Damage Prevention & Safety
Judge orders Pennsylvania utility to release inspection records related to fatal natural gas explosion
Pennsylvania utility regulators must turn over inspection records to the National Transportation Safety Board as part of the federal agency’s probe into a fatal explosion at a chocolate factory last year, a federal judge ruled this week.
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
Body found in western New York reservoir leads to boil-water advisory
A human body was found in a western New York reservoir that supplies drinking water to parts of Rochester, prompting city officials to advise residents to boil their water before consuming.
Judge dismisses lawsuit of injured Dakota Access pipeline protester
A federal judge in North Dakota has dismissed the excessive-force lawsuit of a New York woman who was injured in an explosion during the protests of the Dakota Access oil pipeline.
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.
OSHA hits Georgia-based company with $300,000 fine after fatal trench collapse
A Georgia-based company faces a hefty fine exceeding $300,000 from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) due to alleged safety breaches stemming from a trench collapse incident that resulted in the death of a worker in Macon.
Radiodetection, Trimble collaborate to improve underground utility mapping accuracy
Data collected with the Radiodetection’s RD Map+ app and precision locators automatically sync with high-accuracy location measurements collected by the Trimble Catalyst DA2 GNSS system. By streamlining this connection, field workers can accurately digitize underground utility-line locations and reduce reporting errors.
OSHA penalizes Houston contractor over safety violations resulting in worker's death
A federal inquiry into safety practices following a fatal trench collapse near Fulshear, Texas, has resulted in penalties exceeding $250,000 for a Houston-area contractor.
Damage prevention and safety: Turning awareness into action
Surveys and studies reveal that professional excavators/contractors are highly aware of Common Ground Alliance’s (CGA) 811 initiative that requires they (as well as landscapers and homeowners) contact their state’s OneCall Center so underground utility lines are identified and marked before breaking ground.
September 2023 explosion in Colorado caused by underground electric cable damage
Colorado Spring Utilities said a private contractor drilled underground without following pre-dig protocols. A representative for the utility said the incident is prompting them to “re-emphasize education efforts with local contractors.”
Nevada OSHA fines Elon Musk's Boring Company over safety violations in Vegas tunnel project
Elon Musk's Boring Company incurred fines exceeding $112,000 due to safety breaches flagged by the Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration during the construction of the Vegas Loop underground tunnel last year.
Exodigo secures $118 million in funding to develop underground mapping technology
Exodigo typically locates 20-30% more utility lines than premium locators and reduces preliminary digging/drilling by up to 90%.
PCCA takes workforce development, damage prevention efforts to the States
The PCCA has fought for increased funding for rural broadband and electric power, fewer regulatory roadblocks, faster permitting, damage prevention, workforce development, and more. But in 2023 and now into the new year, PCCA is taking a more active role in the states, especially when it comes to workforce development and damage prevention.
Leaking underground propane tank found at Virginia home before deadly house explosion
When firefighters arrived at a home in a Washington, D.C., suburb to investigate a report about a gas smell Friday night, they discovered a 500-gallon underground propane tank with a leak on the side of the residence.
Hawaiian Electric's $190 million grid resilience plan approved with undergrounding initiatives
The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has approved Hawaiian Electric's $190 million Climate Adaptation Transmission and Distribution Resilience Program application, which will help defend against the increasing threat of wildfires.
Chesapeake Utilities Corporation breaks ground on energy infrastructure safety training facility in Florida
When constructed, Safety Town will include specialized learning environments, including simulations for hit line and gas leaks, service hook-ups, underground utility locating, leak detection, corrosion monitoring and more.
Underground fire and power outage in downtown Baltimore snarls commute and closes courthouses
The fire affected underground electrical conduits along North Charles Street and power was shut down in the area to assist in extinguishing the fire, officials said.
Officials respond to pipeline leak releasing unknown amount of gas in Alaska's North Slope
Officials in Alaska are responding to a pipeline leak on the Point Thomson gas field that resulted in a release of a still-unknown amount of liquid natural gas condensate.
Mississippi officials confirm safety of Jackson’s water supply following E. coli alert
Mississippi health officials lifted their health advisory after a new round of test results did not find E. coli in Jackson’s supply. The announcement reverses the Mississippi Department of Health’s instructions on Jan. 11 for Jackson residents to boil their water before consuming it.
No criminal charges to be filed in death of Vermont toddler who fell into underground cistern
No criminal charges will be filed in the death of a 3-year-old boy who fell into an underground cistern and was seriously injured in July while attending a day care program at Smugglers’ Notch Resort, Vermont State Police said Tuesday.
Texas hotel explosion injures 21; possible gas leak investigated
An explosion at a historic Texas hotel in Fort Worth on Monday, believed to be caused by a gas leak, blew out windows, littered downtown streets with large sections of debris from the building and injured 21 people, authorities said.
Prostar successfully integrates mobile underground utility mapping software with Rycom Instruments
As a result of this integration, Rycom Instrument’s Pathfinder devices can now capture, record, and share the precise location of buried utilities and pipelines anywhere in the world with PointMan.
Florida house explosion injures 4 and investigators are eyeing gas as the cause, sheriff says
Four people were injured in an explosion early Tuesday that severely damaged a Florida house, authorities said. Investigators were focused on gas as a possible cause.
Cybersecurity agency warns that water utilities are vulnerable to hackers after Pennsylvania attack
Hackers are targeting industrial control systems widely used by water and sewage-treatment utilities, potentially threatening water supplies, the top U.S. cyber defense agency said after a Pennsylvania water authority was hacked.
Sewage spill closes 2-mile stretch of coastline at Southern California’s Laguna Beach
Nearly 95,000 gallons (360,000 liters) of sewage spilled in Laguna Beach on Wednesday, leading to the closure of more than 2 miles (3.2 km) of Southern California coastline to swimmers and surfers, health officials said.
- North America 2024 Pipeline Construction Outlook: New LNG Terminals Lead Call for More Pipelines
- DeLa Express seeks FERC approval for Permian-to-Louisiana gas pipeline project
- Challenges of repairing rural water lines in urbanizing areas
- OSHA penalizes Houston contractor over safety violations resulting in worker's death
- Fiber infrastructure has no known expiration date, Fiber Broadband Association research concludes
- Michigan lawmakers introduce bills to create septic codes throughout the state
- Indiana American Water to gain 8,000 water customers with Silver Creek Water acquisition
- New York State OKs $57.8 million underground transmission line linking Nanuet to West Nyack
- Arkansas governor allocates $42 million for water infrastructure projects
- Federal judge finds Flint, Mich, in contempt over lead water pipe crisis