Features
Pipelines: Your Safety Leader
Millions of people all across the country share the same neighbor. This neighbor does not intrude where it’s not wanted and simply goes about its business helping all of us every day. Pipelines are the energy lifelines of many of our daily activities from driving our children to school, heating our homes, to buying groceries at the store delivered by trucks run on diesel.
Got enough insurance?
Aggravated about the rising costs of your insurance coverage? Every time you sign a contract to either do something or have something done, you have to increase your coverage, get an umbrella, add additional insureds with Waiver of Subrogation – and this all just costs you more money. Why?
Trenching and Excavation Safety: Soil Classification
Sadly, as many as 400 workers are killed and several thousand workers are seriously injured in trenches and excavations across the U.S. each year. One reason: Many people forget the weight of soil. The Facts: One cubic foot of soil weighs between 90 and 140 pounds. A cubic yard of soil can weigh almost 4,000 pounds, as much as an SUV! As a result, when a trench cave-in occurs, there are usually deaths or very serious injuries.
“I didn’t get here on my own.”
When you first meet New Mexico’s Pipeline Safety Bureau Chief, you may be caught off guard by his youth. After the visit, you’ll remember his unwavering commitment to his core values that include family, friends, and New Mexico. He smiled and said, “I was born in Roswell in 1977. My family has always been an integral part of my life. This support structure helped keep my feet on the ground. Almost the day after graduating from Roswell High School, my uncle came by and told me to pack my stuff; you are going to college and getting an education.”
NMOC Member and Excavator Survey Report
In October 2009, Cooney, Watson & Associates, Inc. (CWA) was engaged by New Mexico One Call, Inc. (NMOC) to conduct a comprehensive, independent telephone survey of a representative number of customers who had requested a ticket through NMOC during the past several months. The purpose of the survey was to assess customer satisfaction with the organization, identify any needs not currently being met, and assess priorities for future projects.
Trenching and Excavation Safety: Part 2, The importance of OSHA’s general requirements
As discussed in Part 1 of the series, working in trenches and excavations is potentially one of the most hazardous types of work in the construction and utility industry. Each year, as many as 400 workers are killed, and several thousand are injured in the U.S. Most of these workers have received no training, and [...]
ABCWUA Administrative Instruction #9
Additional requirements for protection of San Juan Chama Transmission Lines The San Juan Chama (SJC) transmission lines are critical to the function of the surface water treatment plant. Due to the lines’ sizes and configuration, protection of the lines from damage or events that can interrupt their serviceability is paramount. The SJC transmission system does [...]
Water Conservation and the Protection of the Underground Infrastructure
Tim Cynova, Chief Engineer, Water Field Systems for the Albuquerque and Bernalillo County Water Authority has worked for the company less than four years and only a little more than one year in his current position. But his more than 30 years of working with underground utilities has certainly prepared him for the challenge. “I [...]
It’s not always the contractor’s fault
“I’m a Damage Prevention Specialist (DPS) for the New Mexico Public Regulatory Commission,” said Sefie Anaya. “My role includes educating those who dig in New Mexico about the importance of digging safely. We have an excavation law that defines our expectations, and we want everyone to be work within the scope of the law.” Three years ago, the PRC in partnership with New Mexico One Call and other stakeholders established a plan for enforcing their excavation law and for reducing damages to their vital underground infrastructure. The plan included the establishment of the DPS position for which Sefie was hired.
Locate underground utilities more safely with potholing
Following the building boom in the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s, and the push to put cable, wire, and pipes underground, damage to underground utilities began increasing exponentially. Tens of thousands of miles of utility lines became vulnerable to individuals and companies with a need to dig. Resulting damage interrupted utility service and threatened life and property.
