Damage Prevention & Safety
OSHA cites Texas utility contractor after excavation collapse injures worker
OSHA has proposed nearly $344,000 in penalties against Blazey Construction Services after an excavation collapse hospitalized a worker at a utility installation project in Alvin, Texas.
Worker dies after fall into utility shaft at Harris County construction site
A construction worker died after falling into a 30- to 40-foot utility shaft at a job site in east Harris County. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident.
MIOSHA investigates three trench collapses in southeast Michigan
MIOSHA is investigating three unrelated trench collapses at construction sites across southeast Michigan, including one fatal incident in Livingston County.
Oklahoma urges Congress to increase PHMSA pipeline safety funding
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission is urging Congress to increase PHMSA funding for state pipeline safety programs and preserve federal grants supporting pipeline inspections and oversight.
Buried utility damages hit record high in 2025, CGA reports
Buried utility damages hit a record high in 2025, according to the Common Ground Alliance's latest DIRT report, which identifies failure to notify 811 before digging as the industry's leading cause of utility strikes.
NTSB: Unmarked gas line preceded fatal Dallas apartment explosion
A preliminary NTSB report found that an underground natural gas line was not marked before it was struck during drilling operations, leading to the fatal Dallas apartment explosion on May 28. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
Trump wants drastic cuts in water infrastructure funding
Federal water infrastructure spending is on the cutting block as Congress starts to work on fiscal 2027 appropriations bills. The Trump administration has proposed drastic cuts to the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, $1.5 billion and $970 million, respectively, starting Oct. 1, 2026.
Contractor debris causes sewer overflow in Michigan township
A contractor-installed test plug left inside an 8-inch sewer main caused a sanitary sewer overflow in East Bay Township, Michigan. Public works crews removed the obstruction, restored service and confirmed the wastewater release was contained before reaching nearby waterways.
Gas line strike destroys three homes in Ohio neighborhood
A gas line struck during utility construction is believed to have caused a massive home explosion in Twinsburg Township, Ohio, destroying three houses and damaging 20 others. Authorities and the contractor are investigating the incident.
Wyoming city advances $20-million lead service line replacement funding request
Cheyenne officials have advanced a request for up to $20 million in state funding to investigate and replace lead service lines across the city. The effort supports compliance with updated EPA regulations requiring utilities to identify and remove lead pipes from drinking water systems.
Worker killed in foundation tunnel collapse near Dallas; OSHA investigating
A construction worker was killed after a tunnel beneath an apartment building foundation collapsed near Coppell, Texas. Emergency crews conducted a complex rescue operation, and OSHA has launched an investigation into the fatal incident.
Minnesota trench collapse kills worker near Rochester
A worker in his 20s died after a trench collapsed in Rock Dell Township, Minn., south of Rochester, prompting a multi-agency recovery effort.
Pipeline break threatens water supply across Central Texas communities
A pipeline break near the Leon River Bridge has disrupted water supplies across multiple Central Texas communities, as crews install a temporary bypass and prepare to bore a replacement line beneath the river crossing.
SGA names former PHMSA investigator to lead pipeline safety initiative
Former PHMSA Chief Investigator Tiffany Ziemer has joined SGA Natural Gas Association to lead expanded pipeline safety, regulatory readiness and workforce development efforts for natural gas operators.
Washington adopts stricter trench excavation safety requirements
Washington has adopted stricter trench excavation safety requirements, including mandatory written work plans and enhanced site hazard evaluations, as state regulators seek to reduce cave-ins and improve worker protection on construction projects.
PHMSA proposes pipeline tank inspection rule overhaul
PHMSA has proposed updating federal inspection requirements for hazardous liquid pipeline breakout tanks, a move officials say could save industry more than $125 million while aligning regulations with current industry standards.
Why excavation damage remains a major threat to Texas gas pipelines
Thousands of excavation-related pipeline strikes have been reported across Texas this year, underscoring ongoing challenges around excavation safety, gas leak prevention and underground utility protection.
Utility strike at center of Dallas explosion investigation
Public records and Texas811 documentation are providing new details about the events leading up to the fatal Dallas apartment explosion, as investigators examine a reported gas line strike during drilling operations and the utility locate process that preceded the blast.
Pipeline collapse increases wastewater flows in Tijuana River
A collapse of Tijuana's Parallel Gravity Line has increased wastewater flows into the Tijuana River, prompting emergency repairs and renewed concerns about cross-border sewage management.
EU project advances autonomous safety systems for underground construction
Autonomous loaders, drones and wearable safety sensors are being tested in tunnel and highway construction environments as part of a European initiative aimed at reducing worker exposure to hazardous conditions and improving jobsite efficiency.
OSHA weighs safety variance for New Hampshire sewer tunnel project
OSHA is reviewing updated decompression procedures for workers on a New Hampshire sewer tunnel project, reflecting the evolution of safety practices for modern tunnel boring operations.
Solvent welding best practices for reliable underground pipe joints
Proper solvent cement selection, environmental awareness and installation technique remain critical for reliable underground PVC, CPVC and ABS pipe systems.
Oil pipeline struck during fiber optic construction spills into L.A. storm drains
A fiber optic construction crew ruptured a 16-inch crude oil pipeline in East Los Angeles, sending oil into storm drains and portions of the LA River while triggering a large-scale environmental response.
Long Beach, Calif., trench collapse kills construction worker at shelter project
A trench collapse at a shelter construction site in Long Beach, Calif., killed one worker and injured two others during underground conduit installation work.
Florida Gas wins appeal over PHMSA pipeline enforcement order
A federal appeals court vacated PHMSA’s enforcement order against Florida Gas Transmission, ruling the agency acted arbitrarily and failed to provide fair notice in a pipeline rupture case.
PHMSA opens $22 million in pipeline, hazmat safety grants
PHMSA has announced more than $22 million in grant funding to support pipeline safety, hazardous materials response training and infrastructure safety programs nationwide.
Senate passes PIPELINE Safety Act aimed at strengthening buried utility protection
The Senate has passed the bipartisan PIPELINE Safety Act, advancing new excavation damage prevention measures tied to 811 participation, GIS mapping and buried utility protection.
Lawsuits follow 2.9-million-gallon sewer spill tied to California wastewater system
Dozens of residents have filed lawsuits following a 2.9-million-gallon California sewer spill, alleging years of inadequate maintenance and aging wastewater infrastructure contributed to the force main failure.
50-year-old Michigan water main failure disrupts service across Oakland County
A major water main break in Oakland County, Mich., has triggered emergency declarations, boil water advisories and widespread service disruptions as crews work on repairs.
Inside Infrastructure: Utility locators warn of systemic failures in damage prevention process
Utility locating professionals are calling for reforms to address systemic failures in the 811 damage prevention process, citing safety risks, mapping issues and workforce challenges.
- EIA: Texas to lead U.S. pipeline construction activity through 2027
- Oil pipeline struck during fiber optic construction spills into L.A. storm drains
- Utility strike at center of Dallas explosion investigation
- Gas line strike destroys three homes in Ohio neighborhood
- $1 billion Ohio River Tunnel project awarded in Pittsburgh