Safe Digging This 8-1-1 Day – And Every Day
The Gaines and Company leadership team was presented the 2020 Dig Smart Award by Dora Parks, manager of client relations for Miss Utility of Maryland.
Every August 11 (8/11), the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) leads an initiative to ensure everyone – from homeowners to major corporations – calls the toll-free, call-before-you-dig number (8-1-1) prior to starting an excavation project. As an industry-leading site development company in the Mid-Atlantic Region, Gaines and Company understands the importance of protecting underground infrastructure. But this task isn’t as easy as it sounds.
Rewind 10 years
Ten years ago, Gaines and Company was just like many of its peers and competitors – it struggled with damage prevention issues.
“Just because a line is marked in a specific place doesn’t mean it is actually there. When Safety Director Dominic Pope came on board ten years ago, we had numerous discussions about our need to eliminate damages to underground utility lines. Dominic made this one of his leading goals,” said Vice President David Gaines.
Damage to underground utility infrastructure can cause injury, environmental damage, and service interruptions.
Dominic asked Dora Parks, manager of client relations for Miss Utility of Maryland, for guidance.
“Dora really directed us on how to establish a clear damage prevention program,” said Dominic. “The effort took time, training, new procedures, and engagement from employees across the organization. But we now have a strong damage prevention program in place.”
Gaines and Company is a multi-year award recipient of the Miss Utility Dig Smart Award for their company-wide damage prevention performance.
Continuous Effort
Gaines and Company is now one of the industry leaders in damage prevention in Maryland, proving underground utility damage can be prevented. The organization won the Miss Utility 2018 Dig Smart Honorable Mention Award, followed by the Dig Smart Award in both 2019 and 2020. In fact, Gaines and Company is so committed to safe digging that Vice President David Gaines was recognized by the governor and appointed as Chairman of the Maryland Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Authority.
“Our work is not done, though,” said David. “In the construction industry, damage prevention requires a continuous effort across the organization.”
8-1-1 Day
To recognize this 8-1-1 Day, Dominic is engaging crews through interactive 8-1-1 discussions during daily toolbox talks.
“Engagement is key,” said Dominic. “Crew members cannot assume damage prevention is someone else’s responsibility. Instead, our crews personally work with the goal of zero damages to ensure safe digging.”
David added, “We’ve made tremendous progress over the last ten years and will continue safe digging practices on all of our job sites.”
Gaines and Company is a full-service grading and excavation company with offices in Maryland and North Carolina. The organization has nearly 70 years of experience in underground utilities, grading and excavating, sediment and erosion controls, and road work. Gaines and Company delivers safe, reliable, turnkey site development services in Maryland, North Carolina, Washington D.C., and Delaware on time and within budget.
