The Common Ground Alliance (CGA), the nation’s leading organization focused on protecting underground utility lines and the safety of people who dig near them, today announced it has collaborated with CGA member 3M and Greg Biffle, driver of the No. 16 3M Ford Fusion, to promote National Safe Digging Month this April.

Biffle, well-known in the racing community for building his own house and doing other projects that involve digging, will promote National Safe Digging Month, most notably by featuring the logo of 811, the national “Call Before You Dig” number, on the hood, deck lid and spoiler of his No. 16 3M car during the April 25 race at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Ala.

In addition to the prominent placement of the 811 logo at Talladega, Biffle will serve as the National Safe Digging Month spokesperson throughout April.

A quick and easy call to 811 before digging helps protect people from unintentionally hitting under-ground pipelines, cables and utility lines, which can put the person who digs at risk and cause service interruptions to entire communities. Every digging job requires a call - even small projects like planting trees or shrubs.

Everyone who calls 811 is connected to a local one-call notification center that will take the caller’s information and communicate it to the local utility companies. A professional locator will then visit the dig site to mark the approximate location of all underground utility lines with spray paint or flags. Once a site has been accurately marked, it is safe to begin digging around the marked areas.

Remember...no matter if the project is big or small, don’t make a judgment call...always call before you dig!

KOC Newsletter

Summer ‘10

Working Together for Safety in Kansas

Whereas, each year, Kansas’ underground utility infrastructure is jeopardized by unintentional damage by those who fail to call 811 to have underground lines located prior to digging. Undesired consequences such as service interruption, damage to the environment, and personal injury and even death are the potential results; and Whereas, the Common Ground Alliance, the Kansas Corporation Commission, and Kansas One-Call promote the national call-before-you-dig number, 811, in an effort to reduce these damages. Designated by the Federal Communications Commission in 2005, 811 provides potential excavators and homeowners a simple number to reach their local One Call Center to request utility line locations at the intended dig sites; and Whereas, through education of safe digging practices, excavators and homeowners can save time and money keeping our state safe and connected by making a simple call to 811 in advance of any digging project; waiting the required amount of time; respecting the marked lines by maintaining visual definition through the course of the excavation; and finally, digging with care around the marks; and Whereas, all parties agree that safe digging is a shared responsibility. To know what’s below; call 811 before you dig. Now therefore, I do hereby proclaim on behalf of the State of Kansas, the month of April as: Kansas Safe Digging Month and encourage excavators and homeowners throughout the country to always call 811 before digging. Safe digging is no accident. Governor Mark Parkinson

April is NAtioNAl DAmAge

preveNtioN moNthApril is Safe Digging Month

Governor’s Proclamation

CALL BEFORE YOU DIGWe need your help in preventing pipeline emergencies. If your company does excavation work, or if you are a homeowner or farmer and dig on your property, you must call your local

One Call System prior to beginning your excavation. Statistics show that

damage from excavation related activities, particularly from equipment digging into pipelines, is a leading cause of pipeline accidents. Without proper coordination, excavation activities near underground pipelines can result in dangerous conditions. Always remember to

“Call before you dig!”

LLAME ANTES DE EXCAVAR Necesitamos su ayuda para prevenir emergencias en las tuberías. Si su compañía hace trabajos de excavación o si usted es dueño de casa o granja y necesita hacer una excavación en su

propiedad, usted tiene que llamar al sistema local One Call antes de comenzar

su excavación. Las estadísticas indican que la causa mayor de accidentes en las tuberías son causadas por actividades relacionadas con excavaciones, particularmente relacionadas a maquinarias que excavan en las tuberías. Sin la coordinación apropiada, las actividades de excavación cerca de tuberías soterradas pueden resultar en condiciones peligrosas. ¡Siempre recuerde, llame antes de excavar!

Pipelines are the safest method of transporting hydrocarbon products, including naturalgas and crude oil. These products are used to produce many of the products we useeveryday, including plastics, synthetic fabrics, fuel for vehicles as well as for homeheating and cooking and much more.

A major cause of leaks from pipelines is damage caused by someone accidentallystriking a pipeline when digging in the pipeline right-of-way. It’s possible that thestrike may only cause what appears to be minimal damage – a scratch in the pipelinecoating. However, it can weaken or remove a pipeline’s corrosion-preventing coatingand subsequently lead to a leak months or years later.

Pipeline operators use markers to identify the approximate location of a pipeline.These markers are often located at varying intervals along the right-of-way andtypically on both sides of most road crossings and waterways. The markers issue awarning, identify the product carried and list the operator’s toll-free number forreporting pipeline emergencies. Markers should never be used as a reference for theexact position of a pipeline. Most companies require a representative on site ifexcavation will be in their right-of-way. It is a federal crime for any person to willfullydeface, damage, remove, or destroy any pipeline sign or right-of-way marker requiredby federal law.

Three senses you can use and signs to recognize a possible leak are: Look: Dirt blowing into the air, water bubbling in a pond, creek, or river. Fire coming from the ground or appearing to burn above the ground. Dead or dying vegetation where otherwise green. Dry spot in a moist field.

Listen: Roaring, blowing, or hissing sound.

Smell: Gas, petroleum odor, or rotten egg odor.

You Should: Turn off and abandon any motorized equipment. Leave the area quickly. Warn others to stay away. From a safe distance, call the pipeline company and 911.

In response to a possible leak: Never – Smoke or light matches. Never – Use open flames or anything that might spark. Never – Attempt to operate pipeline valves.

“Know What’s Below – Call Before You Dig”

Pipeline Damage Prevention Awareness

A new, federally-established national “Call Before You Dig” number, 811 has been created to help protect you from unintentionally hitting underground utility lines while working on digging projects.

Every digging job requires a call - even small projects like planting trees or shrubs. If you hit an underground utility line while digging, you can harm yourself or those around you, disrupt service to an entire neighborhood and poten-tially be responsible for fines and repair costs.

When you call 811 from anywhere in the country, your call will be routed to your local One Call Center. Operators will ask you for the location of your digging job and route your call to affected utility companies.

If you call two full working days in advance, underground pipelines and facilities will be marked at no charge.

Safe Digging is No Accident

Call 811

Just Checking For PaintSome of you excavating in the Wichita and Kansas City areas may have recently ran into someone stopping by your job site to inquire about compliance with the Kansas One Call law. The Kansas Office of Pipeline Safety has two individuals dedicated to enforce laws and regulations while excavating around underground utility lines. These individuals conduct courtesy stops if they have reason to believe that an excavator may be digging in an unsafe environment or if notified of an underground utility line strike.

While on routine patrol, if they see excavation activity and they do not see paint marks or flags they will stop to investigate. Their first concern is the safety of the excavator and the general public, not to mention

the continuity of the utilities service. If they find a violation, the first step is to begin the education process on the law, the excavators responsibilities and may give the excavator a letter of non-compliance which must be answered with the KCC. If an excavator digs into a gas line, you can count on them getting involved to investigate the damage. This is not a one way street either, they are also there to assist the excavator if there are locate issues, such as failing to mark within the required amount of time, mis-marks, etc...

This is a question that is asked each and every time that you file a locate and extreme care should be used when responding.

Several utilities face special risks when explosives are used during the excavation process. Apart from the marking of the underground utility, the utilities perform a “pre-explosive survey” and a “post explosive survey” to determine or verify that ground movement caused by the use of explosives has not caused a “shearing” effect on the underground pipe or conduit.

Explosives are mainly used for blasting rock formations in the path of a trench or the placement of poles or foundations.

If you are unsure whether explosives will be used or not, check with the job foreman or supervisor before you file the locate request.

Use of Explosives

Kansas One-Call System, Inc.8100 E. 22nd St. N., Bldg. 2300Wichita, KS 67226

KOC Newsletter

Summer ‘10

Working Together for Safety in Kansas

Kansas One-Call System, Inc.8100 E. 22nd St. N., Bldg. 2300

Wichita, KS 67226

1.800.DIG.SAFEwww.kansasonecall.com

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P A I DWICHITA KS

PERMIT NO. 1536