The Summit began on Monday, April 16 with two all-day workshops. The first was a competent person training focused on OSHA standards and safety aspects of excavation and trenching work. The workshop, conducted by National Trench Safety, introduced practical soil types analysis and testing, allowing students to use instruments such as pocket penetrometers and hand-operated shear vanes. Other topics covered included expectations of a competent person, regulations for various types of trench safety equipment, identification and control of hazardous conditions, and proper safety procedures for work near underground utilities.

The second workshop focused on utility locator training. The course was taught by Bob Nighswonger, of Utility Training Academy. The two-fold training session began with a live classroom training session followed by hands-on instruction performed outdoors, where a variety of locating equipment was put to the test.http://laonecall.aligningchange.com/wp-admin/media-upload.php?post_id=273&type=image&TB_iframe=1&width=640&height=752

The second day of the Summit offered a variety of sessions meant to educate, inform and raise awareness among anyone who works around underground utilities.

“It was nice to come together to talk about damage prevention,” said Thelma Latham, General Manager of Louisiana One Call. “There is no statewide place where people can network. The gas industry and the electric cooperative do their own thing, but this is the only one that allows everyone to come together as a group.” Thelma said the event was very well attended, including great representation from the members of the Board of Directors and staff of Louisiana One Call.
Breakout sessions included a discussion of cross bores and sewer laterals, GIS mapping and knowledge, Locating 101 and damage prevention both underground and underwater. Chris Giveans, of Miller Pipeline, explained that cross bores of gas lines in sewers are a recognized risk to safety. He discussed the history of cross bores, regulations, and solutions to prevent the creation of new cross bores. GIS technology is beneficial to the facility owner in providing enhanced underground facility locating. Jeff Elliott, of Magnolia River Services, talked about the uses of this tool from keeping the facility location data correct to capturing GPS coordinates of facilities. Locating 101 offered an overview of the basic locating theory followed by an outdoor demonstration by Charlie Gauthier of Ditch Witch.

Updates were provided on Louisiana Dig Law and Enforcement and new advancements at Louisiana One Call. Louisiana One Call Damage Prevention Manager David Frey with Gene Dunegan, of the Louisiana State Police, discussed things anyone who excavates in the state should know about the “Dig Law.” Jim Holzer, of One Call Concepts, joined Thelma Latham to talk about several new products and services at Louisiana One Call. They talked about how to get the most of any interaction or experience with Louisiana One Call Center.

Bob Kipp, President of Common Ground Alliance (CGA), provided a national overview of what is happening in the damage prevention world.

A highlight for Latham was the session she attended which was presented by Alabama 811 Executive Director Annette Reburn. Annette recalled the day her office was severely damaged when a tornado ripped through Fultondale, Alabama, last April. She told how Alabama 811 was able to work through the disaster with very little disruption in services because they had an established disaster recovery plan in place. The experiences she shared offered lessons for everyone in being prepared to handle any disaster either man-made or natural.

Thelma was not only an attendee and presenter, but also an exhibitor, which allowed her the opportunity to experience the event from all perspectives. She was amazed that many sessions were standing room only. “The talk among attendees was that they were pleased with the event,” she said.

The final day of the Summit on Wednesday, April 18 offered more sessions to provide new perspectives and points of view to damage prevention stakeholders. Sessions included what it is like during A Day in the Life of a Locator. Bo Womack, of USIC Locating Services, talked about what his typical day is like, the conditions he works in and interesting experiences he has had.

Sean Wolfe and Peter Borsack, of CobbFendley, gave the engineers’ perspectives on how damage prevention begins during the design phase. Sean and Peter discussed how making design changes in the construction phase when a contractor’s crews and equipment are on site is the most costly proposal. During their presentation, both engineers explained Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) and the Utility Coordination process. Both SUE and Utility Coordination can keep projects on time, under budget and safe.

Another new technology discussed was how to make plastic pipe locatable. Randy Flamm, of 3M, explained how non-metallic pipes are currently marked by various methods including visual markers, tracer wire and passive electronic markers. He discussed a new state-of-the-art technology for locating plastic pipe using passive resonant markers that can be installed in caution tape or attached directly to the plastic pipe and conduit.

A highlight of the Summit included an inspirational keynote speech following the evening meal on Tuesday by former Super Bowl champion Keith Jackson. The audience was entertained by his humorous stories about his days on the field at the University of Oklahoma and in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, and Green Bay Packers. He shared life lessons learned both on and off the football field and captivated the audience with his words of wisdom, stories about his heroes, from his coaches and teammates to his mom, and inspired attendees to go out and make a difference in the lives of others.

Thelma raved about Keith Jackson, saying he stayed around after the presentation for photo opportunities and to talk with attendees. “He so personable,” she said.

The final session of the Summit concluded with remarks from Roger Cox, of ACTS Now, Inc., who presented one lucky attendee randomly selected to receive a $500 grand prize. The winner was Tony Sibley with Entergy Gas.

Sponsors for the Summit included Louisiana One Call, Atmos Energy and Progressive Partnering, Inc., as platinum sponsors. Gold sponsors included Louisiana Gas Association and Shell Pipeline Company. Among the silver sponsors were Badger Daylighting, CenterPoint Energy, Colonial Pipeline Company, Entergy, Loop LLC, Locap Pipeline, One Call Concepts and USIC Locating Services. Chesapeake Midstream, CobbFendley, Columbia Gulf Transmission, Denbury, Ditch Witch, Enertech, Grady Crawford Construction Company, Inc., KorTerra, Magnolia River Services, National Trench Safety and Vermeer were the bronze sponsors. In addition to the sponsors, the exhibit hall featured more than 35 vendors who were on display throughout the three-day conference to showcase their products and services.

Plans are underway for the 2013 Louisiana Damage Prevention Summit. Thelma said that as word spreads about the information gained and experiences had at this year’s Summit, she expects to see attendance increase for next year.
For information and updates, visit www.laonecall.com.

Waiting Period Changed

Under the revised statute, utilities, pipelines and other operators will have a little more time to mark their underground facilities. The waiting period is now two full business days beginning at 7 a.m. on the next working day after the excavator files their request to have the site marked.

Emergency Excavations Redefined

The revised law now defines emergencies more strictly. The new definition requires that excavators who declare an emergency must have a crew on site when an emergency is declared, and provides for penalties up to $5,000 for repeated violations of this requirement.

Markings Valid Longer

Once the site is marked, the markings are considered valid so long as they are visible for up to 20 calendar days on non-agricultural sites, doubling the time allowed before such sites must be marked again. Farmers and other agricultural excavators get an additional 10 days and therefore need not request re-marking for 30 days so long as the marks remain visible.

More Time to Plan Large Jobs

Excavators working on large projects may now request utility location up to 20 days in advance.

Utility Operators May Elect Not to Receive Notifications

Finally, the new law will allow utility operators excavating near their own underground systems to elect not to receive notifications involving their own work.

The revised law can be reviewed here on our web site, where links are provided to the original text on the Louisiana Legislature’s web site.

Please Dig Safely

Now and always, call before you dig. Wait for the site to be marked. Respect the marks, and dig with care.

Both have true-to-life M.O.’s. However, you’ll meet the pair in the pages of their first coloring book. Burnie, a natural gas flame character, and Earl, an oil drop, star in “The Adventures of BURNIE & EARL.” Creator Mike Fési hopes that, through their adventures, Burnie and Earl will entertain and educate the general public about the petroleum industry.

Fési, owner of Louisiana-based Pipeline Construction & Maintenance, Inc., dreamed up the two characters. “About a year ago, I noticed an abundance of negativity being directed toward our industry. I realized that we needed to teach kids, and adults alike, how important the petroleum industry is to our everyday lives. Burnie and Earl can educate others about safety, 811, staying drug-free, and many other positive aspects of the petroleum industry.”

He then tapped the talents of two in-house employees with experience in design, Mike Smith & Eric Tabor. The two combined to sketch the first prototypes. “Mike is a project estimator at PCM, but he has a degree in Computer Animation. Eric has been doing graphic design work for me since he was 16. After he graduated from college, I had to come up with a good idea to keep him on board,” said Fési with a laugh. The project has since took off and is now being developed in collaboration with Houston-based Softway Solutions.

Fési established Kid Energy USA, L.L.C, to create and manage all Burnie and Earl associated media. His son Mike Fési II, an entertainment producer and promoter, serves as Vice President. Mike Smith leads animation development as VP of Animation, and Eric Tabor participates in day-to-day operations as VP of Production.

The team is working hard to spread the message beyond the petroleum industry. “We noticed that 811 is making moves to reach the general public about calling before digging, and so we brought the coloring book to Paul Blouin, president of Louisiana One Call,” said Fési.

Tabor added, “We decided that 811, considering their efforts to reach the common consumer, would be a great introduction for Burnie and Earl. In the larger scheme of things, we simply hope that Burnie and Earl can become positive representatives for the entire industry.”

“I think, through these characters, we can gather attention and spread 811’s message rather quickly,” said Fési. “Parents tend to take notice of what their kids learn right away.”

He noted that “The Adventures of BURNIE & EARL” has been well-received. “The response has been overwhelming! We’ve run the characters by many people throughout the industry and have received very positive feedback.”

As for the younger audience, Fési’s seven grandkids (all aged 7 and under) are more than excited. “My granddaughter came home and said, ‘Papa, I need more coloring books for school.’ She is handing them out there right and left. We want Burnie and Earl to tour schools, and we’re in the process of making mascots to do so.”

Today, the team is developing a 3D animated cartoon of Burnie and Earl’s premiere 811 adventure. “We’re looking forward to the Fall 2012 release of the 811/‘Pool Party’ cartoon,” said Fési. “This has been a very exciting process, and we’re thrilled to continue onward with the characters of Burnie and Earl. The sky is the limit!”

For more information, or to order a coloring book, contact Kid Energy USA at KidEnergyUSA.com or BurnieAndEarl.com.

The PSA of 2011 was signed by the President January 3, 2012. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA’s) last reauthorization was in late 2006 and this one was delayed because of a number of high profile pipeline (and non-pipeline) incidents and at least 15 congressional hearings. The good news is that it is now a “done deal” and PHMSA can start on the mountain of work created by the reauthorization – no more speculation about what might or might not happen. There were 32 sections to the Act – the first is the short title and the last is the authorization of appropriations (basically the same level of funding – just under $91M/year – and the same number of employees through 2015 – a little over 200). Space will not permit touching on all the other sections so I have picked a few that might be of interest to the readership (by section) and summarized them as follows:

2. Civil penalties that may be imposed by PHMSA are basically doubled with a few other relatively minor enhancements.

3. States are strongly encouraged to NOT exempt municipalities, State agencies or their contractors from state one-call notification system requirements.

4. PHMSA has 2 years to establish regulations requiring automatic or remote-controlled shut-off valves for new gas and liquid pipelines. Note that the Comptroller General (another Federal Agency) is required by this same section to study the use of such valves in high consequence areas.

6. PHMSA is now officially required to provide copies of Part 194 (liquid pipeline) emergency response plans upon written request of any person. Proprietary and sensitive information may be excluded.

9. PHMSA has 18 months to establish a 1-hour maximum time limit to report pipeline incidents to the National Response Center and to PHMSA. Additional information regarding each incident would be required.

16. PHMSA has 18 months to conduct a study regarding the risk of releases associated with the transportation of diluted bitumen. (Anyone care to take a stab at where this came from?)

21. PHMSA has 2 years to submit a report to Congress regarding the safety of onshore and offshore (including the inlets of the Gulf of Mexico) gas and hazardous liquid gathering lines. (Translation: Should current gathering regulations be revised and current exemptions altered or eliminated?)

22. PHMSA has two years to add distribution branch services, multifamily facilities and small commercial services to the Excess Flow Valve requirements in Subpart H to 49 CFR Part 192.

28. PHMSA has 1 year to conduct a study of hazardous liquid pipeline incidents at crossings of inland bodies of water with a width of at least 100 feet from high water mark to high water mark to determine if depth of cover over the buried pipeline was a factor in any accidental releases. If current depth-of-cover regulations are found inadequate, PHMSA would have an additional year to “develop legislative recommendations.”

To get the full flavor, you need to read the entire PSA of 2011. It is not perfect, but it is what it is and PHMSA has its marching orders for the next several years. We have already started working on it. Contracts have been awarded and new Notices of Proposed Rulemakings are imminent. Stay tuned, it is going to get interesting!

There are a lot of differences between the stakeholders. As independent companies, you have different owners and each of you has your own goals along your journey to be financially successful. What you do is different. You’ve got issues within your company that the other entities are not aware of and, you might argue, don’t need to be aware of. You’ve got your set of personnel issues and struggle to maximize the use of resources.

Let’s address another question — what do you have in common? You want to be profitable, you provide a livelihood to employees and their families, you have common people issues, etc. More specifically, you interact in the same industry. The question is do these commonalities make you a team?
Before answering that question, let’s list the basic characteristics of a team.

1. Members have a common vision and goal.
2. Each member knows their roles and responsibilities to achieve.
3. Each member proactively meets/exceeds the expectations of other team members.
4. Each member gives and receives feedback.
5. There is an accountability system to keep members working to achieve a common goal.

Let’s consider the impact of a common vision and goal. Having worked within organizations as a consultant the past 20 + years, I know that having a common vision and goal are critical for members within a team or departments within the same company to feel as one team. A vision and goal provide direction so employees know where you are going and what is to be achieved. They provide employees a purpose and give meaning to their work. People like feeling like an integral part of something larger than themselves. Consequently, your employees will be more loyal, have a higher morale, and will be more productive when they feel as though everyone in your company is striving to achieve the same vision and common goals.

In your case, you are independent companies working together under the umbrella of damage prevention. You may not have sat around a conference table to define your common vision and goal, but it seems logical to assume that you should have a common vision to prevent damages. Could we be so bold as to say that the glue that binds you independent stakeholders together is the goal to prevent damages? If so, it would seem logical that each of you is a member of an overall damage prevention team.

If you agree, that sets the stage for you to help each other succeed rather than each of you going off in different directions with little regard for other stakeholders. Chris Ernst and Donna Chrobot-Mason report the same in their recent book, Boundary Spanning Leadership (2011). Common sense dictates that we ought to help each other to be successful. Would you agree?

Let’s look at this issue from another perspective. As I’ve said, WHAT each of you does is different. Consequently HOW you do what you do is different. If I were to ask you “WHY” you do what you do, you may respond to “make a profit.” In reality, though, profit is a by-product of successfully completing your job responsibilities so that the excavator works safely. The logical conclusion is that the common WHY among you independent companies is to prevent damages by helping people work safely.

I’m out of space so the next time we’ll continue our discussion of being members of a damage prevention team.

There was a little patch of timber across the road from our house probably no more than 10 acres total. There was plenty of hard wood and lots of squirrels. I was allowed to go hunting in that little patch of woods by myself. Auntie would always say, “Son, don’t cross that fence into the big woods.”
“Yes, ma’am,” and off I’d go. Actually hunting inside the fence was usually pretty good, but today was not a day to brag about. There I was sitting in my usual spot looking at my favorite tree and nothing was happening on my side of the fence.

But on the other side, I could hear hundreds, maybe thousands of squirrels barking. Some of them even sounded like they were laughing at me. I couldn’t stand it. I reasoned, “If I crawled under the fence to get my limit, who would know?”

Though I had heard about people getting lost in the big woods, it never crossed my mind that I could, even with the sun hanging low in the west. After all, I was going to stay close to the fence and I was only going to be in there long enough to get my limit.

When I crawled under the fence, I heard a squirrel jumping from limb to limb. I looked up, took aim, fired and down he came. Just a few seconds later, I heard another squirrel and I began walking toward the sound. I don’t know exactly how long I walked, but I guess the squirrel heard me walking and hid.
That’s when I first noticed it was graveyard quiet and getting serious dark as well. Then I heard the night birds rustling around in the bushes. I think it was then that I realized that I was in the big woods and in deep trouble. It was dark, and because I had been walking around looking at the timber, I wasn’t really sure where the fence was. I wasn’t even sure where I was.

That’s when it dawned on me. I was a goner!

I stumbled around in the dark until I remembered my old friend Dillard telling me one time that if I ever got lost the best thing to do was to stay calm, sit down and pick out a landmark and walk to it. That part about staying calm was easier when I was on Dillard’s front porch. But I did sit down and began to peer through the ever increasing black night.

I knew that if I ever got out of this alive, my Auntie would kill me. Worse than that, she’d take my gun, tell our neighbors, the Shepherds and their oldest boy, Hugh, would make fun of me from now on.

Oh, what a tangled web I had weaved.

“What is that?’ I thought to myself. I could see the smallest bit of light no bigger than a lightning bug. I wasn’t sure where it was, but it seemed like a better place than where I was. I stood up and focused on that landmark and started walking. On and on I slowly walked toward the dim light that seemed so far away.

Each step was measured. I could hear things behind me that made me want to have a runaway. One step, find the light and take another step. Then I felt something grab me. It was so dark I didn’t see the barbed-wire fence that separated me from where I wanted to be.

I took one more look at the light, got down on the ground and crawled under the fence, stood up and found the light once more. I’m confident that was the feeling Moses had when the Egyptians were bearing down on him, and he turned in time to see the waters parting.

As I walked across the pasture I never took my eyes off the light that kept getting bigger each step. I soon recognized the 60-watt light bulb on the front porch of our house. I later told Dillard about how dim the light was when you were standing on the porch and how bright it seemed that night. He smiled and said, “The light was not there to see the house, it was there to see how to get to the house.” I knew that was going to be one of those things that I’d have to figure out when I got older.

So I crossed the gravel road to our house and got a “I’m so glad you’re safe” hug and then a “don’t you ever do that again” whipping all the way into the house.

But somehow it all seemed worth it to me. I had stared “lost” in the face and had the key to finding my way out. Now all these years later, I’m reminded that we don’t have to know everything there is to know before we can be successful. Just be true to the light you have and you’ll find a way to win.
“Hey Auntie,” I said while she was tucking me in for the night, “can I go over to Dillard’s tomorrow and tell him about how I stayed calm?”
“And oh, one more thing, let’s not tell the Shepherds. There are some things that Hugh just doesn’t need to know.”
“Thank you Auntie… I love you too.”

Louisiana One Call’s 2012 broadcast advertising reaches all seven Louisiana media markets and includes more than 12,700 radio commercials and more than 4,000 television commercials. A number of additional Louisiana stations also will broadcast LA One Call public service announcements (PSAs) that are distributed for free by Damage Prevention Manager David Frey or supplied on request by our advertising agency, as well – and although these free PSAs are not audited and therefore can’t be tracked, we expect them to add significantly to the following projections of audience coverage.

We rely on Arbitron and Nielsen media audience data to identify stations that reach large numbers of people matching our target audience. The same survey information helps us identify the best times to broadcast our messages, and the most popular programming to sponsor. In addition, we rely on damage ratios to prioritize media markets based on the frequency of damage reports.

This year’s campaign was designed to reach commercial excavators and their employees, contractors, landscapers, fence and pool installers, loggers, tree-removal services and similar occupations, as well as homeowners. As was the case last year, our goal is to reach males between 25 and 54 of age because we believe this audience survey category contains the highest percentage of our target excavators.

Once again in 2012, we have allocated proportionately more of our radio and TV buy to markets in which damage ratios are highest. Media markets in Monroe, Alexandria and Shreveport are receiving extra placements. We’ve reduced campaign intensity in Baton Rouge, where the program is widely known and compliance is high, and in New Orleans, where damage trends continue to improve.

This year’s radio campaign began on March 19 and will conclude between May 14 and July 16, with the longest runs in Monroe, Alexandria and Shreveport where damage ratios are highest. Television spots will begin airing on March 26 and will conclude between May 7 and June 4 depending on media market. This year’s commercials include the same messages broadcast last year, including one targeting homeowners involved in spring gardening and landscaping. Several of the same 811 and enforcement-related commercials used in 2011 are being repeated again this year, as well.

Based on Arbitron radio diary information, we project that LA One Call radio commercials will reach between 76% and 96% (depending on media market) of Louisiana males from age 25 to age 54, and will do so between 7 times (high-compliance markets) and 48 times (problem markets) each during the campaign. Nielsen data indicate that LA One Call television commercials will reach between 90% and 99% of Louisiana males in the same age range between 3 and 26 times each, again depending on media market.

In total, we estimate that our radio and TV campaigns will deliver a total of about 14.4 million impressions this year. Broadcasts of free public service announcements are done at the option of individual stations and are not included in these projections, so actual campaign reach and frequency numbers are likely to be significantly higher.

This year’s campaign again relies on a combination of traditional 30-second spots and 15-second commercials. Because research shows that attention spans are shortening, our short-format commercials may increase the likelihood that our messages will be heard in their entirety. And because most stations schedule commercials in 30-second blocks, two of our 15-second commercials will often appear within a minute or so of each other, which also may help to boost effectiveness. Our television commercials use logo and text graphics to support the voice track, which means that many people will see our message even if they’ve muted the audio.

Print advertising in 2012 again focuses on contractors and municipalities, and also reaches farmers and forestry workers, among others. Print ads appear throughout the year in Engineering News Record’s LA-TX Gulf Coast Edition, the quarterly LA Forestry Association magazine Forests and People, LA Municipal Review, LA Parish Government and Louisiana Logger. Additional ads appear in the LA Associated General Contractors Annual Directory, the LA Electrical Cooperative Annual Directory and the LA Rural Water Association Annual Directory, as well as the Louisiana Farm Bureau Annual Magazine. The total circulation of these publications exceeds 181,000 copies.

In addition, paid banner ads have been placed in rotation on web sites serving our target audience. Also, a number of radio and TV station web sites display these ads as a value-added bonus for our advertising buy. Banners, logo links and similar graphics are supplied on request to LA One Call members for use on their web sites, too.

And of course, we routinely honor requests from surveyors and engineering firms who use our text/logo graphics to promote digging safely and the 811 number on their plats and survey drawings.

We’ve produced countless other materials that remain in circulation, including bumper stickers that appear on utility vehicles statewide and dig-safely checklists distributed through our counter stands in rental yards, nurseries and other businesses throughout the state. Excavators and others carry our key chains, flashlights and mini-tool sets, and many more enjoy their coffee in LA One Call coffee mugs. You’ll often see those same coffee mugs in use at popular restaurants throughout the state. We continue to update our inventory and expand our distribution of these items annually.

Since the passage of the first damage prevention laws in the State of Louisiana in 1988, Louisiana One Call and its Dig Law Advisory Council have continued to review and make recommendations for changes in order to best serve stakeholders, prevent damage to underground facilities and keep the public safe.

During the 2010 and 2011 legislative sessions, the Louisiana Legislature passed bills to amend the law based on recommendations by the Council. Shortly after the 2011 bill went into effect in October, the committee began looking at changing wording in the law again – this time dealing with the way emergencies are dealt with.

In 2011, Governor Bobby Jindal signed into law significant changes in the Louisiana Underground Utilities and Facilities Damage Prevention Act, which affected everyone involved in excavation in Louisiana. The law defined emergencies more strictly with the intent to reduce the number of excavations declared to be “emergencies” merely to get the site marked more quickly when no imminent threat or danger to life, health or property existed. Under this statute, utilities, pipelines and other operators have a little more time to mark their underground facilities. The 48-hour waiting period begins at 7 a.m. on the next working day after the excavator files a request to have the site marked. Also, under the changes that were signed into law in October 2011, excavators working on large projects will be able to request utility locations up to 20 days in advance rather than the 10-day maximum imposed under the previous law.

After these amendments to the law went into effect, the committee began looking at the law again to make additional suggestions for amendments that also deal with handling emergencies.

Those suggestions were presented before the state’s governing body during the current session as House Bill 824. This bill deals with the maximum amount of time that is allowed to pass before someone is required to call in to report an emergency that might involve underground facilities.
“Right now, the law says that you can call in as soon as is practical,” said David Frey, Damage Prevention Manager at Louisiana One Call, “but we found that sometimes people just failed to call in emergencies period.”

House Bill 824 would change the wording of the current law to give those experiencing an emergency up to four hours to report it; those experiencing a Governor-declared state of emergency, such as hurricanes and tropical storms, up to 12 hours; and emergencies involving wildfires up to 24 hours to be reported.

David believes that if passed, this will provide a more reliable way of reporting emergencies and will keep people from excavating without calling in a locate request and claiming it was an emergency.

In an example David offered – if a gas line is damaged, when the state police arrive the excavator can claim it was an emergency and the work had to be done. The wording in the law would now give excavators a specific number of hours in which to call in the emergency, either before they take care of the emergency, while they are doing the work or after the work has been completed.

David believes the changes are necessary so that lines can be checked, even after the fact, to assure there was no damage. In the case of a wildfire, for instance, firefighters have to plow fire lanes around the perimeter of the fire to aid in extinguishing it. Because it would be too dangerous for locators to go out during the wildfire, firefighters could dig the lanes and call it in as an emergency within the allotted time frame in order for underground facilities to be checked after the fire.

“This enables members to go out at some point and see if they sustained damage because someone has been working around their lines,” David said.
The penalty for failing to report an emergency is: a civil penalty of not more than $50 for the first violation; a civil penalty of not more than $200 for the second violation of similar nature within a two-year period from the previous violation; a civil penalty of not more than $500 for a third violation of a similar nature within a two-year period from a previous violation; a civil penalty of not less than $500 or more than $5,000 for a fourth and each subsequent violation of a similar nature within a two-year period from the previous violation.

House Bill 824 passed the House floor by a vote of 92-0 on April 12 and was passed by the Senate Commerce Committee on April 25. The bill was scheduled to go the Senate floor for a vote before the end of the current session, where it passed 35-0 on May 2, 2012. It will now go before the Governor to be signed into law. The effective date of the new law is August 1, 2012.

Louisiana One Call and Dig Law Advisory Council will continue to be vigilant in updating and amending the current law in order to help prevent damage to underground facilities in Louisiana.

We should all be this dedicated to the causes we believe in!

The revised law now defines emergencies more strictly. The intent is to reduce the number of excavations declared to be “emergencies” merely to get the site marked more quickly when no imminent threat or danger to life, health, or property exists. The new definition requires that excavators who declare an emergency must have a crew on site when an emergency is declared, and provides for penalties up to $5,000 for repeated violations of this requirement.

Under the revised statute, utilities, pipelines and other operators will have a little more time to mark their underground facilities. The 48-hour waiting period will begin at 7 a.m. on the next working day after the excavator files their request to have the site marked.
Once the site is marked, the markings will be considered valid so long as they are visible for up to 20 calendar days on non-agricultural sites, doubling the time allowed before such sites must be marked again. Farmers and other agricultural excavators get an additional 10 days and therefore need not request re-marking for 30 days so long as the marks remain visible.

Excavators working on large projects will be able to request utility location up to 20 days in advance rather than the 10-day maximum imposed under old law. This change will allow contractors and others additional flexibility if weather or deliveries of critical supplies force changes in excavating schedules.

Finally, the new law will allow utility operators excavating near their own underground systems to elect not to receive notifications involving their own work.

LA One Call is a nonprofit association of more than 1,000 Louisiana underground facility operators. The association notifies its members so that they can mark buried or submerged utilities before you dig. LA One Call operates as a regional notification center as provided for by the Louisiana Damage Prevention Law, which was passed in 1988. Anyone planning excavation should request that the site be marked by dialing 811 or by visiting their web site at www.laonecall.com. The service is free to excavators.

With just one exception, OSHA requires the use of protective systems in all trenches and excavations that are deeper than five feet. The one exception involves trenches or excavations dug in stable rock. In those situations, it is “legal” to work without protective systems. But be aware – stable rock is a very rare type of soil.

If the trench or excavation is less than five feet deep, a protective system may still be required if there is a potential for a cave-in. (Note: In some areas, state laws may require use of protective systems for trenches and excavations that are deeper than four feet. Always check with your state regulations.)

There are five options for providing a protective system:

OPTION 1 – SLOPING AND BENCHING
This procedure calls for, first, classifying the soil, and then referring to the charts and illustrations in the OSHA Standard to determine the correct angle of bank.
Type Soil Angle of Bank
Stable Rock – Vertical wall
Type A Soil – ¾ to 1 (H to V), or 53 degrees
Type B Soil – 1 to 1 (H to V), or 45 degrees
Type C Soil – 1 ½ to 1 (H to V), or 34 degrees

OPTION 2 – TIMBER SHORING
This is a system of wooden walers, cross braces, and uprights, that support the walls of a trench or excavation. The OSHA Standard specifies the sizes of timbers, based upon the various types of soil, the depth of the trench or excavation, and the type of timber used to build the structure (oak or Douglas fir). As a practical matter, few contractors or utilities use timber shoring. There are a number of reasons, including limited availability of timber, the need for skilled carpenters to build the system, the time required to build, safety issues, and the easy availability of other, more cost effective, systems.

OPTION 3 – ALUMINUM HYDRAULIC SHORING
These systems have replaced a lot of timber shoring. Developed in California in the late 1950s, there are two types of hydraulic shoring: vertical shores and horizontal walers. Both employ aluminum rails and hydraulic cylinders that apply pressure to the walls of a trench, creating an “arching effect” that prevents the walls from collapsing.

OPTION 4 – TRENCH SHIELDS
These are aluminum or steel structures designed to protect workers by withstanding the forces imposed by a cave-in. Regardless of the material they are made of, the principles are the same.

OPTION 5 – SITE-SPECIFIC ENGINEERED SYSTEMS
Occasionally the charts in the OSHA Standard for sloping and benching, or timber shoring, as well as manufactured systems such as aluminum hydraulic shoring or trench shields, will not work. There may be job-site conditions that exist or other factors that prevent the use of such systems. In these situations, a registered professional engineer must design a system specifically for the job. The engineer has to be registered in the state where the system will be used and will have to “stamp” the design. There are additional requirements, as well, all of which are covered in the OSHA Standard.

To summarize, by having a properly trained and authorized “Competent Person” on site, following the General Requirements section of the OSHA Standard, carefully classifying the soil, and utilizing protective systems, we can all work safely in trenches and excavations.

Editor’s Note: This is the fourth and final article in this series that discusses specific steps that contractors and utilities can take to help ensure the safety of their personnel. Obviously, this is an overview of the subject. It is impossible to properly cover the topic in just four relatively short articles. Contractors and utilities involved in underground work will need additional training to ensure worker safety.

David V. Dow is co-founder and Vice-President of TrenchSafety and Supply, Inc. Learn more about his company at www.trenchsafety.com.