Damage Prevention & Safety
Malibu advances $125-million sewer pipeline project to support post-fire rebuilding
Malibu officials are advancing a proposed $125-million sewer collection system and pipeline project to support rebuilding of fire-damaged coastal properties, with a two-step property owner vote planned to fund design and construction.
Nevada lawmakers examine OSHA violations tied to Musk’s Vegas tunnel project
Nevada lawmakers are examining OSHA and environmental safety violations tied to The Boring Company’s Las Vegas tunnel project, raising concerns about regulatory oversight and enforcement delays.
OSHA issues 16 citations following fatal sewer confined space incident
OSHA has cited an Alabama sewer contractor with 16 serious violations after two workers died from sewage gas exposure inside a manhole, highlighting ongoing confined space safety risks in underground utility construction.
Stop-work order issued after trench collapse critically injures worker in Valley Cottage, N.Y.
A stop-work order has been issued at a Valley Cottage, N.Y., construction site after a trench collapse critically injured a 25-year-old worker. OSHA and local authorities are investigating the incident.
Pipeline construction damage claims targeted in new Iowa landowner protection bill
An Iowa House bill would expand landowner rights to seek compensation for crop loss, soil damage and other impacts from pipeline construction, allowing renegotiation of claims and new complaint pathways through regulators and courts.
Worker killed after water main rupture floods repair site in Frisco, Texas
A construction worker died in Frisco, Texas, after a ruptured water main flooded an underground access well during repair work. OSHA is investigating the fatal incident.
DC Water details environmental impacts, repairs after Potomac Interceptor collapse
DC Water is advancing repairs and environmental monitoring after a Potomac Interceptor collapse released an estimated 243 million gallons of wastewater into the Potomac River.
Saskatchewan excavation firm pleads guilty in trench collapse case
A Saskatchewan excavation contractor pleaded guilty to occupational health and safety violations after a trench collapse seriously injured a worker near North Battleford.
Local opposition grows to $272-million Iroquois gas compressor expansion in Connecticut
A proposed $272-million compressor expansion on the Iroquois pipeline is facing mounting local and regulatory resistance in Connecticut, underscoring growing siting challenges for gas infrastructure projects across the Northeast.
N.Y. lawmakers propose pipeline mapping rules for leak-prone gas lines
New York lawmakers have introduced legislation that would require gas utilities to map and disclose planned work on leak-prone pipelines, potentially reshaping how aging distribution systems are regulated.
Natural gas pipeline explosion near Cameron Parish LNG line injures worker, prompts investigation
A natural gas pipeline connected to an offshore LNG facility exploded in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, injuring one worker and prompting emergency response and a state investigation into the incident.
OSHA cites Birmingham contractor after trench collapse
OSHA has cited a Birmingham-area contractor for willfully exposing workers to trench collapse hazards at a Bessemer worksite, proposing more than $170,000 in penalties.
Gas pipeline rupture in Tyler, Texas prompts evacuations, road closures
A vehicle strike ruptured a natural gas pipeline on Tyler’s west side, forcing evacuations and road closures as crews worked to isolate the line and monitor gas levels. Utility operators shut remote valves to slow the release while emergency responders coordinated traffic control and safety measures.
Emergency bypass limits sewer overflow after Potomac Interceptor collapse
DC Water has activated an emergency bypass system to divert wastewater around a collapsed section of the Potomac Interceptor, limiting sewer overflows into the C&O Canal while repairs are planned.
OSHA seeks $1.2 million fine after fatal trench collapse in Connecticut
OSHA has proposed more than $1.2 million in fines against a Connecticut earthwork contractor after a follow-up inspection found continued trenching and excavation safety violations.
New York City targets buried utility conflicts with high-security digital map
New York City is developing a secure, limited-access 3D map of underground utilities to reduce construction delays, cut costs and improve emergency response.
OSHA forms safety partnership for Manchester, N.H. stormwater tunnel project
OSHA has entered a strategic partnership with the Methuen Obayashi Joint Venture to strengthen worker safety during construction of Manchester’s Cemetery Brook Drain Tunnel, focusing on confined-space risks, hazardous gases, excavation safety and leadership-driven hazard prevention.
Infrastructure failures prompt military assistance for Manitoba First Nation
Canadian Armed Forces personnel are being deployed to a remote Manitoba First Nation to assist with emergency repairs after power outages caused widespread water and sewer system failures, highlighting ongoing infrastructure vulnerabilities in northern communities.
PUC cracks down on One Call violations tied to underground utilities
Pennsylvania’s Public Utility Commission issued more than $232,000 in penalties and education requirements tied to underground utility damage violations reviewed during its December enforcement meeting.
Wastewater spill repairs complete after structural failure on Houston’s south side
Houston Public Works closed out repairs after a Goodyear Drive structural failure released about 100,000 gallons of wastewater into Sims Bayou. Crews contained the incident quickly, and continued monitoring shows no meaningful water-quality impacts while the city confirms drinking-water systems were unaffected.
Deadly trench collapse in Goodyear, Ariz., triggers state fines for contractors
Arizona safety regulators fined two construction companies after a July trench collapse in Goodyear killed a worker, citing failures in trench protection and site inspections.
PHMSA seeks record fine after pipeline failure spills 1.1 million gallons
PHMSA has proposed a record $9.6 million civil penalty against Panther Operating Company following a 2023 failure of the Main Pass Oil Gathering pipeline that spilled more than 1 million gallons of crude oil.
Infrastructure failure releases 100,000 gallons of wastewater in Houston; repairs ongoing
A structural failure in a southeast Houston wastewater line released more than 100,000 gallons of sewage, prompting boil-water guidance for nearby private well users while city tap water remains safe.
Land movement blamed for rupture of 34-inch SoCalGas transmission line
A ruptured 34-inch natural gas transmission line near Interstate 5 in Castaic, California, was likely caused by significant land movement, according to a preliminary investigation by SoCalGas. The incident prompted freeway closures and shelter-in-place orders as crews isolated and repaired the line in a known landslide-prone corridor.
Engineering firm tapped to probe Baltimore’s underground utility fires
Baltimore has hired an engineering firm to investigate recurring underground utility fires, as officials cite aging conduit systems and public safety risks downtown.
Washington Watch: Chances are good for new pipeline safety bill
Momentum is building on Capitol Hill for the next federal pipeline safety reauthorization. With bipartisan bills advancing in both the House and Senate, lawmakers appear poised to move a largely consensus-driven package that updates One-Call programs, damage prevention grants and long-delayed PHMSA rulemakings.
Massive water line failure leaves majority of Waterbury without service
A catastrophic break in Waterbury’s aging water system left about 60% of the city without water, shutting down restaurants, canceling school, and prompting a full-scale emergency response. With one high-pressure main ruptured and the backup line offline for repairs, crews are racing to stabilize the severely impacted system.
Underground gas line strike triggers Bay Area explosion, injures six amid utility work
A construction crew struck an underground gas line in Ashland, California, triggering a massive explosion that destroyed homes and injured six people. PG&E confirmed the leak occurred before workers isolated the damaged line.
Ohio trench collapse kills one worker, injures two during pipe installation
One worker was killed and two others injured after a trench collapsed during a pipe installation project in Clermont County, Ohio on Friday, Dec. 5. Emergency crews faced unstable soil and a lack of trench protection as they worked to free the trapped crew. OSHA has opened an investigation.
Alberta excavating firm fined $100,000 after trench collapse injures worker
HCL Site Services Ltd. of Vegreville, Alberta, was fined $100,000 after pleading guilty to an Occupational Health and Safety violation following a 2022 trench collapse that seriously injured a worker on a sewer line project in Viking.
- Inside Sempra’s 72-mile pipeline with 18 major trenchless crossings
- Trump vetoes bill to finish $1.3 billion Colorado water pipeline
- PHMSA warns of heat risks in aging plastic gas distribution pipelines following deadly Pennsylvania explosion
- Infrastructure failure releases 100,000 gallons of wastewater in Houston; repairs ongoing
- OSHA seeks $1.2 million fine after fatal trench collapse in Connecticut
- Worm-like robot burrows underground to cut power line installation costs
- First tunnel boring machines complete testing for Hudson Tunnel Project
- Infrastructure failure releases 100,000 gallons of wastewater in Houston; repairs ongoing
- Construction jobs stumble into 2026 after weak year
- NWPX grows water infrastructure portfolio with Colorado precast facility