Damage Prevention & Safety
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.
Common Ground Alliance report identifies risks, opportunities for improving underground utility locating practices
Common Ground Alliance published the “DIRT Special Report: Uncovering Contributing Factors to Locating Practice Errors," examining the underlying factors driving damages associated with locating practices, the root cause attributed to more than a third of all underground utility damage, across three case studies.
Houston faces hurdles in transitioning to underground power lines amid severe weather concerns
Given Houston's vulnerability to hurricanes, relocating power lines underground could theoretically reduce the risk of prolonged outages. However, this concept faces significant obstacles.
Ohio explosion caused by cut gas line thought to be turned off, investigators say
A crew working in the basement area of an Ohio building intentionally cut a gas line not knowing it was pressurized before a deadly explosion this week, the National Transportation Safety Board said on May 31.
GridHawk to expand critical utility damage prevention services with MidOcean investment
GridHawk offers utility locating, watch & protect, advanced locating, leak detection, infrastructure mapping, and other damage prevention services for high consequence subsurface infrastructure including natural gas, electric, telecom, water, and sewer utilities nationwide.
Trencher maintenance tips to increase efficiency on utility jobs
With proper routine maintenance, a smooth-running, peak-performance trencher can help you efficiently trench through tough ground conditions and increase productivity by promoting valuable uptime. Here are three key tips to achieve that.
Guam contractor faces $1 million fine over repeated trench safety violations, OSHA investigation reveals
Giant Construction Corp., a Tamuning contractor, is under fire with over $1 million in penalties after federal inspectors discovered trench workers exposed to fatal hazards.
OSHA restructures regional operations to improve efficiency, resiliency
The changes include the creation of a new OSHA regional office in Birmingham, Alabama, overseeing agency operations in the state, and those in Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee as well as the Florida Panhandle.
Boring machine 'Chessie' resumes drilling at Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel site after anchor incident
After months of investigation and repairs, the tunnel boring machine, affectionately known as Chessie, has resumed tunneling operations after striking a buried anchor nearly 10 months ago.
Broadband installations are the leading cause of underground infrastructure damage in Minnesota, report finds
Telecommunications crews are frequently encountering electric lines and natural gas pipes underground, resulting in an average of more than 1.25 strikes per day.
Underground utility data management company Reveal launches new ground penetrating radar data analysis software
Underdots creates an intuitive, accessible point-cloud visualization from multi-channel GPR data in a matter of hours. Clustered dots plotted in 3D space show the intensity and depth of radar reflections, which can reveal the presence or absence of underground utilities in large areas,
Harnessing advanced technologies for underground engineering success
Underground construction endeavors are intricate, demanding meticulous planning, execution and risk management. With billions of dollars invested and millions impacted annually, the stakes are monumental.
Insights and trends: Latest developments in utility and communications construction
The beginning of 2024 is shaping up to be just as dynamic as we had expected going into the year. The election stage is set for November, the Federal Reserve is trying to thread the needle between fighting inflation and making the “soft landing,” and most distressing, we all witnessed a terrible tragedy in the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
Failure to call 811 caused nearly 1,300 underground utility damage incidents in 2023, PG&E reports
There were 1,262 incidents in Northern and Central California where homeowners or contractors damaged underground gas or electric lines while digging
One underground utility line damaged every six minutes in U.S., Dominion Energy reports for National Safe Digging Month
Citing the Common Ground Alliance, Dominion Energy reported a utility line is damaged every six minutes in the United States for National Safe Digging Month. 31% of these damages are caused by contractors and property owners who fail to contact 811 prior to breaking ground.
Over 10,000 cuts to underground natural gas, electric lines in 2023, Duke Energy reports for National Safe Digging Month
Specifically, Piedmont and Duke Energy reported over 3,500 damages to their underground natural gas facilities in the Carolinas, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky, while Duke Energy reported more than 6,800 damages to its underground electric network in all its service territories.
Oregon OSHA fines Portland company after workers rendered unconscious in stormwater sewer
(UI) — The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA) has fined a Portland environmental and emergency services company $118,800 for breaching job safety standards aimed at safeguarding workers in confined spaces.
Inside infrastructure: Safety debate continues to address new, controversial subjects
Every four or five years, multiple committees in Congress undertake the responsibility of reauthorizing the nation’s pipeline safety program and the federal agency that oversees it.
OSHA, Safety Week call on construction professionals to “stand down” on May 8 to raise awareness for workplace hazards
Safety Week and OSHA are partnering to pause work sites throughout the U.S. on May 8 to create the largest industry-wide construction stand down ever held.
Sewage discharges raise concerns for Boston water safety
Local authorities have issued a public health advisory following recent sewage discharges, also known as combined sewer overflows (CSOs), posing potential risks to public health in Boston.
- Deadline to submit abstracts for Underground Infrastructure Conference's 30th anniversary education program extended to July 19
- Drilling under the LSU campus
- OSHA investigation launched after worker found unconscious in Kansas City, Mo., sewer pipe
- 26th annual directional drilling survey: More fuel on the fire
- Restoring power to Minnesota’s northwest angle
- Vermeer Debuts New Horizontal Directional Drill
- Sewer maintenance: Myth-busting, best-practice training
- Berkeley pushes PG&E to bury power lines to mitigate wildfire risk
- Houston faces hurdles in transitioning to underground power lines amid severe weather concerns
- Calgary declares state of emergency over water pipeline repairs