UA / ISSUE 85

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” — Benjamin Franklin Here’s this weeks top stories: Boosting Trust & Communication in Damage Prevention: READ πŸ”— USIC Announces Appointment of President and CEO: READ πŸ”— AI Startup Exodigo Raises $105 Million to Make Underground Maps: READ πŸ”— Adopting the right mindset for Damage Prevention: READ πŸ”— Seek clearances from …

VHS | iPHONE 15 PRO LiDAR V SURVEY TOTAL STATION ACCURACY

This video is from YouTube creator Rami Tamimi and who is a passionate surveyor and geodetic engineer. With over 10 years of experience in the land development industry, he has a wealth of knowledge to share and this video on the iPhone 15 Pro’s LiDAR abilities is a great starting point for SUE, utility and locate firms seeking to innovate …

BOOSTING TRUST & COMMUNICATION IN DAMAGE PREVENTION

In the past few weeks I’ve met with a number of excavators who keep echoing the same complaint (which I’ve been hearing my entire career in this industry) which is, ‘we (excavators) have stopped bringing up issues with utilities because we (excavators) keep hearing the same excuses’. I understand the frustrations from both sides because we have customers that are …

ADOPTING THE RIGHT MINDSET

Utility locating is truly a multifaceted craft, requiring a blend of independence, adaptability, problem-solving, attention to detail, and expertise. Each fresh locate presents its own set of challenges and surprises, demanding not only the standard array of equipment but also the right attitude, awareness, an open mind, positivity, a reliable phone, and even a hefty chunk of metal. Let’s delve …

UA / ISSUE 84

We’ll be at the Utility Safety Partners 40th Anniversary & Safety Conference this week, make sure to say hi if you see us! Here’s the top 10 stories from the last week: Tupelo Embarks on Beautification: Underground Utilities to Enhance East Jackson Street: READ πŸ”— Minnesota contractors seek changes for safer digs: READ πŸ”— Underground Power Lines Work. Why Doesn’t …

SYNERGIES: LET’S COLLABORATE

In the world of excavation safety and infrastructure protection, a multifaceted approach is essential to mitigate risks and ensure the integrity of underground utilities. This article explores the intersection of collaborative efforts, information sharing, and subsurface utility engineering in fostering safer excavation practices. By combining these elements, stakeholders can enhance compliance with 811 laws, boost private locate usage, and empower …

UA / ISSUE 83

We took a day off, but Utility Alert is here now… better late than never! Austin Energy Fortifies Electrical Infrastructure: A Dual Approach to Enhance Power Delivery: READ πŸ”— A unified approach: technology trials simplified for industry 4.0 success: READ πŸ”— Metronet Expands Public Safety Investment in Michigan: READ πŸ”— Chesapeake Utilities breaks ground on safety training facility: READ πŸ”— …

BUILDING A STRONG LOCATING TEAM

Retaining staff and building your locate division is a tricky endeavor. As utility locating continues to gain prominence in the construction and infrastructure sectors, the importance of assembling a skilled and dedicated team cannot be overstated. Whether you’re a seasoned industry veteran or a burgeoning startup, attracting and retaining top talent is crucial for the success and growth of your …

STANDARDIZING DELIVERABLES

A Critical Imperative for Safety and Efficiency We’ve been onboarding a lot of new clients lately and part of my role is information gathering. During this time I take a look at their previous processes and paperwork. The huge variance in quality of reports is pretty alarming, and I thought it would be worth exploring the need for standardization in …

UA / ISSUE 82

OSHA Standard 1926.651(b)(1) states that the estimated location of utility installations, such as sewer, telephone, fuel, electric, water lines, or any other underground installations that reasonably may be expected to be encountered during excavation work, shall be determined prior to opening an excavation. Here’s the top stories from the week:   GeoCal is helping to map assets under the ground …