Damage Prevention & Safety
Rosemead, Calif., utility to bury power lines in fire-hit Altadena, Malibu rebuild
Southern California Edison plans to underground over 150 circuit miles of power lines in Altadena and Malibu as part of a wildfire recovery effort, aiming to boost resilience and reduce future fire risks.
Cyberattacks on U.S. water utilities worsen, posing growing threat to infrastructure, study finds
A new Semperis study reveals that 62% of utilities in the U.S. and U.K. faced cyberattacks last year, with over half suffering permanent data loss. Nation-state actors, including China's Volt Typhoon, are increasingly targeting power and water systems.
Authorities investigating trench collapse that killed worker in Ashburn, Va.
The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office and OSHA are investigating a trench collapse that resulted in the death of one worker. According to a local news report, on the morning of Thursday, April 10, a trench collapsed in Ashburn, Virginia, trapping a worker underground. The man later died from his injuries.
Cal/OSHA cites contractor after deadly 17-foot trench collapse
Cal/OSHA has cited a California contractor following a fatal trench collapse that killed a worker inside a 17-foot excavation. Investigators found the trench lacked required cave-in protections and safety protocols.
Civil penalties issued for pipeline excavation damage incident in Lake Tahoe, Nev. area
The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) has formally issued civil penalties to Great Basin Transmission Company and Aspen Developers Corp. for a pipeline excavation damage incident that occurred in October 2024. The civil penalties were issued as part of the PUCN’s enforcement of Nevada’s “Call (811) Before You Dig” law.
National Trench Safety partners with MGF to enhance its U.S. market expansion
National Trench Safety (NTS) has announced a strategic distribution partnership with MGF, a leading UK-based manufacturer of specialist shoring products. This partnership marks a significant milestone as NTS enhances its product offerings to the American market.
Repairs begin on struck ANR pipeline, but more work ahead for Michigan Gas Utilities
TC Energy is responding to a third-party line strike that damaged a section of its ANR Pipeline System near Fennville, Michigan, on April 9, causing a gas outage in the area.
Connecticut contractor, worker plead guilty in fatal trench collapse case
A contractor and one of his employees have pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter charges after a trench collapse at a Connecticut jobsite led to the death of a worker in 2022.
PG&E raises 811 awareness during April's National Safe Digging Month
Digging without knowing the location of underground lines dangerous, it can also result in expensive repairs and inconvenient outages. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is joining with others across the country during National Safe Digging Month to help raise awareness of the importance of calling 811 before you dig.
Mass. governor slams Trump for ‘dangerous delay’ of $50 million in lead pipe replacement funds
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey is calling on the Trump administration to release $50 million in delayed federal funds for lead pipe replacement, warning that the holdup threatens public health and critical infrastructure work.
Understanding the ‘competent person’ and this critical role
Excavations are integral to underground infrastructure construction, but they pose significant dangers for workers when improperly planned or managed. On average, more than 20 workers die from trench cave-ins each year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Arcosa Shoring Products launches new system to improve trench safety
Arcosa Shoring Products recently unveiled their patent-pending Convert-A-Shore system that makes changing a hydraulic vertical shore from a multi-cylinder shore to a single shore (and vice-versa) quick and easy.
H2scan’s HY-VAULT system improves safety for underground vault transformer monitoring
To reduce transformer failure risks, utilities traditionally use periodic manual oil sampling to assess asset health for these difficult-to-reach and potentially dangerous underground assets. H2scan's HY-VAULT™ system provides utilities with a cost-effective continuous monitoring solution that improves safety.
Ottawa, Canada contractor strikes 11 gas lines over 15-month span during tunnel, pipeline work
Thomas Cavanagh Construction Limited has pleaded guilty to five safety violations after damaging multiple gas lines during a series of tunnel and pipeline upgrade projects in Ottawa.
OSHA fines Calif. company for violations that led to fatal trench collapse
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) has issued $157,500 in citations to W. A. Rasic Construction for multiple violations of workplace safety regulations following a fatal trench collapse. The incident resulted in the tragic death of an employee working in an unprotected excavation.
Editor’s Log: Old problems, redux
In this month’s Editor’s Log, Editor-in-Chief Robert Carpenter delves into the growing tension between fiber optic installations and aging underground infrastructure in Katy, Texas. As the city halts fiber projects over repeated water line strikes, Carpenter explores the broader implications for utility safety, contractor responsibility, and the need for better locating practices nationwide.
Los Alamos, N.M., hit by second network outage after fiber line breaks during construction
For the second time in a week, Los Alamos, N.M., experienced a network outage on March 17 after construction crews accidentally severed fiber lines along NM-4.
Worm-like robot burrows underground to cut power line installation costs
The innovation, known as a "peristaltic conduit," mimics the segmented movement of earthworms to propel itself through the soil with minimal disruption to existing infrastructure.
Katy, Texas passes moratorium on fiber-optics projects after damage to water lines
According to The Houston Chronicle, city council in Katy, Texas has unanimously voted to pass a moratorium on fiber-optics projects after construction damage has repeatedly broken water lines. Fiber optics companies will now be required to sign a contract and coordinate with the city before digging.
Two workers killed in Maryland trench collapse during home renovation
Two construction workers were killed on Feb. 28 after a trench collapsed while they were working on a home renovation project in Catonsville, Maryland, fire officials confirmed.
Turning awareness into action: 811 call centers
Despite widespread awareness of 811 requirements, damage to underground utilities remains high. This article urges contractors to consistently use state OneCall centers and provides a full directory for safe digging compliance.
Two workers rescued after hours trapped in Mich. trench collapse
According to CBS News, two construction workers in Wyandotte, Mich., were rescued Tuesday evening after being trapped for nearly four hours in a collapsed trench. Wyandotte Fire Chief Jeremy Moline told authorities the men were excavating a hole about 15 feet deep when the trench collapsed.
United Rentals highlights connected worksite strategies for safety, productivity
United Rentals Inc. has outlined strategies for construction, industrial, and manufacturing companies to enhance worksite performance by integrating data-driven solutions.
Construction worker killed in trench collapse near Prosperity, S.C.
A construction worker was killed when a trench collapsed while he was installing a water line, according to Newberry County authorities.
Smelly Mel’s, Sewer Rat Plumbing fined nearly $530,000 after San Mateo, Calif., trench collapse
California workplace safety regulators have fined Smelly Mel’s Plumbing and Sewer Rat Plumbing a combined $529,640 for safety violations linked to a trench collapse that seriously injured a construction worker in San Mateo on Aug. 1, 2024.
Maryland lawmakers push to curb BGE pipeline spending, citing safety and cost concerns
Maryland lawmakers and regulators are raising concerns over Baltimore Gas & Electric’s (BGE) multibillion-dollar pipeline replacement program, citing rising costs for consumers and questions about its effectiveness in improving safety.
Fiber broadband deployment costs stabilizing, report finds
The Fiber Broadband Association’s latest Fiber Deployment Cost Annual Report, conducted by Cartesian, shows that broadband service providers expect fiber deployment costs to remain steady or rise slightly—less than 10%—compared to 2024. This marks an improvement from the previous year’s study, which reported steeper cost increases.
Trench collapse kills one construction worker in Houston, Texas
A construction worker was killed Wednesday, Feb. 5 after an eight-foot-deep trench he was working in collapsed in southwest Houston, according to ABC13 Eyewitness News and the Houston Fire Department (HFD).
OSHA cites Florida utility company for safety violations that led to worker’s fatality
A U.S. Department of Labor investigation has found that a Florida utility company could have prevented an explosion at a Port Saint Lucie worksite in June 2024 that claimed a 24-year-old worker's life, by implementing proper safety measures to address the hazards of inflatable pipe plugs.
Extensive sewer, water and power infrastructure damage from LA fires
The wildfires that have devasted the LA area and destroyed at least 12,000 structures have also caused significant damage to the area’s sewer, water and power infrastructure, according to The Construction Dive.
- Intrepid Fiber breaks ground on fiber optic network in Superior, Colo.
- Excavator collides with I-95 overpass in Henrico, Va., causing multi-vehicle crash
- Shrewsbury, Mass., expands sewer inspections and cleaning efforts
- Construction worker killed in trench collapse near Prosperity, S.C.
- Two workers rescued after hours trapped in Mich. trench collapse
- WES tunnel boring machine retrieved from Oregon river after seven-month project
- Illinois overhauls Peoples Gas pipeline program, mandates focus on high-risk pipes
- Ameren Illinois to invest $140 million in natural gas pipeline replacement program
- Charlottesville, Va., to begin work on 24-inch water line for Rivanna River crossing
- Mass. governor slams Trump for ‘dangerous delay’ of $50 million in lead pipe replacement funds