Dig Safe MUST seminar co-sponsored by CIRI.

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.