The video highlights a significant lesson in damage prevention, focusing on the necessity of being thorough even when you think you’ve covered your bases. In this case, an experienced contractor believed he had accurate information on utility lines but failed to call for an 811 utility mark before beginning work. This led to striking a high-voltage line during an excavation …
Utility companies often face the critical decision of whether to implement ticket screening as part of their operations. For many, this process can lead to significant time and cost savings, but it there’s a few things to consider in how you implement screening depending on your priorities. The key to determining what type of ticket screening is right for your …
“Mishaps are like knives, that either serve us or cut us, as we grasp them by the blade or the handle.” | James Russell Lowell. Hope you had a great 8/11 day. Here’s the latest damage prevention and utility news: 811 Day & The Excavator: WATCH Can the Grid Handle the New Energy Reality? READ Gamifying Damage Prevention: READ Conquering …
In (belated) celebration of National 811 Day, it’s vital to remind everyone of the critical message: always call 811 before starting any digging project. The shared video underscores this point by showcasing the expertise and diligence of utility locators.The video features Sarah, an in-house locator at Duquesne Light, who explains how locators use electromagnetic devices to detect underground utilities accurately. …
In today’s rapidly advancing technological landscape, the integration of sophisticated geo techniques and game theory principles could and hopefully will transform our industry and move the needle in damage prevention. This article delves into the synergy between these concepts, exploring how super-resolution satellite imagery, enhanced through Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), is revolutionizing our ability to audit, monitor, and improve safety …
I’ve been using DuoLingo a bit recently and it’s been bringing out my competitive side. I don’t like droppoing out of the leaderboard and I’m not going to let my streak go! I was thinking about how we could apply some of these strategies to our industry and what we might gain from it. To address the damage prevention industry’s …
“When everyone takes responsibility for identifying and addressing potential hazards, the likelihood of incidents decreases significantly. This shared commitment to damage prevention involves staying informed about best practices, communicating openly about risks, and taking proactive steps to mitigate them.” Nevada Avenue electric line undergrounding project nears completion in Colorado Springs: READ The Gold Standard of Locating: READ National 811 Day …
Welcome, everyone! Today, I have a special treat for all of you in the damage prevention community. I stumbled upon a fantastic video from 1989 that takes us back in time with its retro charm. Titled “Introduction to Tracing Buried Utilities,” this video covers the basics of cable locating, offering timeless lessons on the importance of careful utility tracing. While …
In the realm of utility locating and excavation, accuracy is paramount. One of the most critical steps in this process is verifying the location of underground utilities before construction or excavation activities commence. Traditional excavation methods often pose risks of damage to existing infrastructure, leading to costly and potentially hazardous incidents. However, vacuum excavation for verification offers a non-destructive and …
Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the CGA Summer Committee Summit, which brought together over 180 damage prevention professionals to tackle the top three excavation root causes. These root causes accounted for 28% of damages to buried utilities in 2023.Key action items and discussions from the Summit included updates to six Best Practices in Chapter 3, which were …