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Annual Excavation-Related Damages to Underground Facilities Increased from 2017 to 2018, According to Latest CGA DIRT Report

WASHINGTON (Sept. 26, 2019) – Common Ground Alliance (CGA), the stakeholder-driven organization dedicated to protecting underground utility lines, people who dig near them and their communities, today announced its findings from the 2018 Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) Report.  

The report, which analyzes all 2018 data submitted anonymously and voluntarily by facility operators, utility locating companies, one call centers, contractors, regulators and others, used a refined statistical modeling process to estimate that 509,000 excavation-related... more

Common Ground Alliance’s Inaugural White Paper Offers Data-Supported Recommendations for Improved Excavator Training and Outreach

WASHINGTON (May 1, 2019) – Common Ground Alliance (CGA), the leading national authority on protecting underground utility infrastructure from excavation-related damages and near-miss events, today announced the release of a new White Paper that offers a blueprint for all stakeholders to increase the effectiveness of their outreach to professional excavators about preventing damage to underground utilities.  

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Survey reveals more than 40% of homeowners who plan to dig this year will put themselves and others at risk by not calling 811 before starting

WASHINGTON (April 1, 2019) – In observance of National Safe Digging Month in April, the Common Ground Alliance today announced results from a recent national survey. The results revealed that 42% of homeowners who plan to dig this year for projects like landscaping, installing a fence or mailbox, or building a deck, pond or patio and other DIY projects, will put themselves and their communities at risk by not calling 811 a few days beforehand to learn the approximate location of underground utilities.

Digging without knowing the... more

Revamped Common Ground Alliance DIRT Report Estimates Damage to Buried Utilities Has Increased on Pace with Excavation Activity Between 2015 and 2017

WASHINGTON (Sept. 19, 2018) – Common Ground Alliance (CGA), the stakeholder-driven organization dedicated to protecting underground utility lines, people who dig near them and their communities, today announced its findings and analysis of utility damage and near-miss events in the 2017 Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) Report.

The report, which analyzes all 2017 data submitted anonymously and voluntarily by facility operators, utility locating companies, one call centers, contractors, regulators and others, used a refined statistical modeling process to... more

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