Damage Reporting Engagement in Alberta
By the time you read this article, the latest Canadian Common Ground Alliance''s DIRT Report (Damage Information Reporting Tool) will be available on the CCGA''s website. Unfortunately, though, this eNewsletter's publishing schedule doesn't align with release of the DIRT Report so we can't show you the whole thing – but there is some interesting info we just can't wait to share!
Alberta's damage prevention stakeholders have enjoyed a collaborative damage prevention relationship for decades and over the years, it has continued to improve. That relationship, based on mutual respect and meaningful engagement, has been the key to increased confidence in the anonymity of reporting damages into DIRT and increasing the number of submitters across the province.
The DIRT Report provides a great deal of very useful information but it is impossible for it to tell the whole story. Over the years, one of my personal concerns is the appearance that Alberta damages are higher compared to other provinces – and to the untrained eye, that would be the case. This year, however, for the first time, damage data in each province gets a little more context.
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Before it unified services with Alberta One-Call Corporation, the Alberta Common Ground Alliance did a tremendous job promoting the benefits of DIRT and damage reporting in general. The ABCGA reached out to Alberta's digging community and over time, generated their trust and collaboration, the outcome of which is noted by the number of registered DIRT submitters in the province of Alberta – 71! For a province with a population less than 5 million people, securing 71 DIRT submitters deserves recognition and should be celebrated.
As we continue to drive to our objective to reduce and eliminate damages, the sheer number of meaningfully engaged parties across the province who recognize the value of damage reporting to find ways to prevent a recurrence is a critical element moving forward.
Mike Sullivan, President ? Utility Safety Partners