2021 Damage Prevention Conference Highlights

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Created: Monday, 01 November 2021 16:45

Written by Dana Raidt

Damage prevention conferences are invaluable opportunities to network, discuss best practices and compare notes on how we can all work together to minimize damages. These events also foster a sense of shared responsibility by allowing us to make personal connections with others involved with damage prevention.

Because of the pandemic, in-person conferences and meetings have been less common over the past two years. But this fall saw the return of two key damage prevention conferences: the Users’ Group meeting (hosted by One Call Concepts for the company’s notification center clients) in Palm Springs in September, and the Common Ground Alliance Conference & Expo in Orlando in October.

Both conferences gave notification centers, facility operators, excavators, locators and others involved in underground utility damage prevention a long-awaited chance to meet and compare notes on topics such as technology and trends, how the pandemic has affected our work and how we can all work better together moving forward. Here are some of the highlights:

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Veterans Day closure - Thursday Nov, 11th, 2021

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Created: Monday, 25 October 2021 08:28

Written by Gopher State One Call

Gopher State One Call will be closed Thursday, November 11 in observance of Veterans Day. 

Emergency calls are exempt from business hours and always accepted, even on holidays. All non-emergency locate requests can be submitted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week online—but are processed only during GSOC’s business hours. Effective November 1 to March 31, Gopher State One Call business hours are 7 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday.

Any official holiday will not count toward your standard 48-hour notice when filing locate requests. Please plan accordingly.

How to Spot Underground Utilities in Your Neighborhood

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Created: Friday, 03 September 2021 16:09

Written by Dana Raidt

In the rush of daily life, it’s easy to forget about the massive network of buried utilities underneath us. In fact, according to the Common Ground Alliance, there are about 19 million miles of underground facilities in the United States, with more being installed every day.

These facilities provide heat, lights, sewer, water, communications and other services that homes, schools and businesses rely on day and night. Burying important pipes and cables underground helps protect them from exposure to the elements and from human-inflicted damage—which is why they need to be located and marked before anyone digs near them.

Below are some common underground utility indications that you may encounter every day as you walk, bike or drive through your neighborhood. Familiarize yourself with these landmarks and note them the next time you’re out and about. (Just remember to put safety first and keep your distance from any utility equipment—and remind children to do so as well.)

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Labor Day closure - Monday, September 6th 2021

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Created: Friday, 27 August 2021 07:00

Written by Gopher State One Call

We will be taking calls for emergency locates only on Monday, September 6th in observance of Labor Day, but remember, you can file a ticket online 24/7. NOTE: Monday will not count towards your standard 48 hour notice when filing a locate, so please plan accordingly.

Learn from the Unexpected with Christopher Koch of ZoneOne Locating

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Created: Thursday, 12 August 2021 11:41

Written by Dana Raidt

The damage prevention industry isn’t always predictable, but Gopher State One Call believes that we can all learn from those unexpected moments and be safer for it. 

That’s why we’re introducing our Learn from the Unexpected series. These videos—featuring Minnesota damage prevention professionals just like you—will allow community members to share their stories so that we can all work smarter and safer, and help the industry grow. 

Head to the Learn from the Unexpected website to check out our first video, featuring Christopher Koch, a damage prevention educator and president of ZoneOne Locating. In it, Christopher explains how Minnesota property owners can avoid the unexpected by making one more important call after contacting 811—to a private facility locator. 

If you’d like to nominate someone or submit your own Learn from the Unexpected story, find out how on the Learn from the Unexpected website. Winners will be featured in an online video (complete with an epic entrance like Christopher’s) and receive a free pair of Red Wing work boots. They’ll also earn the honorary title of Damage Prevention Influencer. If your story is not selected, you will still be entered to win a $50 gift card to Duluth Trading Co.

Read the full interview with Christopher Koch and learn more about how you can protect private facilities on your property in our article Private Utility Locating: What Homeowners Need to Know.