Bye Bye 2022 and Hello 2023!!!

Bye Bye 2022 and Hello 2023!!!

Most of us tend to look forward, and perhaps it’s human nature to do so. But, when you’re working towards goals and objectives, it’s important to reflect, acknowledge and respect the past. It’s what got you here, to where you are today. Our predecessors did their absolute best using the tools they had to meet the same objectives we share today. Their ways weren’t "old” or antiquated at the time. In fact, they were likely considered cutting edge – the same way we view ourselves today.

Looking back, 2022 was a year of grounding. Unification of Alberta One-Call Corporation, the Alberta Common Ground Alliance and the Where’s the LINE program which took place in 2021 had settled in and the new organization had taken shape. While the Contact Centre continued its feverish pace managing the locate request and notification process for Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, the committees that operated under the previous Alberta Common Ground Alliance had clearly hit their stride. 

The Training Standards Committee regrouped in early 2021; revising documentation to align with the new organization. And in the latter part of 2021 and throughout ’22, it thrived managing Ground Disturbance 201 Standards in neighbouring provinces and introducing Ground Disturbance 101 – awareness for construction workers, general labourers and equipment operators. The TSC also launched a Task Force to develop a much-needed Locating and Marking Standard that will revolutionize the locating process across the province of Alberta. 

The Education and Public Awareness Committee also regained post-pandemic momentum during the planning and announcement of the 2023 Safety Conference – Back to LIFE! This committee has a lot more in store moving forward.

The Best Practices Committee is also invigorated by a new Chair (thank you, Ed Plant!) while it takes on some big challenges revising the Damage Prevention Process in Alberta and digging deeper into the CCGA Best Practices. One of its foremost goals in 2023 is to collectively rewrite the section on Notification Centre Best Practices with its counterparts across the country.

USP’s Government Relations Committee continues to work on securing damage prevention legislation for Alberta and ongoing work with the Alberta Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association continues to push that file forward while the Alberta government is kept informed.

Finally, a new Task Force addressing overhead powerline safety, is preparing to launch a pilot in January 2023 that will alert any person performing a ground disturbance near an overhead powerline of the safety precautions to take when doing so. It’s anticipated that this notification to a person imminently working near overhead powerlines will provide a timely reminder and complement USP’s existing overhead powerline awareness program on radio and social media.

Amidst all this, the core work of Utility Safety Partners continues – helping prevent damages to Alberta’s energy and utility industry, thereby preserving public, worker and community safety.

Thank you for being part of our safety journey this past year. On behalf of my colleagues and USP’s Board of Directors, I wish you a safe, happy and prosperous New Year!

Mike Sullivan - President - Utility Safety Partners