2017 Q4 Issue

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2017 Q4 Issue Articles

2016 DIRT Report Estimates that Damage to Buried Utilities Cost Society at Least $1.5 Billion Last Year
Most comprehensive national report on damages to underground facilities to-date indicates that total U.S. damages increased 20 percent from the year prior amid a rise

New Pipeline Coating Inspection Technology
Trenchless installation of coated pipeline segments is an attractive option for construction areas that include wetlands, congested areas, and road crossings. Trenchless installation is predominantly

Geospatial Technology Innovation is Transformative (part 2)
In the first part of this series which ran in the Summer Issue, the latest advances in spatial technologies with important implications for industries such

Alternate Locate Agreements: How Ontario Incentivizes Safe Excavation
Preventing damage to underground infrastructure via excavation can be very complex. For some, it’s about finding a conflict between a proposed work area and the

How to Avoid Watered- Down Leadership
Leaders are not people pleasers by nature. There is a difference between pleasing and growing. There is a difference between pleasing and knowing a new

Damage Prevention Hero – Lauren Harper – Yes, she Can… and Does
Meet Lauren Harper. She and her father, Terry Harper, have been working together nearly every day for about eight years, and Lauren says they make



Gold Shovel Standard: More Important Now than Ever Before
Damage prevention is very complex. It is an appreciation of this complexity that led me to explore and, later after being asked, to serve on

Hurricane Harvey: Supporting Those in Need
It has been about six weeks since millions of people were affected by Hurricane Harvey’s devastating rains and winds in Texas and Louisiana. Hundreds of


Staying Grounded = Staying Safe
When it comes to safety and damage prevention in the outside plant, it all comes back to grounding. We hear it time and time again,

Spectacular SAFE-LIFE Success at Locator Safety Awareness Week 2017
June 18-24 was an amazing week for the 8,000- plus locators and their loved ones across the USIC family. The combination of social media engagement,

Locator Safety Awareness Week Recap
This summer, many stakeholders in the damage prevention community took part in the 4th Annual Locator Safety Awareness Week (LSAW) from June 18 –

8/11 Day Celebrates 10 Years
Common Ground Alliance members across the country found creative ways to remind the public and professionals about the importance of calling 811 before digging on

Underground Utility Location Surveys in Trinidad and Tobago
L&S Surveying Services Limited operates out of Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana, with 17 years of experience in the field of surveying and mapping. As

Nothing up My Sleeve
As a trainer in the locating business, I’m often approached by would-be clients who say that their techs already know how to locate, but would

What is the Utility Engineering & Survey Institute (UESI)?
(Editor’s Note: This is the 8th in a series of articles addressing misperceptions that exist about Subsurface Utility Engineering.) My mother grew up in Rives,

DPR & 811: A Safe and Solid Combination
Safety is a priority for the County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR). We work in open space and in community centers.

I Became an 811 Mudder
For those readers who haven’t heard of Tough Mudder, it is an obstacle course designed to test your endurance and strength. With the help of
CGA’s Technology Committee Needs Your Input
CGA’s Technology Committee was formed in 2010 as a successor to the Research & Development Committee. Its mission is to provide a forum for identifying

CGA Launches New 811 Video Challenge
Earlier this year, CGA recognized the 10th anniversary of the 811 phone number with a celebration at the CGA Annual Meeting and Conference that featured

Navigating Safety around Underwater Lines: What You Need to Know
Where is the damage prevention love and protection for underwater lines? Many people don’t realize all types of lines traverse some kind of waterway in

Digging Safely with Vacuum Excavation
With the ability to safely expose underground utilities, vacuum excavation is quickly becoming standard practice as the safest way to dig. This process is also

You Don’t Have To Deal with Overweight Tickets When Hydro-Excavating
Overweight tickets are a constant plague amongst truckers across all industries. The danger of an overweight truck is well known. Truckers often feel it is

The Cost of Pipe Breaks: New Knowledge for Improved Risk Management
The need to re-invest in our drinking water infrastructure has been a growing concern for water utilities for the last 20 years. A recent American
PelicanCorp and Civil Contractors Federation Australia Join Forces in Partnership Alliance
PelicanCorp is excited to announce a strategic partnership alliance with the Civil Contractors Federation Australia (CCFA) to support the mutual efforts of promoting safer civil

Out with the Old , In with the New
After many years, Blue Stakes of Utah 811 decided it was time to retire their old logo with the “Blue Stakes” cartoon character. They are
Repeat Offender Damages Pipeline in North Dakota
Bismarck Tribune – A contractor that damaged a natural gas pipeline in western North Dakota in July has a history of striking pipelines, including hitting

PASA and NACAA – Work Together to Educate America’s Farmers on Safe Digging Practices
The Pipeline Ag Safety Alliance (PASA) is dedicated to preventing damage to buried pipelines through education and improved communication with our nation’s farmers and ranchers.