CGA DIRT REPORTS DUE: MARCH 31
Contractors MUST submit their DIRT( Damage Information Reporting Tool) information regarding utility strikes by March 31. The information you submit is not tied to your company and remains anonymous. It’ s critical that you report, because the information collected by CGA is used in the annual DIRT Analysis and Recommendations Report, which many states use to support one-call regulations and laws.
Contractors’ utility hits are highly misrepresented in CGA’ s annual report because only 4 % of contractors submitted DIRT reports in 2015. Compare that to the 70 % of locators that submitted reports. As a result, the CGA report identifies contractors / developers as the largest root cause of utility damages( 45 %); locators are the smallest stakeholder segment at fault( 18 %).
Why it is Critical to Submit Dirt Reports States are using the data in CGA’ s report to support and drive one-call regulations and laws, as well as help identify opportunities for improvement, set benchmarks, and develop damage prevention best practices. Because contractor data is so poorly reported, many state laws misplace liability and fail to give contractors adequate representation when drafting or updating these laws and regulations. The report is also being used by utility owners to justify the Gold Shovel Standard, which NUCA opposes.
For the sake of the entire industry, I urge you to submit your 2016 DIRT reports by March 31, or the next CGA Report will likely reflect the same information, which nearly all contractors know is inaccurate. Many contractors tell me that up to 75 % of their hits are due to locator errorutilities mismarked, utilities not located, or inaccurate utility records or maps. But this does not stop contractors from looking bad.
We can only change report numbers if we start submitting DIRT reports. Reporting is simple, go to www. cga-dirt. com. The DIRT
Report can be submitted online from the field. Reporting Part I, Description of Root Cause of the Damage on the Information Reporting Tool( DIRT)- Field Form is the most important part of the form to complete. This is the section that reflects on contractors the most.
Reporting Is Anonymous DIRT reporting is not tied to your company. CGA requires you to register to verify you are a stakeholder; however, other than categorizing the type of stakeholder you are, your reports remain anonymous. Many contractors do not submit DIRT reports because they do not want their companies identified. This is not a concern with CGA’ s DIRT Reports.
Submit your 2016 DIRT reports by March 31. Read CGA’ s DIRT Report Analysis and Recommendations to see the full extent of the contractor analysis.
To quickly and easily report, go to www. cga-dirt. com
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18 DITCHMEN • MARCH 2017