Failure to Notify - What can we do?
Imagine the disruption: a sudden power outage affecting hundreds of homes, a gas leak forcing evacuations, or worse, a worker injured by an electrical strike. These are the real-world consequences of hitting underground utility lines, and they happen far too often. A recent report from PG&E paints a stark picture: nearly 1,300 such incidents occurred in their service area in 2023, with a disturbing 63% resulting from a failure to simply call 811 before digging. This human error highlights the need not only for greater awareness but also for better tools to manage the complexities of the locate process and to proactively identify areas at risk, even when a call isn't made. That's why contacting 811 or your local One Call Center before you dig is essential—and often legally required.
While the importance of notifying One Call is widely understood, even when the call is made, the subsequent locate process can be a significant challenge. Managing paperwork, interpreting complex locate requests, and coordinating with multiple stakeholders can be time-consuming, error-prone, and ultimately contribute to delays and potential damage. This is where technology can make a real difference.
The Power of AI in Damage Prevention:
Smart ticket management systems, leverage the power of artificial intelligence to transform the locate process. Here's how:
But....
But you might be thinking, "How does this help if people aren't notifying before digging in the first place?"
领英推荐
A key reason people don't call 811 isn't always ignorance; it's often the perceived delay associated with the locate process. They may weigh the perceived risk against the time it takes to wait for locates and choose to proceed without proper notification. Technology like Utilocate addresses this directly by significantly speeding up the locate process. By reducing wait times, we incentivize calling 811 and make it a more practical and less burdensome part of the excavation workflow.
Furthermore, systems like Urbint go beyond reactive locate management by addressing the critical issue of no-call-in (NCI) damages. Using diverse datasets NCI Damage Reduction solutions proactively identify areas at high risk for excavation without an 811 request. This allows utilities and other stakeholders to take preventative measures, such as targeted outreach or enhanced monitoring, to minimize the likelihood of damage even when a call isn't made. This proactive approach complements the reactive capabilities of smart ticket management systems, providing a comprehensive solution for damage prevention.
Conclusion
While reactive measures like calling 811 are essential, relying solely on them is no longer sufficient in today's complex environment. The PG&E report highlights the significant number of incidents where even this basic step is missed, and even when it's taken, the locate process itself can introduce further risks. That's why it's time to reassess your damage prevention technology stack and prioritize proactive solutions. By integrating AI-powered ticket management systems like Utilocate with Urbint's NCI capabilities, you can shift from a reactive to a proactive stance, anticipating and mitigating risks before they escalate into costly and dangerous incidents.
Field Investigator - Project Resources Group
1 个月Every state I have worked in has a law requiring a notification to excavate and the fines for not doing so can be extreme. The problem is this is not enforced, at all, so some contractors see this as an empty threat for non-compliance. One state even has a ticket type called a "Non-compliance', stating they will dig, locate marks or not. The processes are laid out per state and the info for those processes is available to everyone by simply searching the internet. I think an automated system would, in fact, help to alleviate some of this, especially if the timeframe could be decreased, but this requires some type of contact to be made by an excavator who intends to dig to get the ball rolling. These contractors are given timelines by their client to have the infrastructure installed or face fines, which can be hefty, for everyday they exceed that timeline but beneficial when they come in under it. Normally, in my experience, it is not the big names who fail to notify, but the smaller ones. This is a three-way street; excavator, owner, and locator. More on that later! If one misses the beat, the risk increases. Knowledge is always the best bet. Know the state's dig laws and follow them. Let the AI do the rest.