With 47 wildfires already burning in Alberta, we can expect that this summer will bring more evacuations and challenges. The threat is real.

During a wildfire emergency, USP’s role is to maintain normal emergency procedures and to support utilities by updating contact information frequently to keep critical locate requests getting to and from the boots on the ground. The most important thing to remember in an emergency is that it is NOT the time to change procedures. By following established protocols and continuing to call in Emergency Locate Requests in advance of heavy equipment crossings or digging firebreaks, we can prevent compounding the danger to responders who are working near pipelines and overhead power.

Rogers Communications has been a USP member for quite some time; however, the company’s acquisition of Shaw Communications’ assets is a damage prevention game changer in Alberta.

Up until recently, anytime a diligent excavator was preparing to disturb the ground anywhere in Alberta, they would submit a locate request to USP and another directly to DigShaw. The parallel locate request process created an unnecessary second step that was sometimes overlooked.

I was a DPA (damage prevention associate) for my first two years with Utility Safety Partners (Alberta One-Call) and certainly dealt with more than a few inappropriate callers. Since becoming a team leader eight years ago, I now get the escalations of escalations, often folks at the brink of screaming due to their frustration around locate delays or other issues that have cropped up within the damage prevention industry over the years. As a supervisor, I am used to this level of escalation and take my role as a leader very seriously — I am happy to try and mitigate frustration so that our DPAs can spend their time and energy assisting folks with processing locate requests. Today, I would like to talk about USP’s stance on abusive behaviour toward our staff, management included.

Promoting safety awareness isn’t easy. We take our safety for granted. Despite the ample warnings and resources devoted to developing and promoting awareness campaigns, “It couldn’t happen to me” is what we often hear (or think).

I’ve been around long enough to have witnessed many campaigns over the years. Some were good. Some were really good. And some, well, they weren’t any good at all.

OK, the utility owners have marked your site where you intend to dig if they have buried lines below using flags and paint. They have left you with a document as well called a Locate Slip. You are clear on how to dig safely and understand the responsibilities as a ground disturber. But, what if other things come up and you’re not actually ready to dig. How long do you have before needing refresh the request? What is the process? 

Spring has sprung, for real! 

In a stark contrast to 2023, the 2024 spring season has been unseasonably dry. While we still get the occasional dump of snow, the actual weather (and resulting ground thaw) has allowed crews to hit the dirt early and fast. While we haven’t seen volume explode quite yet (though we are very close), we know that it is coming. We once again wait here, crouched and ready, with bated breath and gritted teeth, because those of us who have been here before know what is to come. May.

April is National Dig Safe Month, a time when all Canadians are reminded to dig safely. This year, USP’s Education and Awareness Committee celebrated Dig Safe Month by hosting free safety breakfasts across the province. There’s nothing like bacon and eggs to bring contractors, utility owners, line locators, and industry stakeholders together to discuss safe digging practices and new industry initiatives.

The Alternate Locate Provider (ALP) Program is a new option for how locates can be delivered in Alberta. The ALP Program provides excavators with the option to hire an approved locator to complete locates on behalf of participating USP members. The goal of the ALP Program is for project owners to receive locates in line with their project requirements and provide certainty around project timing and costs. The Alternate Locate Service Provider (ALSP) works directly for the project owner on their timeline and can serve to reduce unnecessary downtime to improve project outcomes.