Damage Prevention & Safety
United Rentals Trench Safety Digital Learning Series Discusses Safety Powered by Productivity
United Rentals will have an online series June 14-18 that offers free educational sessions about work safety.
Alaska Governor Declares Disaster for Area After Flooding
Flooding in areas in northwest Alaska caused significant damage to home, roads and utility infrastructure.
Biden Pledges Aggressive Response to Pipeline Cyber Attacks
President Joe Biden pledges to respond aggressively to the cyber attacks on Colonial Pipeline.
$302M in BP Oil Spill Money Budgeted to Restore Ecosystems
Texas may receive up to $79 million in restoration money from a BP oil spill.
Tunnel Boring Machine “MudHoney” Ready to Get to Work in Seattle
The Tunnel Boring Machine is now in use for a water quality project in Washington to prevent polluted water from entering multiple lakes and canals.
US Seeks Keep Critical Sectors Safe from Cyberattacks
Officials are looking into ways to protect critical industries from cyberattacks.
Biden Redefines Infrastructure Plan and Breaks Down Costs
President Joe Biden has released a breakdown of a new infrastructure package that will focus on raising corporate taxes and redefining infrastructure.
Gas Driller Pays $1.9M for Wetland and Waterway Damages
A natural gas driller in Pennsylvania agrees to pay $1.9 million for construction damages.
Grand Canyon National Park to Undergo Repairs on Water Pipeline
The Grand Canyon National Park will undergo repairs on a leaking drinking water pipeline.
Civil Engineers Give Ohio a “C-“ and Texas a “C” in Latest 2021 Infrastructure Report Cards
Ohio and Texas receive mediocre infrastructure ratings from civil engineers.
U.S. Department of Labor Implements Inspection Program to Target Workplaces with Highest Injury and Illness Rates
The U.S. Department of Labor is updating its inspection program to reduce workplace injuries and illnesses.
Civil Engineers Give West Virginia a “D” and Maine a “C-“ in the 2020 Infrastructure Report Card
A new 2020 Infrastructure Report Card for West Virginia and Maine with overall low ratings.
Barbco
The co-owner and general manager of Barbco conducted a seminar at about trench safety.
$56M Settlement Approved in Massachusetts Gas Explosions
A $56 million settlement was approved between Massachusetts and Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, the utility responsible for a series of explosions and fires.
NASSCO Releases Brochure to Inform Communities About Styrene Safety
NASSCO published “What’s That Odor,” a two-page brochure to help inform communities about the safety of styrene used in the steam cure process of Cured-In-Place Pipe (CIPP).
New Plan Will Increase Protection and Resilience of the Texas Coast
The Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration Study Draft Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement was released to increase resilience and reduce risk of coastal storm surges.
CGA Research on Utility Locating Points to Stressed Damage Prevention System
The Common Ground Alliance published a new White Paper that is based on recent research among locating stakeholders that points to an often strained damage prevention system.
CGA Report Reveals Utility Damages Cost U.S. $30 Billion in 2019
The 2019 Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) Report compiled by the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) revealed that excavation-related damages to utilities cost the U.S. approximately $30 billion last year.
How to Build a Customized Excavation Protective System
Some excavation projects are clear-cut and just require selecting the right excavation protective system for the job. Other projects, such as deep or complex trenches, need a custom-engineered solution.
Suicide Serious Issue for Construction Industry
CIASP’s stated goals include increasing awareness about the risk of suicide within the construction industry and to develop suicide prevention resources and tools to create a zero-suicide industry.
Cross Bore Risk Reduction Protects Contractors
Published in February 2020, by the Cross Bore Safety Association, Leading Practices for Cross Bore Risk Reduction is the direct result of the industry’s expressed desire to have a high-confidence guidance document to help ensure cross bores are not created and, if existing, eliminated.
Common Ground Alliance Announces Damage Prevention Conference & Expo
The Common Ground Alliance has announced its 2021 CGA Conference & Expo from March 2-5, 2021 in Orlando, Florida.
NUCA of Middle Tennessee Announces Winner of 2020 Trench Safety Stand Down Week Contest
The Middle Tennessee Chapter of the National Utility Contractors Association of America (NUCA) has announced the winner of it's first every Trench Safety Stand Down (TSSD) contest last week as part of the association's annual TSSD Week.
PG&E Confesses to Killing 84 People in 2018 California Fire
California gas utility company Pacific Gas & Electric confessed Tuesday to killing 84 people in one of the most devastating wildfires in recent U.S. history
New Mexico Offers COVID-19 Testing for Utility Workers
The state of New Mexico is offering COVID-19 testing to utility workers as part of a statewide effort to keep essential workers healthy and to meet state testing goals.
CGA Releases Annual Damage Prevention Technology Report
The Common Ground Alliance (CGA), has released its third annual Technology Report, which serves as a record of progress in technology for the damage prevention industry.
U.S. Department of Labor Issues Guidance for Construction Workers Safety During Pandemic
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a division of the Department of Labor, has issued guidelines to keep construction workers safe during the coronavirus pandemic.
WEF Panel to Study Biohazards, Safety for Wastewater Workers
To ensure the protection of wastewater workers during the coronavirus pandemic and beyond, the Water Environment Federation is convening a blue-ribbon panel of experts to evaluate information on biological hazards and safety precautions.
CGA: Late Locates of Buried Utilities Appear Underreported
A new Common Ground Alliance report examining 2015-2018 data reveals excavators primarily use CGA’s DIRT tool to document locating issues and associated downtime. The analysis shows late locates of buried utilities may be underreported.
Texas Eastern Gas Pipeline Explodes in Kentucky
Enbridge responded to an explosion on Line 10 of its Texas Eastern system in Kentucky and said Tuesday that it has shut-in a section of the pipeline. Gas futures rose on the news.
- 2 workers killed, 1 injured while working on sewer line in Mobile, Ala.
- $5.3 billion, 516-mile pipeline to connect Texas to Arizona through New Mexico
- Tunnel boring continues under Chesapeake Bay for $3.9 billion HRBT Expansion project
- Judge approves construction for key portion of $485 million pipeline in Larimer County, Colo.
- 31 workers rescued after LA tunnel partially collapses
- New products: Latest industry developments
- 31 workers rescued after LA tunnel partially collapses
- Ohio Supreme Court rules sewer line location isn’t a ‘defect’ in property dispute
- Faulconer Construction begins rock blasting for water pipeline project in Charlottesville, Va.
- $5.3 billion, 516-mile pipeline to connect Texas to Arizona through New Mexico