April is Dig Safe month and marks the beginning of digging season across Canada. To ensure safety, the Canadian Gas Association (CGA) and its members encourage all individuals and contractors to “call or click before you dig” before starting any digging or excavation projects.
The natural gas delivery industry is committed to damage prevention, and the key to achieving it is making sure you know what is below the ground before starting any digging projects. Whether you live in a rural or urban area, many types of infrastructure can be present underground.
While the number of third-party damage incidents has declined each year since 2018, and while 2021 saw the lowest number of third-party damages since 2005, excavation that doesn’t first identify the location of underground infrastructure – such as gas and power lines, telecommunications and cable wires, and water mains – remains one of the leading causes of damage to that infrastructure.
“Safety is the number one priority of the natural gas delivery industry, and we encourage anyone planning to excavate to do so safely – for their own wellbeing and that of others,” said Timothy Egan, President, and CEO of CGA. “It is essential to get your ‘locates’ – the location of underground infrastructure – before starting any project. Taking this simple step can eliminate safety risks and reduce costly property damages.”
You can obtain the necessary locates by visiting www.clickbeforeyoudig.com or by contacting your provincial One-Call Centre. Once you receive your locates, be sure to respect the marks, dig with care, and report right away if you suspect a line has been hit.
Quick Links
Canadian Gas Association | Canadian Common Ground Alliance | Dig Safe | Click Before you Dig
About CGA
The Canadian Gas Association (CGA) is the voice of Canada’s gaseous energy delivery industry, including natural gas, renewable natural gas (RNG) and hydrogen. CGA membership includes energy distribution and transmission companies, equipment manufacturers, and suppliers of goods and services to the industry. CGA’s utility members are Canadian-owned and active in and one territory. CGA members meet 38 per cent of Canada’s energy needs through a network of over 577,000 kilometers of underground infrastructure. The versatility and resiliency of this infrastructure allows it to deliver an ever-changing gas supply mix to over 7.4 million customer locations representing approximately two-thirds of Canadians. CGA members ensure Canadians get the affordable, reliable, clean gaseous energy they want and need. CGA is also working to constantly improve that gaseous energy offering, by driving forward innovation through the Natural Gas Innovation Fund (NGIF).
For more information contact:
Harshivam Bawa
Acting Manager, Communications
Canadian Gas Association
226-219-7562
hbawa@cga.ca