The Utility Expo Announces Partnership with the Common Ground Alliance
Did you know that April is National Safe Digging Month? It’s true! Every April, industry professionals come together to prioritize one of the most important components of the job: protecting underground infrastructure and the people working and living near it.
The Utility Expo recently sent out a press release in support of the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) — the driving force behind National Safe Digging Month — as well as announcing a new partnership between the two.
The Utility Expo said the new partnership with the CGA will further enhance its commitment to excavation safety. Its press release explained the partnership will bring new resources, training programs and collaborative initiatives to The Utility Expo. This will ensure that safety remains a top priority for all attendees when they visit the show in October.
“We recognize that organizations like CGA are leading the way in safety culture with public awareness and industry collaboration, and we are thrilled to bring these initiatives to life at The Utility Expo in 2025,” said The Utility Expo Show Director Brianne Somers. “CGA helps to ensure everyone, from industry professionals to property owners and home gardeners, has the information and resources they need to dig safe.”
“We are honored to partner with The Utility Expo to further our shared mission of promoting excavation safety,” said CGA President and CEO Sarah Magruder Lyle. “This collaboration will provide invaluable opportunities to educate and engage with industry professionals, enhancing our collective efforts to protect underground infrastructure and the communities we serve. Together, we can foster a culture of safety that prioritizes awareness, accountability, and proactive prevention measures.”
The Utility Expo’s press release also highlighted the impact of unsafe digging:
Each year, underground utilities are struck thousands of times across the U.S. The CGA 2023 Dirt Report reports more than 200,000 severe damaging incidents impacting underground infrastructure. A trend consistent with 2022. These incidents often result in serious injuries, service outages, expensive delays and sometimes death. CGA data shows that there are more than 500 dig-in incidents every day. These are not just data points, these are people, jobsites, neighborhoods and vital public services.
As industry leaders, contractors, homeowners and municipalities, it is everyone’s responsibility to ask the right questions before each dig: Did we contact 811? Have we double-checked utility responses? Are our teams equipped with the training and tools to dig smart? Such as CGA’s National Safe Digging Month Toolkit.
“Anyone who is digging a hole, whether you are paid to do it, or you’re a homeowner putting in a mailbox, building a deck, or planting a tree, you call 811,” said Vice President of Common Ground Alliance’s Damage Prevention Institute, Sam Hall. “For the safety of the people working and living near underground utilities and to help ensure those utilities deliver the products and services their customers expect, it is essential that all stakeholders uphold their responsibilities to prevent excavation damage.”
More on Safe Digging
The Utility Expo emphasized the importance of human accountability and leadership when working underground. It said that although its exhibitors offer technology that detects buried lines more accurately, automate jobsite alerts and help teams coordinate workflows, people are a key part in safety.
“National Safe Digging Month is a meaningful reminder of the responsibility we all share in protecting the people and infrastructure that keep our communities running,” said Somers. “At The Utility Expo, we’re committed to fostering a culture where safety is second nature and awareness is part of every decision. We are proud to provide a platform that supports education, innovation and collaboration around the industry’s dedication to safe digging practices.”
The Utility Expo also encouraged all industries to reflect on what is below the ground and who is above it throughout the month — and beyond. It urged professionals to make the call, ask questions and talk about the risks.
“Excavation safety is a shared responsibility, and beyond that, stakeholders in excavation safety are truly accountable to one another to do the right thing,” said Hall. “And when everyone fulfills their obligations properly, everyone wins.”
Pam Kleineke is managing editor of Compact Equipment.
