Damage Prevention & Safety
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.
Working in Confined Spaces: Be Safe, Not Sorry
In construction and industry, some potential hazards are visibly manifest, such as the risk of falls from heights. Others are more hidden. A confined space may not look dangerous, but workers perish each year because someone assumed the air inside was safe to breathe, when testing would have revealed that it wasn’t.
Corrosion Blamed for 2018 Canadian Pipeline Blast
An explosion and fire in 2018 along an Enbridge Inc natural gas pipeline in northern British Columbia was caused by corrosion, Canada's Transportation Safety Board (TSB) said on Wednesday.
TTC to Release CIPP Emissions Safety Findings on Dec. 17
The Trenchless Technology Center at Louisiana Tech University said it has completed NAASCO-commissioned research into the safety of styrene emissions from cured-in-place pipe and will present its findings and recommendations in a webcast on Dec. 17.
Harnessing Better Data to Embrace Defensive Digging
Data is everywhere – even buried in soil. It’s no longer just a Silicon Valley buzzword, but rather something tangible that contractors working in underground infrastructure installation and maintenance can harness for safer and more efficient operations.
CGA DIRT Report Shows Excavation Damages Increased in 2018
The Common Ground Alliance (CGA), the stakeholder-driven organization dedicated to protecting underground utility lines, people who dig near them and their communities, recently announced its findings from the 2018 Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) Report.
Contractor Guilty of Manslaughter in Boston Trench Collapse
A contractor who prosecutors said pushed his crews to work faster on a behind-schedule project has been convicted of manslaughter for the deaths of two workers in a 2016 trench collapse.
Sewage from Manhole Spills into Durham, N.C. Creek
City officials in Durham, N.C., said the state Department of Environmental Quality was notified after a buildup of rags blocked a sewer main and caused a spill into Ellerbe Creek.
Nick Stavropoulos to Lead Safety Efforts for Columbia Gas of Massachusetts
Columbia Gas of Massachusetts has appointed Nick Stavropoulos to a new, senior role focused on safety.
Columbia Gas Ordered to Seek State Approval for All Non-Emergency Work
Massachusetts officials are placing additional restrictions on the utility company blamed for last year’s destructive gas explosions following a major gas leak that prompted evacuations last week.
Feds Recommend New Requirements After Natural Gas Disaster
Federal officials are recommending stronger nationwide requirements for natural gas systems following last September's natural gas explosions and fires in Massachusetts.
Efficiency Production Unveils Octagon-Configured Build-A-Box Trench Shield
Efficiency Production unveiled the newest innovation in its industry-leading Build-A-Box Modular Aluminum Trench Shielding System.
Flyability Launches New Generation of Confined-Space Inspection UAVs
Flyability, a Swiss company that has pioneered indoor inspection and exploration drones, launched a new generation of confined-space, inspection units: Elios 2.
Gold Shovel Reorganizes to Better Serve Industry
The Gold Shovel Standard program was established in 2016 to assist in efforts to protect the country’s buried utility infrastructure from accidental damage that can cut off vital services, is costly and poses serious safety risks to construction workers and the general public.
Democrats’ Pipeline Safety Bill Elicits Industry Opposition
House Democrats debuted the first, comprehensive pipeline safety reform bill introduced this session of Congress, containing several provisions opposed by both the intrastate and interstate gas transportation industries.
Unique Shoring Solution for Fire-Safety Installation at Nuclear Plant
Sometimes redundancy is a good thing, especially when considering safety at one of the country’s nuclear generation plants. All systems must be working efficiently with back-ups to the back-ups. That is why one such nuclear power plant contracted the installation of a new generator-powered, fire-suppression system to back up the existing power-dependent, fire-suppression system.
National Excavator Initiative Launches with Help of Celebrity
The importance of pipes, wires and cables buried underground that support our daily lives is being “unearthed” with the help of Executive Producer, Host and Author Mike Rowe and his animated alter ego “micro Mike Rowe.”
SoCalGas Worker Killed in Gas Line Explosion, 15 Others Injured
A natural gas explosion destroyed a Southern California home, killed a gas company worker and injured more than a dozen other people Monday, authorities said.
One Injured in Oklahoma Pipeline Explosion
A natural gas pipeline explosion in Grady County, Oklahoma, on Tuesday, has injured one person, according to officials on Grady County Emergency Management.
Rehab Method Protects Pipeline Seams from Corrosion—and Floats
For the rehabilitation of a drinking water pipeline in the district of Aalen, 124 miles northeast of Munich, Germany, the DENSO Group Germany protects weld seams from corrosion quickly and efficiently using a new laying method that floats in water.
Convention Review: APCA Holds Successful Key Largo Convention
Attendees took advantage of topical education sessions, a variety of networking opportunities, fascinating tours and the 2nd Annual Associates Exhibit & Breakfast. They also honored outgoing APCA President William Schettine of Meridien Energy and enjoyed a lively keynote speech from football legend and American hero Rocky Bleier.
5 Workers Hurt in Houston-Area Natural Gas Line Explosion
Five workers have been injured when a natural gas line exploded in a residential neighborhood southeast of Houston. The blast occurred as a CenterPoint Energy contractor was working along a line Thursday.
Mike Rowe Helps Launch National Excavator Initiative
The importance of the pipes, wires, and cables buried underground that support our daily lives is being “unearthed” with the help of Executive Producer, Host, and Author Mike Rowe and his animated alter ego micro Mike Rowe. Known from the hit TV series Dirty Jobs, Deadliest Catch, and his groundbreaking Facebook show Returning the Favor, Rowe is also CEO of the mikeroweWORKS Foundation, a nonprofit organization that calls attention to America's skilled trade workforce and strives to close the skills gap.
NTSB Probe Yields New Safety Recommendations for Gas Utilities
Federal safety officials are recommending new rules for natural gas leak reporting and installations after investigating the cause of an explosion that killed seven people at a Maryland apartment complex in 2016.
Unusual Sliplining Solutions Developed on Los Angeles Project
Rehabilitating or replacing large-diameter sewer lines in heavily populated areas always is a challenge: heavy traffic complicates work and causes disruptions and traffic delays, creating a ripple affect extending far beyond the construction zones.
National Safe Digging Month Highlights Importance of Calling 811
(UC) - As the calendar turns to April and spring temperatures arrive, home improvement and construction work steadily increases. Since these projects often require digging and excavation, it is appropriate that April is designated as National Safe Digging Month. This nationwide public safety initiat..
Miami-Dade Almost Out of Money for Federally Mandated Sewage System Upgrades
Miami-Dade County, Fla., is on the brink of running out of money to pay for federally mandated upgrades to its outdated sewage system. This revelation comes just days after more than 700,000 gallons of sewage dumped into Biscayne Bay from the last remaining pump station yet to be scheduled for repairs.
Avanti International Celebrates 40 Year Anniversary
Avanti International is proud to announce that the company has reached a milestone, celebrating 40 years as an industry leader.
- Tunnel boring machine ‘Clack-A-Mole’ nears one-third completion in Oregon outfall project
- Explosion in underground PG&E vault leaves one dead in Richmond, Calif.
- Tennessee pipeline gets initial FERC approval despite environmental concerns
- Sinkhole in Texas town accrues over $800,000 in sewer rehabilitation costs
- Water and Sewer Damage Awareness Week highlights infrastructure challenges
- Wisconsin proposes new PFAS drinking water standards to align with federal rules
- Elgin, Ill., joins EPA drinking water initiative to accelerate lead pipe replacement
- Dog River pipeline replacement in Oregon improves water supply with new HDPE pipe
- GasTracker Accurately Locates Plastic Gas Pipes
- Union County, Ga., breaks ground on $20.5 million fiber broadband expansion project