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Safety first
I don’t think there is anything more important to our members than safety. On virtually every survey we run where safety is an option, it floats to the top in terms of importance. They spend billions of dollars every year to maintain the system’s excellent safety record.
This is a good thing.
Last month, we blogged about Call before you Dig month. The call before you dig program is important. Many people call it the most important part of the safety program for most natural gas utilities because nearly 60 percent of the incidents on utility distribution pipelines are due to excavation damage.
Of course there are many other tools that natural gas utilites use to help keep us safe. The other day I came across this chart from We Energies that contains general guidelines to maintain safe clearance distances between structure and landscaping projects. The best part about the chart in my opinion? The first thing it does is remind you to call before you dig.
Leave a comment if you’ve found a tool that people can use.
AGA Members Recognized for Safety Excellence
Today, at AGA’s 2009 Operations Conference and Biennial Exhibit in Pittsburgh, a staggering 17 companies were honored for their outstanding safety records last year.
Twelve Safety Achievement Awards were given to companies that achieved the lowest “DART” incident rate – a mathematical calculation that describes the number of recordable injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time employees that resulted in days away from work or restricted work activity.
Additionally, five companies earned Vehicle Safety Achievement Awards by experiencing the lowest motor vehicle accident rate for companies of their type.
Kudos to these companies for going the extra mile to ensure that their employees and their customers remain safe.
Safety Achievement Award winners include, by category:
Local Distribution Utilities
Mega: Enbridge Gas Distribution (North York, Ontario)
Very Large: Dominion East Ohio Gas Co. (Cleveland, OH)
Large: Citizens Energy Group (Indianapolis, IN)
Comgas (Sao Paulo, Brazil)
Medium-Large: Dominion Hope (Clarksburg, WV)
Medium-Small: Equitable Gas Company (Pittsburgh, PA)
Small: Columbia Gas of Maryland (Cumberland, MD)
Combination Utilities
Large: PECO Energy (Philadelphia, PA)
Medium: Central Hudson Gas & Electric (Poughkeepsie, NY)
Montana-Dakota Utilities (Bismarck, ND)
Transmission Companies
Large: Tennessee Gas Pipeline (Houston, TX)
Medium: Eastern Shore Natural Gas (Dover, DE)
Vehicle Safety Achievement Award winners include, by category:
Local Distribution Utilities
UGI Central Penn Gas (Reading, PA)
Combination Utilities
Consumers Energy (Jackson, MI)
Transmission Utilities
CenterPoint Energy Pipelines (Houston, TX)
Small Member Companies
Crossroads Pipeline (Bremen, IN)
Northern Indiana Fuel & Light (Auburn, IN)
Call Before You Dig: April is National Safe Digging Month
Are you installing a mailbox in your yard? Planting a tree for Earth Day? Before you dig, consider that there could be a natural gas pipeline or electric power line buried only a few inches under the surface of your property- easy striking distance even for shallow digging projects.
Customer safety is a top priority for AGA members. That’s why AGA, the Common Ground Alliance and other partners have designated April 2009 as National Safe Digging Month. We’re asking you to call 811 before you embark on any digging or excavation near your home or business.
According to call811.com, “Digging without calling can disrupt service to an entire neighborhood, harm you and those around you and potentially result in fines and repair costs.”
Since the creation of 811, there has been roughly a 40 percent reduction in safety incidents. The program is working- thanks to responsible citizens who have made 811 a necessary first step. There is no charge for the call.
Don’t take an avoidable risk. Pick up the phone and call 811 before you dig. We’ve got the video from 811.com below and a big thanks to City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities for helping to spread the word.
True Blue Natural Gas Blog from the American Gas Association (AGA)- Utah Clean Cities Coalition and Questar Gas open new fueling station in Utah
- Natural Gas Roundtable: Caruso and Hatley
- Focus on Low-Carbon Solutions
- Congrats to Alagasco on their expanding natural gas fleet
- Natural Gas Market Indicators
- Spectra Responds to Natural Gas Pipeline Concerns
- Don’t Miss Out—Make Sure to Register for the World Shale Gas Conference & Exposition
- Dave Parker Receives Prestigious Key Award from ASAE and The Center
- Department of Energy proposes to use full-fuel-cycle analyses in developing energy efficiency standards
- High dividend tax rates will negatively impact utilities
