Dig Safe MUST seminar co-sponsored by CIRI.
Preseason safety event held in conjunction with Rhode Island Energy.
Managing Underground Safety Training (MUST) seminars are a key component for educating construction professionals across New England on best practices and preventive measures for working on sites with underground gas and/or electric utilities.
On February 7 at Bally’s Twin River Lincoln, approximately 600 attendees gained essential knowledge at a four-hour Dig Safe® MUST seminar. A free service funded entirely by its member utility companies, Dig Safe is a not-for-profit clearinghouse that notifies participating utility companies of contractors’ plans to dig underground.
Exploring excavation safety from various perspectives.
Beginning with a welcome address by Peter Robbins, CIRI Safety/EEO/Training Committee Chairman, the February event featured a slate of speakers from various disciplines in the utility and construction fields. The topics covered included:
- The potential hazards of utility damage from unsafe excavation
- Laws and rules governing the notification and marking process
- Best practices for working safely around underground facilities
- Pre-marking and marking techniques
- The enforcement process for underground digging violations
During the 2022 excavation season, the Dig Safe 811 call center processed hundreds of thousands of digging requests over the five-state region it serves (MA, ME, NH, RI & VT) — including 43,000 requests in Rhode Island alone.

Peter Robbins
CIRI

Don Ledversis
RIPUC

Karen Gentile
USDOT PHMSA

Wes Mirabito
Kinder Morgan

Doug Haupt
Rhode Island Energy

John Edmiston
Centerline Utility Services

Eric Denslow
Eastcom Associates

Lisa Powers
Dig Safe / MUST