Using Damage Prevention Data: Highlights from the 2020 DIRT Report

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Created: Wednesday, 01 December 2021 16:28

Written by Taylor Jones

Underground utility damages have a significant impact on communities in Minnesota and beyond. According to the Common Ground Alliance (CGA), the estimated annual societal cost of damages to buried utilities in the United States is $30 billion, accounting for direct and indirect costs. Even near-misses can potentially cause scheduling issues and lost time on the job. 

Each year, the CGA collects information about damages and near-misses from facility owners, locators and excavators in North America who voluntarily submit via the Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT). The results are then published in the annual DIRT Report, along with summaries, analyses and best practice recommendations. 

The 2020 DIRT Report, published in September 2021, includes data from more than 475,000 damage event submissions that the CGA received in 2020. Of that number, 4,542 events came from Minnesota—up from 4,308 in 2019 and 3,567 in 2018. Below is an overview of the key takeaways and trends. CGA members can also access the full 87-page DIRT report on the CGA website.

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Thanksgiving closures - Thursday, 11/25/21 and Friday, 11/26/21

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Created: Thursday, 18 November 2021 12:28

Written by Gopher State One Call

We will be taking calls for emergency locates only on Thursday, Nov. 25th and Friday, Nov. 26th in observance of Thanksgiving, but remember, you can file a ticket online 24/7. NOTE: Thursday and Friday will not count towards your standard 48 hour notice when filing a locate, so please plan accordingly.Upcoming Holidays

Here is a list of the remaining 2021 holidays observed by GSOC:

Thanksgiving Day – Thursday, November 25, 2021
Friday after Thanksgiving – Friday, November 26, 2021
Christmas Eve – Thursday, December 23, 2021 (observed)
Christmas Day – Friday, December 24, 2021 (observed)
New Year’s Day – Friday, December 31, 2021 (observed)

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2021 Damage Prevention Conference Highlights

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Created: Monday, 01 November 2021 16:45

Written by Dana Raidt

Damage prevention conferences are invaluable opportunities to network, discuss best practices and compare notes on how we can all work together to minimize damages. These events also foster a sense of shared responsibility by allowing us to make personal connections with others involved with damage prevention.

Because of the pandemic, in-person conferences and meetings have been less common over the past two years. But this fall saw the return of two key damage prevention conferences: the Users’ Group meeting (hosted by One Call Concepts for the company’s notification center clients) in Palm Springs in September, and the Common Ground Alliance Conference & Expo in Orlando in October.

Both conferences gave notification centers, facility operators, excavators, locators and others involved in underground utility damage prevention a long-awaited chance to meet and compare notes on topics such as technology and trends, how the pandemic has affected our work and how we can all work better together moving forward. Here are some of the highlights:

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Veterans Day closure - Thursday Nov, 11th, 2021

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Created: Monday, 25 October 2021 08:28

Written by Gopher State One Call

Gopher State One Call will be closed Thursday, November 11 in observance of Veterans Day. 

Emergency calls are exempt from business hours and always accepted, even on holidays. All non-emergency locate requests can be submitted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week online—but are processed only during GSOC’s business hours. Effective November 1 to March 31, Gopher State One Call business hours are 7 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday.

Any official holiday will not count toward your standard 48-hour notice when filing locate requests. Please plan accordingly.

How to Spot Underground Utilities in Your Neighborhood

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Created: Friday, 03 September 2021 16:09

Written by Dana Raidt

In the rush of daily life, it’s easy to forget about the massive network of buried utilities underneath us. In fact, according to the Common Ground Alliance, there are about 19 million miles of underground facilities in the United States, with more being installed every day.

These facilities provide heat, lights, sewer, water, communications and other services that homes, schools and businesses rely on day and night. Burying important pipes and cables underground helps protect them from exposure to the elements and from human-inflicted damage—which is why they need to be located and marked before anyone digs near them.

Below are some common underground utility indications that you may encounter every day as you walk, bike or drive through your neighborhood. Familiarize yourself with these landmarks and note them the next time you’re out and about. (Just remember to put safety first and keep your distance from any utility equipment—and remind children to do so as well.)

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