NEWS

Le rapport ORDI du CCGA estime que les dommages causés aux infrastructures souterraines continuent de coûter au Canada au moins un milliard de dollars par année. Voici le communiqué.

Rapport Ordi 2018.

CCGA DIRT Report Estimates Damage to Buried Utilities Continues to Cost Canada at Least $1 Billion Every Year. Please see the CCGA's News Release for more information.

Link to 2018 DIRT Report.

Please see this communiqué from the CCGA regarding recent Treasure Hunts in Canada.

Veuillez consulter ce communiqué de la GCAC au sujet des récentes chasses au trésor au Canada.

This year's Damage Prevention Symposium in Niagara Falls features a Damage Prevention Theatre situated among exhibitor booths on the exhibitor floor. The Theatre will hold breakout sessions throughout the conference creating considerable foot-traffic on the exhibit floor and offers sponsorship opportunities promoting your brand on both sides of every panel. 

If you are interested promoting your company, your brand, your service, your exhibitor booth or your presentation, please see the rate sheet and reply to Vicki@emailir.com or call 1-866-279-7755.

Please see the attached release / Veuillez consulter le communiqué ci-joint.

Addressing the Future of the CCGA_Aborder l'avenir de la CCGA.pdf

Report analyzes when damages to the nation’s infrastructure are most likely to occur

CALGARY, ALBERTA (Nov. 1, 2018) – The Canadian Common Ground Alliance released the 2017 Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) Report today during the national Damage Prevention Symposium in Whistler, B.C. This report presents characteristics, themes and contributing factors leading to damages in Canada as reported via the DIRT system.

In 2017, there were 11,383 damages reported via DIRT for Canada. On average, there were 45 reported damages per work day (assuming 254 work days per year). The societal cost of these damages to underground infrastructure in Canada is estimated to be at least $1 billion per year.

Among all damage reports with an identified and known root cause, the majority (51 percent) occurred because no locate request was made to a One Call Centre.

Highlights:

• 11,383 damages were reported in 2017
• Nearly 45 damages occurred per work day.
• 70% of reported damages occurred in two provinces: Ontario (46%) and Alberta (24%).
• 51% of damages are the direct result of not making a locate request to a One Call Centre.
• 89% of damages involved natural gas and telecommunications facilities.
• Damages are reported to DIRT on a voluntary basis and thus do not reflect the total damages that occur every year.

The Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) is designed to capture data following reports of damage to buried facilities from excavation activities. DIRT allows industry stakeholders in Canada and the United States to submit data anonymously to a comprehensive database. The database is used to identify the characteristics, themes and contributing factors leading to damages. Such findings are summarized in an annual DIRT report.

Reporting damages into the Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) is critical for the CCGA to determine the root causes of damages and develop mitigating measures to reduce and eliminate them.

The complete 2017 DIRT Report is available to download at www.canadiancga.com. Stakeholders interested in submitting data to the 2018 report or establish a Virtual Private Dirt account should visit the DIRT website at www.cga-dirt.com.

About CCGA

The Canadian Common Ground Alliance (CCGA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing public safety, and increasing the integrity and reliability of Canada’s underground utility infrastructure through the development and implementation of effective and efficient damage prevention practices across Canada. As Canada’s unified voice on damage prevention, the CCGA attracts members from all Canadian national organizations and associations who share common damage prevention and public safety solutions. The CCGA and its Regional Partners welcome all stakeholders who wish to be part of the identification and promotion of best practices that reduce damage to buried utilities.

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Media Inquiries:

Mike Sullivan
Executive Director
Canadian Common Ground Alliance
msullivan@canadiancga.com

Download news release here.

We're excited to announce that the CCGA's Damage Prevention Symposium has received Gold Seal Accreditation from the Canadian Construction Association's Gold Seal Certification program.

You can now earn a Gold Seal Credit by attending our 2018 Damage Prevention Symposium in Whistler, BC from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1.

The Gold Seal Certification Program is a national construction standard of certification for management professionals in the heavy civil and construction industry.

To register for the 2018 Symposium, visit our Annual Symposium page.

Please click HERE for more information on Bill S229 / Veuillez cliquez ICI pour plus d'information sur le projet de loi S229.

Veuillez cliquer sur ce lien pour plus d'information sur le projet de loi S229.

The Underground Infrastructure Safety Enhancement Act passed 3rd Reading in the Senate May 2, 2017. Please CLICK HERE to read how it all went down in the Senate that day.

The CCGA wishes to thank all stakeholders for their support to achieve this milestone goal in our quest for damage prevention legislation.

On February 14, 2017, Senator Grant Mitchell and CCGA Executive Director, Mike Sullivan, appeared before the Senate Standing Committee on Energy, the Environment & Natural Resources to provide testimony supporting bill S-229 - The Underground Infrastructure Safety Enhancement Act. Senator Mitchell's and Mike Sullivan's testimonies were followed by responding to questions from the Senate Standing Committee.

You may view their testimonies and response to the Committee's questions HERE.

Mike Sullivan's written testimony is available for viewing HERE.