Are you ready to dig deeper into Alberta’s excavation safety? In the newest episode of The Safety Moment Podcast, host Mike Sullivan dives into the details of Alberta’s newly launched Alternate Locate Provider (ALP) program. Episode 61 of The Safety Moment Podcast brings together industry experts Ron Laidman from Enertia Solutions and Iain Stables from ATCO Gas to discuss this innovative program, which is poised to revolutionize the damage prevention process in Alberta.

The Federation of Alberta Gas Co-ops is celebrating 60 years of excellence, collaboration, and innovation in the natural gas industry! Since its inception six decades ago, the federation has been a pillar of support for gas cooperatives across Alberta, championing their interests and fostering a strong sense of community among its members.

Join us at the JW Marriott ICE District in Edmonton April 14-15, 2025, and celebrate Dig Safe Month by learning about all things damage prevention and utility safety. This two-day event will be packed with educational sessions, training opportunities, recognition awards, a tradeshow, and more!

A few months ago, I wrote an article on the paradox of damage prevention legislation. Given how consumed I am with the subject, I find myself revisiting the topic again and expanding my thoughts around it. So, if you’ll indulge me once again.

August is, if nothing else, steady. 

Steady drumming of fingers on keyboards, steady calls flowing effortlessly through our VoiP system and into the waiting ears of agents, and steady days of continuous work becoming steady weeks.

2024 however is a bit different. Agents seem more focused, involved, dare I say, invigorated? This may at least be in some small part due to our new Agent Incentivization Program introduced in 2024. We’ve passed through two intervals so far and rewarded four agents for achieving the highest accuracy scores over a four-week interval, and the largest Improvement in their accuracy over the same interval.

Are You Prepared for the Unexpected?  

In episode 60 of The Safety Moment Podcast, host Mike Sullivan engages in conversation with guest Carlin Lutzer about the importance of safety precautions when working alone. This episode highlights the risks faced by professionals in various industries, such as real estate and land management, who often find themselves in potentially dangerous situations while working independently.

In Alberta, the protection of provincially and federally regulated pipelines is of paramount importance to ensure the safety of both the infrastructure and the surrounding environment. One key measure in place to safeguard these pipelines is the establishment of a 30-metre safety zone, or in the case of federally regulated pipelines, the prescribed area. This zone serves as a critical buffer area around these pipelines, aimed at preventing accidental damage, unauthorized access, and potential hazards that could compromise their integrity.

The dig site map on a locate request is the foundation on which the Click Before You Dig process is built. An accurate map is a strong base leading to a safe excavation. If the map is inaccurate, the next steps in the process are built on that false information which — despite checks and balances — can lead to damage or injury.

Imagine for a moment our world without damage prevention governance; without the call/click before you dig services. Pre-work planning would require diligent ground disturbers to go to site and scan the area for the presence of buried or overhead utilities, search land titles to determine the presence of rights of way, submit a locate request to each utility owner, request a review of the proposed ground disturbance project, and secure individual crossing, or proximity agreements if necessary.