When assessing potential underground hazards, which item can provide clues?

Assessing potential underground hazards is a critical part of construction and excavation work. Electrical vaults and pull boxes are significant indicators of underground utility locations. These installations typically house connections and junctions for electrical systems, which would likely have associated underground infrastructure, such as conduits and cables.

In evaluating a site, discovering electrical vaults and pull boxes generally signals the presence of underground wiring, which can create hazards during excavation if not properly identified and managed. Understanding their locations helps operators avoid accidental damage to electrical systems, which can lead to severe safety risks, including shock or fire.

Other items listed can provide some information, but they do not offer the same level of insight about underground hazards. For example, air vents and above-ground piping may hint at what's beneath the surface, but they do not confirm the locations or the types of utilities present. Birds on wires may indicate nearby electrical activity, but they do not provide direct evidence of underground installations. Therefore, focusing on electrical vaults and pull boxes is the most reliable way to gather clues about the potential underground hazards in a construction area.