We’ve all seen the horrific damage that hurricanes and tornados can do to power infrastructure above ground. The images from Hurricane Ian from earlier this year was particularly memorable. It caused over $20 billion worth of damage and took out much of the power grid in southern states like Florida. There’s been an increase in awareness of the advantages of …
In the US, there are more than 35 million miles of underground utility lines for services like power, gas, water, sewage, & fiber optics. Working close to subterranean utility infrastructure is a serious matter, and neglecting to do an accurate and thorough locate assessment can lead to enormous financial responsibilities, legal repercussions, or even worse: significant injury or death. Underground …
The road to zero damages is not an easy one, but where there’s a will, there is a way. Whether through government mandates, economic incentives or a drive for safety the rate of damages has been decreasing and the membership of organizations like the CGA have been growing. In this NoDamage article I’m going to focus on 5 measures that …
The top image is a bit of a troll, I’m not here to talk about UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles / Drones). The cloud I’m actually talking about in this NoDamage report is the virtual cloud. “The cloud refers to software and services that run on the Internet, instead of locally on your computer. Most cloud services can be accessed through …
The utility industry has achieved a “moderate” level of digitization, but unfortunately that is still behind many other industries. This means there’s an opportunity for increasing efficiencies and reducing damages. Tellingly, physical assets are where utilities have the most room for digital growth. 60% of digital investments typically go toward products and services, while the amount directed for supply chain …
Every successful person has a goal in mind for what they want to achieve! On the road to zero damages I think it’s imperative that we all have goals in mind, that help us reach the ultimate goal of eliminating damages. LOCATORS At the personal level you may be asking your self, “what more can I do?” The trend for …
June is National Safety Month and safety is a major part of reducing damages! Tailgate meetings & toolbox talks are essential for communicating hazards and improving safety on site. Utility locators are often in dangerous situations and having a morning meet allows for direct communication and a refocusing on safety. Here are some topics to consider sharing with your locators …
Utility Locates and mapping go hand in hand and as the industry continues on the road to zero damages we expect the need to improve accuracy and features within mapping to increase. Just knowing something unseen exists isn’t enough! Having access to your data isn’t enough anymore, now you need to see it. And specifically that means you want to …
April is #DigSafe Month so I wanted to do a special edition of NoDamage focusing on the safe digging! According to the DigSafe.ca, “Dig Safe Month is designed to coincide with the unofficial start of spring digging season and to serve as a reminder to homeowners and contractors that they need to call or click before they start digging.” At …
How do you stay up to date with the ever changing utility locating industry? There are a number of resources that can keep you up to date with what’s going on, in terms of legislation, equipment and innovations. Here are a 3 ways you can stay up to date, gain a competitive advantage and win those bids! Staying up to …