Underground Safety And Utility Damage Prevention Is "A Shared Responsibility"

Safety and utility damage prevention is a shared responsibility. Whether you are a facility owner/operator, locator, design professional, One–Call Center employee, excavator/contractor or other stakeholder, insuring the safety of those who work and live in the vicinity of existing underground facilities is a shared responsibility.

AGC of America, Locate Accurately/Dig Safely and the Common Ground Alliance are dedicated to shared responsibility in damage prevention and the promotion of practices identified as "best" through the US DOT'S One–Call Systems Best Practices Study. To access the entire study and its findings, please click here.

AGC of America is collecting Damage Data!

AGC of America is collecting data to help identify the root causes of damages to underground facilities. This information will be used to help us work with other stakeholder groups to ensure that all parties do their part in protecting our workforce, the public and vital facilities. Your input will strengthen the construction industries voice in shaping the future of safety and underground utility damage prevention.

The reporting format is identical to a form recommended in the Common Ground Best Practices Study and is endorsed by all stakeholders in the one–call process. We encourage you to report whenever damage occurs.

All information you provide is used for statistical analysis only. All personnel information such as your name and/or company name is not made available to anyone other than AGC staff.

The coalition and spirit of cooperation embodied in the Common Ground Study has been transformed into a foundation dedicated to underground utility damage prevention. The Common Ground Alliance (CGA) is an organization made up of representatives from all stakeholder groups associated with underground utility damage prevention.

AGC was an integral part of the Common Ground Study and a leader in the formation of the CGA. We have representatives on the CGA Board of Directors and all working committees. We feel the CGA is the one place all aspects of damage prevention can be addressed with input from all involved parties.

Historically, safety and damage prevention efforts have been addressed by separate industries on their own terms from their perspective. This has lead to finger pointing and laying blame on one group or another. The CGA allows all stakeholders to sit at the table together to address and overcome the many difficulties associated with working in the vicinity of underground facilities.

We encourage all members of AGC to join the CGA. Your participation guarantees your interests are addressed and the construction industry is well represented. Membership dues are minimal and with them you will have access to up–to–date information on damage prevention as well as input into damage prevention practices that affect the way you do business and your bottom line.

FULL VERSION of the Common Ground Study.

Additional Resources:

• Locate Accurately
• APWA Uniform Color Code .PDF
• Common Ground Best Practices
• State One Call Center Contacts and Laws
• Carolinas AGC Utility Division
• Dig Safely
• RSPA
• Office of Pipeline Safety
• The Weather Channel