Safety Update

Safety Update: Safe Digging Month

The Alberta Damage Prevention Council (ADPC) proclaims April as Safe Digging Month since April is the general start up of the annual digging season. In support of this initiative the topic of this eCompliance Safety Update is Damage Prevention to Buried Facilities. 

Although the exact length of the network of buried infrastructure in Alberta is not known, it is speculated that it is in excess of 1,500,000 km including 400,000 km of high pressure pipeline. Installation of buried facilities has been ongoing for almost 100 years and continues till this day. Every year the network increases in complexity, extent, and types of facilities installed. 

These buried facilities, such as cablevision, telephonic communications, sewage, water, and natural gas, provide goods and services to the public and are essential to the functioning of our society. Damage to buried facilities can result in many consequences from loss of life, personal injury, property damage, and environmental contamination. 

Anyone involved in disturbing the ground from homeowners, contractors, and ground disturbers, can save time and money by following best practices for the prevention of damage to buried facilities. This includes: 

• contacting Alberta one-call in advance of any ground disturbance project; 
• waiting for locates of buried facilities to be completed; 
• respecting the locate marks; 
• exposing buried facilities before using mechanical excavation equipment; and 
• digging with care. 

Most importantly, damage prevention to buried facilities is about keeping the environment and people safe which is a shared responsibility by all stakeholders involved. 

Organizations that endorse Safe Digging Month strongly advocate:

• the need to Call Before You Dig; 
• membership in Alberta One Call by all buried facility owners and operators; 
• formal ground disturbance training for commercial ground disturbers; and  
• use of Alberta One Call to request buried facility locates 

For more information on Safe Digging Month please visit the ADPC Website

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eCompliance provides information about topical OH&S issues to assist existing and potential customers to cope with their own OH&S needs. It is not intended to be legal information or legal advice. Although we go to great lengths to make sure our information is accurate and useful, we recommend you consult a lawyer if you want professional assurance that our information, and your interpretation of it, is appropriate to your particular situation.