground service. It is an integral part of a best practice approach to locating. Knowledge of AS5488 is a mandatory requirement of the Australian DBYD Locator Certification assessment.

In preparing for the beforeUdig Locator Certification, you should be familiar with the quality levels defined in AS5488. You will be asked about them in the theory and practical assessments.