Minutes of Maryland/DC Damage Prevention
Meeting
October 24, 2006
Miss Utility Call Center
Hanover, MD 21076
I. Call To Order and Introduction:
Wayne Gilmer (Utiliquest) called the regular monthly
meeting to order at 9:35 am.
Introductions were made.
The minutes of September 26, 2006 were approved.
II. Damage Prevention Presentations:
None at this time.
III. Safety Events:
Tom Baldwin (BGE) stated that
he, Mark Hamrick (Verizon) and Matt Ruddo (Miss Utility
Center) attended a safety meeting for Anne Arundel County
on October 3, 2006 in Millersville, MD. The group viewed
the BGE Dig Smart training video. He said approximately
30 people were in attendance. He also said there were
a lot of good questions asked during the Q & A session.
Wayne Gilmer stated that he and Matt Ruddo will be attending
the 24th Annual MNCPPC Safety Management Conference at
the College Park Holiday Inn on November 14, 2006. The
Miss Utility presentation is scheduled from 2:15 to 3:15.
Matt Ruddo will be setting up the booth in the exhibit
area.
IV. 2006 Contractor Nights:
Wayne Gilmer gave an update on the contractor nights
that were held on October 17th and 19th. He said there
were approximately 40 people in attendance at the Hughesville
event and about 30 at the Spencerville event. He said
that MOSH, Miss Utility, BGE, WSSC, SMECO, Mirant, Verizon
and Miss Utility of Virginia had trade show booths setup
at each event. Wayne said the turnout was good considering
the small mailing that was done for each event. He said
surveys were passed out and he was waiting to get them
back from Chris McMurry of MGH. He said the surveys would
determine if the contactor nights would be done again
in 2007. He also thanked everyone that helped with the
setup and cleanup.
V. Trade Shows:
Wayne Gilmer gave a brief overview
of the home and garden trade shows that were held at
Ripken Stadium and the Timonium Fairgrounds. A few people
indicated that the Miss Utility booth was in a great
location on the club level at Ripken Stadium. There was
a general discussion about the Fall MD Home and Garden
Show at the Timonium Fairgrounds not being as well attended
from the previous year. A few felt that it wasn’t
promoted as well as it had been in previous years.
Wayne Gilmer stated that Suburban MD Home and Garden
Show would be held October 27-29, 2006 at the Show Place
Arena. He stated that a volunteer would be needed on
the 10am-2pm shift with Kevin Woolbright (WSSC) on Sunday
October 29th.
VI. SafetyComm Solutions Pipeline Safety Presentations/Dinners:
Wayne Gilmer stated that SafetyComm Solutions requested
that we participate in their upcoming pipeline safety
presentation. He said that he and Matt Ruddo would be
taking the booth and would be on hand to answer any questions
from the audience. Matt Ruddo stated that they used to
run the Pipeline Group Midwest. He also said contractors
and emergency responders would be on hand for the presentations.
Wayne stated that November 6th would be held in Waldorf,
November 8th in Aberdeen, November 27th in Frederick,
November 28th in McHenry and November 29th in Columbia.
Matt said that everyone could visit www.safetycommsolutions.com
to RSVP to the dinner meetings.
Tom Baldwin stated that it might not be a bad idea to
have folks register on the Miss Utility website if there
are plans to do the contractor nights again.
VII. Pipeline Group, Inc. Presentations:
Wayne Gilmer gave a brief update on the Pipeline group,
Inc pipeline safety meetings held October 10th-12th.
Wayne said that breakfast meetings were held for contractors
and a lunch meeting for emergency responders. He said
that the attendance was light and thought it would have
been better to have dinner meetings instead of breakfast
ones. Matt Ruddo said that they plan on having a dinner
meeting on November 14th at the Clarion Hotel, 980 Hospitality
Way in Aberdeen.
VIII. Marking Standards Group:
Wayne Gilmer gave a brief update on the Marking Standard
meetings that have been held after the Damage Prevention
meetings. He said they have been moving at a conservative
pace because they want to make sure they take into account
all stakeholders needs. He said the group established
a standard for excavating around visible structures such
as pad mounted equipment. He said the group agreed that
a 3 x 3 foot box around visible structures should only
be done by vacuum excavating and/or hand digging. He
said the group also identified the use of corridor marking
styles and considered any mainline above 4 inches as
a high profile line.
IX. Locator Achievement & Dig Smart Awards:
Dora Parks (Miss Utility Center) gave a lengthy update
on the Awards meeting that was held Friday October 20,
2006. She also gave the history on how the event came
to be and how the event had been structured in the past.
She requested that everyone email her (dora@missutiliuty.net)
pictures of excavating, locating, etc. which will be
shown in a video during the Awards Night. She said that
each regional winner would be interviewed and a short
bio would be projected on the screen when they are receiving
their awards. She stated the main focus of the meeting
was on improving the banquet and prizes. She also stated
that the locator ballots would be mailed to the utility
owners much earlier then previous years.
Wayne Gilmer asked Dora Parks if there was any word
from the Governor’s office on proclaiming the third
week of March 2007 as Underground Excavation Safety Week.
She stated that we would need to wait until after the
general election results in November.
IX. MD/DC Subscribers Group:
Wayne Gilmer stated that the next meeting would be held
December 6, 2006.
X. FTTP/FIOS Progress Report:
Shawn Breen (Verizon) provided the following three month
FTTP trench footage projections:
| |
NOV |
DEC |
JAN |
| Anne Arundel |
175,089 |
131,511 |
31,874 |
| Baltimore |
9,176 |
44,076 |
65,477 |
| Howard |
230,578 |
163,097 |
53,465 |
| Montgomery |
3,677 |
24,724 |
0 |
| Prince George’s |
272,762 |
151,263 |
30,787 |
XI. Open Discussion:
Jim Noha and Bob Murray of Focus Networks stated their
company is placing fiber optics for Baltimore County
schools and they are having issues with time delays from
the ongoing status codes they are receiving from Ticket
Check. Kelly Hardy (Utiliquest) stated that he would
talk to Jim and Bob after the meeting.
Wayne Gilmer indicated that it is important that ticket
numbers and the time of the issue be addressed right
away versus several weeks down the road.
Dennis Lescalleet stated that he was told by a representative
with the Mind Safety and Health Organization that their
underground facilities were exempt from being registered
with Miss Utility. Zenon Sushko (MDPSC) stated that only
Miss Utility Law exemption was homeowners digging on
their own private property.
There was a general discussion about homeowners using
mechanized equipment on their property. Tom Baldwin indicated
that they handle utility line cuts such as that on a
case by case basis.
Wayne Gilmer said that Roger Campbell of MOSH stated
that there have been 31 fatalities in the state of Maryland
this year which is above average. Wayne said that MOSH
has increased their field inspections and most of the
fines are at least five figures.
Dennis Lescalleet stated that his company is challenging
MOSH’s training requirement for an excavator. He
said they will have a hearing with MOSH in November.
Wayne asked Dennis to check with his company to see if
they would be willing to share their excavator equipment
training manual.
Rudy McCumber (Rommel Engineering & Construction)
stated that he is having issues getting tickets marked
in Montgomery, Prince Georges and Baltimore Counties.
He said he brought ticket numbers with him with the hope
that someone could assist. Wayne Gilmer stated that he
would get together with Rudy after the meeting.
Upcoming Damage Prevention Presentations:
- December 7, 2006 Independent Electrical Contractors
at 1424 Odenton Road in Odenton, MD from 4:00 pm to 5:30
pm
Upcoming Safety Events:
November
- 6th SafetyComm Solutions Pipeline Safety Awareness
Dinner at the Greater Waldorf Jaycees Community Center
3090 Crain Highway Waldorf, MD 20601
- 8th SafetyComm
Solutions Pipeline Safety Awareness Dinner at the Clarion
Hotel Aberdeen 980 Hospitality Way Aberdeen, MD 21001
- 14th 24th Annual MNCPPC Safety Management Conference
at the College Park Holiday Inn 10000 Baltimore Blvd.
College Park, MD 20740
- 14th Pipeline Group, Inc. Pipeline
Safety Awareness Dinner at the Clarion Hotel Aberdeen
980 Hospitality Way Aberdeen, MD 21001
- 27th SafetyComm
Solutions Pipeline Safety Awareness Dinner at the Holiday
Inn Frederick- Ft. Detrick 999 W. Patrick St. Frederick,
MD 21701
- 28th SafetyComm Solutions Pipeline Safety Awareness
Dinner at the Wisp Resort 296 Marsh Hill Road McHenry,
MD 21541
- 29th SafetyComm Solutions Pipeline Safety Awareness
Dinner at the Sheraton Columbia Hotel 10207 Wincopin
Circle Columbia, MD 21044
Upcoming Trade shows:
None at this time.
Upcoming Meetings:
The next Maryland/DC Damage Prevention meeting is scheduled
for November 28, 2006 at the Miss Utility Center. Coffee
and donuts will be served at 9:00 am. The meeting will
begin at 9:30 am.
The next Maryland/DC Marking Standards Committee will
meet immediately following the Damage Prevention Meeting.
Lunch will be available for those that attend.
The Maryland/DC Subscribers meeting will be held December
6, 2006 at the Miss Utility Center. Coffee and donuts
will be served at 8:30 am, and the meeting will begin
at 9:00 am.
There being no further business to be brought before
the committee, the meeting was adjourned at 10:30 am.
| Attendee List |
 |
| Name |
|
Company |
|
Phone |
|
Email |
| Wayne Gilmer |
|
|
|
| Zenon Sushko |
|
|
|
| Shawn Breen |
|
|
|
| Matt Ruddo |
|
|
|
| Tom Baldwin |
|
|
|
| Dennis Lescalleet |
|
|
|
| Kenton Jones |
|
|
|
| Karen Watkins |
|
|
|
| Kelly Hardy |
|
|
|
| Robert Vicks |
|
|
|
| Tom Hastings |
|
|
|
| Sherell Stone |
|
|
|
| Rick Behrens |
|
|
|
| Veronica
Rozier |
|
|
|
| Dave Dubs |
|
|
|
| John Eichhorn |
|
|
|
| Joe Wilkinson |
|
|
|
| Ed McDaniel |
|
|
|
| Tim Vancleve |
|
|
|
| Jim Noha |
|
|
|
| Bob Murray |
|
|
|
| Kevin Woolbright |
|
|
|
| Don Jones |
|
|
|
| Cal Brooks |
|
|
|
| Andy Kaldmaa |
|
|
|
| Matt Bryant |
|
|
|
| Joe Feronti |
|
|
|
| Greg Johnson |
|
|
|
| Rudy McCumber |
|
|
|
| Alex Baquie |
|
|
|
|
