Home > News & Information > Press Releases >
Free excavation safety trainings offered in October
 
Aug. 31, 2010

OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC), Office of Pipeline Safety is sponsoring two free excavation safety training seminars in October with the aim of preventing damage to Washington’s underground utility infrastructure.

Careless excavation or other digging projects are the leading cause of underground utility damage. Striking a single pipeline, underground electric cable, or other infrastructure can cause injuries, damages, fines and inconvenient outages. Learn to avoid excavation dig-ins and protect public safety and workers and keep utility services working properly.

The seminars will be held:
· Tuesday, Oct. 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Department of Labor and Industries Training Room, 312 SE Stonemill Dr., Vancouver; and
· Wednesday, Oct. 13, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Avista Utilities, 1411 E. Mission, Spokane.

Presenters from Northwest Natural Gas, Avista Utilities, the state Department of Labor and Industries, the Underground Utilities Locating Center and other organizations will cover topics including working near underground utilities, locating underground utilities and excavation safety.

Utility operators and professionals who conduct subsurface activities should attend as well as local public safety and construction officials to better understand their roles in the safe digging process. Engineers and planners will gain insights on the importance of avoiding disruptions to the utility infrastructure and how advance planning improves project productivity.

To register, contact Alan Lundeen, Policy and Damage Prevention Manager at (360) 664-1118 or alundeen@utc.wa.gov. Registrations will be accepted until the class is at capacity.

Established by the Legislature in 1955, the UTC’s Pipeline Safety Program regulates the safety practices of 28 pipeline companies and conducts safety inspections on more than 24,000 miles of natural gas and hazardous-liquid pipelines in Washington.