Damage to underground facilities is an expensive and inconvenient challenge faced by public works operations. Determining the best way to prevent these incidents may feel like a daunting task. With many preventative solutions to consider—including excavator or locator training, marketing/awareness campaigns and partnerships with one-call centers—it may be challenging to ensure your efforts will protect the facilities you operate. Common Ground Alliance, the national non-profit leader for utility damage prevention, produces an annual report that helps all stakeholders better understand why damages occur, which can lead to more strategic efforts to prevent them. The first half of this session will offer an overview of national data from the 2018 CGA Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) Report, along with public works-specific data trends. The second half will include a presentation from an APWA member that has used damage data trends to better target damage prevention efforts.
Learning Objectives:
1. Identify specific utility damage trends that can be useful in targeting key audiences with specific campaigns that may be more effective in preventing excavation-related damage to underground facilities.
2. Discern the various available damage prevention outreach and education tactics available and act with confidence when deciding on how and when to implement them.
3. Administer a utility damage prevention program that is data-driven, strategic and measurable.
Contributor/Source
Chris McMurry ;Khrysanne Ker
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Proficiency Levels
Introductory
Focuses on a general or broad overview of the topic, awareness of basic factual recall. Limited experience of the subject matter is necessary to understand content areas.
Applied
Focuses on practical implementation of technical steps or strategies, some prior knowledge and experience of the topic is necessary.
Advanced
Mastery of basic concepts associated with an area has been obtained. Focuses on understanding nuances, advanced concepts, and intricacies with implementation within knowledge area. Strong understanding of how the concept impacts other factors or areas of operations.
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APWA Guides provide guidance to public works professionals on a specific a topic.
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Click, Listen & Learn (CLL) are interactive educational webinars. Each program is led by top experts in the field who share new ideas, methods, and technologies in a fast-paced two-hour time frame. These programs are available free to APWA members. CLL programs are eligible for continuing education units (CEUs).
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APWA Reporter articles are written by public works practitioners on subjects such as solid waste management, water resources, municipal engineering, transportation, equipment services, buildings and grounds, snow removal, and other public works-related topics.
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