Damage Prevention & Safety

Underground fire disrupts fiber optic networks, closes key Baltimore facilities

An underground fire in downtown Baltimore led to a manhole explosion and disrupted critical fiber optic networks over the weekend, affecting thousands.

Peabody General Contractors to host free trench safety training in Lockhart, Texas

Peabody General Contractors, in partnership with the Austin Chapter of the National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA) and OSHA, will host its annual Live Trench Training event on Oct. 4 in Lockhart, Texas.

USIC affiliate Blood Hound launches redesigned website for underground damage prevention

The new site incorporates videos and interactive illustrations that provide an up-close view of Blood Hound’s highly specialized services and state-of-the-art technologies and the value added for projects of every scope.

Officials: Pipeline fire erupts in La Porte after SUV strikes valve

A pipeline explosion near Houston spread from Deer Park to La Porte, igniting grass fires and prompting widespread evacuations. Multiple agencies, including the Deer Park and La Porte fire departments, responded to the scene.

Iowa receives federal aid to replace lead water pipes

Iowa is using federal funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to replace lead water pipes, prioritizing vulnerable communities to improve public health and water safety.

Duke Energy undergrounds 48% of Florida power lines with plans to expand as hurricane season peaks

Approximately 48% of Duke Energy Florida's primary power lines are underground and better protected from wind damage. The company will continue to install underground cable in areas that are identified as the most outage-prone areas.

Explosion in underground PG&E vault leaves one dead in Richmond, Calif.

A man was found electrocuted inside an underground PG&E utility vault in Richmond, California, last month after a series of explosions. The incident highlights the dangers associated with unauthorized access to these high-risk underground utility spaces.

Texas trench fatalities rise despite OSHA safety regulations

(UI) — Trench collapses continue to be a leading cause of preventable worker deaths in Texas, despite existing safety regulations set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Telecommunications crew damages underground water main in Fort Worth, damaging at least 5 homes

The water, under high pressure, shot out forcefully, damaging at least 5 homes in the area. It took over an hour for the water department to stop the flow due to the pipe's size and configuration.

US trade group releases new transmission pipeline safety standard for managing geohazards

API RP 1187 addresses the unique challenges of landslide hazards and their impact on transmission pipelines by establishing robust management practices.

Worker dies in trench collapse in Cleveland, Tenn.; rescue shifts to recovery

Rescue efforts initially focused on locating and retrieving the worker. However, once it was confirmed that the individual was deceased, the operation transitioned to a recovery effort.

Repair work begins on damaged sewer line in Rexburg, Idaho, after construction incident

Rexburg officials have reported ongoing efforts to repair a damaged sewer line, which was struck by a contractor working on the U.S. Highway 20 project on Aug. 22.

Iowa Attorney General files three lawsuits for illegal excavations resulting in underground infrastructure damage

Under Iowa’s One Call law, contractors and homeowners must contact Iowa One Call two days ahead to reduce underground infrastructure damage by marking utility lines in the excavation area. Excavators who violate the One Call law are subject to a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per day for violations related to natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines, and up to $1,000 per day involving other underground utility lines.

Underground utility lines damaged every six minutes, Essential Utilities reports for Safe Digging Day

Every six minutes, an underground utility line is damaged due to digging and excavation. This free call is required for all projects, big or small, such as planting shrubs, installing a mailbox, building a swimming pool or installing a fence.

Fatal Shawnee trench collapse linked to Oklahoma contractor’s repeated safety violations, OSHA reports

An Edmond contractor with a history of workplace safety violations dating back to 2018, including three related to the dangers in underground trenches, was found disregarding U.S. Department of Labor regulations.

Construction worker dies after being found unconscious in trench box

The worker, who was found approximately 15 feet deep in the trench near Second Ave and Pitchkettle Rd in Suffolk, Virginia, was engaged in utility repairs when the incident occurred.

OSHA fines El Paso contractor in deadly trench collapse, citing repeated safety lapses

OSHA determined that CMD Endeavors Inc. failed to provide a proper protective system for a pipe layer working in an excavation. As a result, a trench collapsed, causing a piece of asphalt to fall and severely injure the worker, who later died in a hospital.

Fiber Broadband Association research highlights importance of streamlining underground locate process amid workforce dilemma

Operators must take necessary precautions to prevent damage to utilities, ensure utility services remain intact, and prevent serious injury to telecommunications installation teams and residents.

Underground explosion triggers fire in Virginia's Crystal City neighborhood

An underground utility fire occurred in Crystal City, a neighborhood in Arlington, Va., on July 23. The fire broke out on the 2400 block of Crystal Drive, following reports of an explosion heard and felt in the area.

Sewer service restored in West Maui after fires damage infrastructure

Some wastewater infrastructure was damaged during recent fires, cutting off service to many properties in affected areas.

Leica Geosystems launches new underground utility locator

Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon, announced the launch of the Leica DD300 CONNECT utility locator and Leica DA300 signal transmitter, a combined, ready-to-use solution for versatile and reliable underground utility detection.

McElroy receives OSHA SHARP recognition for workplace safety

McElroy has been recognized for its commitment to workplace safety with a new designation from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP).

Crews repair 15-foot-deep sewer collapse near downtown Louisville, Ky.

MSD crews have been working to replace a 27-inch brick sewer line, installed in 1902, by digging down 15 feet. They are also updating the old brick manhole with a modern concrete one.

OSHA cites Boston waterproofing contractor for multiple trenching hazards

Twice in less than three months in late 2023, a Boston waterproofing contractor exposed employees to life-threatening cave-ins and excavation hazards at residential worksites in Arlington, Massachusetts, and Warwick, Rhode Island, federal workplace safety investigators found.

OSHA cites contractor for fatal trench collapse in New Canaan, Conn.

A contractor from Easton could have prevented the death of an employee, who was repairing an underground water line, in a trench collapse at a New Canaan work site in December 2023, according to an investigation by OSHA.

OSHA investigation launched after worker found unconscious in Kansas City, Mo., sewer pipe

A construction worker in Missouri was hospitalized in critical condition on July 8 after he was discovered unresponsive in a sewer pipe. Emergency responders arrived at Old Santa Fe Road and located the man inside a 15-foot manhole.

Xcel Energy updates $1.9 billion wildfire mitigation plan with undergrounding measures

Xcel Energy is making physical investments to reduce the risk of utility-caused wildfires. These measures include targeted undergrounding of power lines, line rebuilds, and non-expulsion upgrades in Tier 2 and Tier 3 risk areas.

MidAmerican, Mediacom, CenturyLink fined for violating Iowa’s underground infrastructure locating law

In May 2021, the State issued warning letters to MidAmerican, Mediacom, and CenturyLink regarding their companies’ failures to adequately address untimely and inaccurate locating of their underground facilities.

Calgary declares state of emergency over water pipeline repairs

The city is grappling with a severe shortage of water caused by a recent breach in its main water pipeline, prompting urgent appeals from Mayor Gondek to immediately reduce water consumption.

Calgary on the brink of water crisis after major pipeline break

Crews have been unable to access the damaged section of the pipeline, known as a feeder main, to commence repairs or identify the cause of the rupture.