Thirty-nine years ago, the first locate request was submitted through the notification centre in Alberta. This marked a critical milestone in protecting Albertans and the extensive underground facility network that surrounds us. As an industry, we have come a long way since 1984, improving safety and damage prevention practices through collaboration and innovation; yet none of this would have been possible without the initiative and dedication shared by like-minded individuals nearly four decades ago. 

Have you ever wondered if there was a resource for your team to help get the word out about safety? Maybe to educate your organization on safety regulations and best practices while excavating? Well, there is! Utility Safety Partners has a team of safety ambassadors you can request for various events, such as trade shows, presentations or ground-breaking ceremonies. This is a great group of folks that is always happy and willing to share knowledge with the excavating community.

They always say, “Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it.” I believe that in the recent past, I have been caught wishing for a warm, sunny spring in Alberta. 

When training new Damage Prevention Associates (DPAs) at Utility Safety Partners, we recognize that not everyone processes information the same way as their peers. There are four core learning styles: visual, auditory, read/write, and kinesthetic. Visual learners process information most effectively through visual aids and cues. They prefer images, diagrams, or graphics to help them understand concepts. Auditory learners thrive by listening and speaking, preferring lectures or discussions surrounding topics they are interested in learning about. Read/write learners prefer written content, whether that be textbooks, articles, or even procedural documentation. Lastly, kinesthetic learners function best in hands-on environments, where they can get their hands dirty, both literally and figuratively.

ISO 9001 is an international standard that sets out the requirements for quality management systems. The standard ensures an organization’s quality management system (QMS) includes a strong customer focus, the motivation of top management, follows a process approach, and incorporates continual improvement. To become ISO certified, an organization must pass an independent third-party audit demonstrating its practices meet the standards published by the International Standards Organization (ISO).

As you would expect, the amount of underground infrastructure in the United Kingdom is mind boggling. The largest “One-Call” kind of service in the UK is Line Search Before You Dig (LSBUD), which protects just over half the buried pipes, cables and fibre lines.

Member services team? Yeah, we have that! Come and read a bit about us!

Before You Dig Partners (BC1Call, Utility Safety Partners, Sask1stCall and ClickBeforeYouDigMB) has been hard at work helping to develop and test a new OneCallAccess user interface for the excavating community. This new and improved site will be easier to navigate and should make the process of requesting a locate smoother for everyone. 

Utility Safety Partners, as a communications service between ground disturbers and the owners of critical infrastructure, can play a critical role during emergency events. During events like the Slave Lake fire, 2013 flood, Fort McMurray fires and the current wildfire situation in Northwestern Alberta, USP provided a link between emergency incident commanders and the utilities in the affected areas. During natural disasters, there are a host of first responders and emergency management personnel put in harm’s way. While they focus on controlling the immediate threat, it is critical they preserve existing safety procedures in place. When steps get missed or skipped, things can go sideways fast.