Minutes of Maryland/DC Damage Prevention
Meeting
August 22, 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 July 25, 2006 were approved.
II. Damage Prevention Presentations:
Matt Ruddo stated that a safety presentation is scheduled
for Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works Bureau
of Highways on August 25, 2006 from 8:00 am to 10:00
am at 2660 Riva Road in Annapolis, MD
III. Safety Events:
Matt Ruddo attended the 2006 Frederick County Employee
Picnic. He said it was a well attended event even though
it was 98 degrees outside. He passed out a lot of color
code cards and coloring books.
Matt Ruddo attended a safety presentation for the employees
of Childs Landscape. He said that there were approximately
120 Spanish speaking employees on hand and they provided
an interpreter.
Wayne Gilmer stated that Centennial Contractors will
be holding their 2006 Mid-Atlantic Safety Fair at the
La Fontaine Bleu at 7963 Annapolis Road in Lanham, MD
on September 21, 2006.
IV. Trade Shows:
Matt Ruddo attended the August 16th-19th Maryland Association
of Counties Convention in Ocean City with Tony Gersitz
of USPCD. He stated that a lot of county employee where
in attendance and he passed out a lot of color code cards,
tip cards, brochures, etc.
Wayne indicated that several trade shows were scheduled
this fall and volunteers would be needed to work the
trade show booth. Wayne asked everyone to contact him,
Lisa Howard or Matt Ruddo if they could spare a few hours
to work a shift.
V. Locator Achievement & Dig Smart Awards:
Tom Baldwin stated that the 2006 Locator Achievement/Dig
Smart Awards Committee meeting would be held sometime
in September. He gave a brief history of the Awards and
the qualifications necessary to become a winner. He stated
that he is looking for volunteers from all stakeholder
groups.
VI. Marking Standards Committee:
Wayne Gilmer stated that the Marking Standards Committee
is made up of all stakeholder groups and their goal is
to come to a consensus on common marking standards for
all types of underground facilities. He thanked Matt
Ruddo for posting the meeting minutes on the website.
VII. Contractor Events:
Matt Ruddo stated that two contractor events are scheduled
for October 17th and 19th in the Hughesville and Laurel
areas of Maryland. He said he spoke with Bob Lawson of
MOSH and that they would be participate in the event
by providing a guest speaker and setting up their trade
show booth. Matt said he would provide more details at
the next MD/DC Damage Prevention meeting
VIII. MD/DC Subscribers Group:
Wayne Gilmer gave a brief update on the topics that
would be discussed at the September 6th MD/DC Subscribers
meeting. He asked everyone to email Pete Parr at peter.n.parr@bge.com
if they had any issues that needed to brought up at the
meeting.
Tom Baldwin stated that the 30 minute Miss Utility Program
is currently airing on various county cable access channels
in the state of Maryland. Matt Ruddo stated that a complete
list of program dates and times would be posted on the
Miss Utility within the next day or two.
VIII. FTTP/FIOS Progress Report:
Christy Stinebaugh provided the following trench footage
projections for September and October;
| |
September |
October |
| Anne Arundel |
80,966
feet |
10,614
feet |
| Howard |
35,944
feet |
7,780 feet |
| Prince George’s |
166,000
feet |
182,000
feet |
| Montgomery |
2,634 feet |
0 feet |
Christy stated that 1,555 FTTP and 456 FIOS contractors
have been trained so far in 2006. Several commented
that the training classes have really made a difference.
Christy said that have put a lot of people out on the
street to monitor the project.
Christy introduced Kenton Jones (Verizon) as the replacement
for Ken Ruppert for FTTP damage analysis and reporting.
IX. Open Discussion:
Ron Deneau (Deneau Construction, Inc.) stated that he
is a sewer main contractor working in Montgomery County
and has had a lot of issues requesting meetings and getting
locate marks the past few years. Kelly Hardy (Utiliquest)
offered up several suggestions. He said Ron should request
a pre-construction meeting, provide drawings and/or maps
at the meeting, only call in a locate request for a week’s
worth of work and white line his jobs.
There was a general discussion about the Montgomery
County section of the Miss Utility Law and the best times
for requesting meeting tickets. Tom Baldwin stated that
the Miss Utility Law does not recognize a meeting ticket.
A few commented that a meeting should be requested in
the Remarks section of the ticket. Kelly Hardy reiterated
that it would be best for folks to request a meeting
before the start of a project to open up the lines of
communication. Jack Sullivan (BGE) suggested that a meeting
be scheduled in the afternoon because locators are working
Emergency tickets during the morning hours.
Dennis Lescalleet (Pleasants Construction) shared a
tragic story in which two men died in a manhole at Villa
Julie College. He said that one man went into the manhole
to pick up a tool he had dropped and died because there
was no oxygen in the hole. The other man went into the
manhole to save the person, but died as well. Dennis
stated that they would be alive today had they tested
the atmosphere in the manhole before they went in. Wayne
Gilmer stated that the Safety Council of Maryland provides
excellent training on confined space.
John Payne (Southern Maryland Cable) and Mark Hamrick
thanked Jack Sullivan for the safety training he did
for Southern Maryland Cable and Networx, Inc.
Tom Baldwin stated that BGE has seen an increase in
damages recently because of the lack of rain and hard
soil. He said that it is important that everyone follow
safe digging practices.
There was a lengthy discussion about nixing and bumping
utility lines. Jack Sullivan stated that they are seeing
an increase in faults from cables that had been nixed
six to twelve months ago. He requested that BGE be contacted
whenever a cable jacket/sheathing is nixed. He also indicated
that BGE would not bill for it. A few stated that utility
owners should be contacted directly whenever a utility
line is going to be exposed for long periods of time.
Kelly Hardy attended the National Locator Rodeo and
said that Pennsylvania was looking to partner with Maryland
for a feeder event. A few said that approval would need
to come from the MD/DC Subscribers Committee.
Mitzi Ambush (PEPCO) reminded everyone to make sure
they call for remarks if only flags are present. She
said the flags can be moved by the general public and
that it is best to have paint marks. She also stated
that contractors should not use conduit runs that are
sticking out of the ground as their marks.
Upcoming Damage Prevention Presentations:
August 25th Anne Arundel County Department of Public
Works Bureau of Highways at 2660 Riva Road in Annapolis,
MD from 8:00 am to 10:00 am
Upcoming Trade shows:
September
- 21st Centennial Contractors 2006 Mid-Atlantic
Safety Fair at the La Fontaine Bleu in Lanham, MD
- 30th & Oct. 1st Harford Live Home & Garden
Show at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen, MD
October
- 20th-22nd Fall Maryland Home and Garden Show at the
Timonium Fairgrounds in Timonium, MD
- 27th-29th Suburban
Maryland Fall Home & Garden Show
at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, MD
Upcoming Meetings:
The next Maryland/DC Damage Prevention meeting is scheduled
for September 26, 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 10:25 am.
| Attendee List |
 |
| Name |
|
Company |
|
Phone |
|
Email |
| Wayne Gilmer |
|
|
|
| Mark Hamrick |
|
|
|
| Shawn Breen |
|
|
|
| Matt Ruddo |
|
|
|
| Tim Kempa |
|
|
|
| Christy Stinebaugh |
|
|
|
| Bedee DuPree |
|
|
|
| Ron Deneau |
|
|
|
| Tom Baldwin |
|
|
|
| Erik Phillips |
|
|
|
| Lawrence
Johnson |
|
|
|
| Tim Van Cleve |
|
|
|
| G. M. Johnson |
|
|
|
| Mitzi Ambush |
|
|
|
| Karen Watkins |
|
|
|
| John Payne |
|
|
|
| Brian Sink |
|
|
|
| Tony Goodman |
|
|
|
| Kelly Hardy |
|
|
|
| Denise Collins |
|
|
|
| Mike Collins |
|
|
|
| Steve Verbury |
|
|
|
| Sean Davis |
|
|
|
| Dena Walters |
|
|
|
| Sherell Stone |
|
|
|
| Rick Behrens |
|
|
|
| Alex Dankanich |
|
|
|
| Dennis Lescalleet |
|
|
|
| Kenton Jones |
|
|
|
|
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