I want to shine a light on an area that does not receive a lot of attention, resulting in damages. Those are the newly installed underground utility lines. There is always a gap between the time they are built and installed until the time they are marked through the One-Call System. This gap has resulted in damages to these brand-new facilities because they were not marked after the a locate request submission. This gap is often caused by the official acceptance of those facilities by the final owner. If an existing underground facility owner commissions the new underground facility lines—whether it is a utility company, municipality, or water and sewer district—and involves only one type of facility, then the gap is smaller and does not last as long. There may even be cooperation between the design/engineering firm, contractor, and the final utility owner, indicating that they will provide locate ticket information so that someone, usually the contractor, can have someone mark out those new underground lines.
Continue reading “New Construction Utility Responsibility”Category: Uncategorized
“The Industry Built the Regulations by Digging Them.” An Interview with Keith and Marcia Mitchell
Keith and Marcia Mitchell of Pine Street Inc. are well-known figures in the Montana excavation community. They have more than 50 years of combined experience, after all. You might have seen them at Montana811 excavation safety training sessions, which they’ve attended every year. One Call Concepts, Inc., reached out to the couple on behalf of Montana811 to talk about their respective careers, the importance of damage prevention, and changes to the industry. They spoke with me via phone out of their business office in Glendive. Keith wears a hearing aid due to years of working with machinery, and so Marcia acted as a facilitator and repeated his answers to me.
Continue reading ““The Industry Built the Regulations by Digging Them.” An Interview with Keith and Marcia Mitchell”2019 Winter and Spring Educational Opportunities in Montana
From January-March 2019, Montana 811 is hosting FREE one-call excavator trainings throughout the state. These events are designed for professional excavators, contractors, and member utilities to learn about the one-call system, safe excavation, and understanding their rights and responsibilities under the updated Montana One Call Law. We will also cover studies of previous excavation accidents and how they could’ve been prevented. Feel free to ask any questions and make comments during these trainings. Whether you attend a morning or evening training, we will provide a meal. There will be two presentations:
Continue reading “2019 Winter and Spring Educational Opportunities in Montana”Winter Safety Tips
Montana 811 consistently strives to promote the message of safety to all stakeholders. Winter often brings severe storms and frigid temperatures. Stay safe and healthy by planning ahead. No matter how many Montana winters you’ve endured, keeping these important tips in mind will help you get safely through this winter:
Continue reading “Winter Safety Tips”