Executive Director's Letter: Damages, Digups, and D.I.R.T.

One of the greater areas we are looking into at Missouri 811 are “damages” and how we can use data to tell us the story of what’s going on with our underground endeavors. Part of Missouri 811’s mission is to reduce damage to underground facilities, and especially those that may cause harm to life.

So, what do we have in Missouri to identify, or report, damage? Right now, we call that a “Digup” ticket. The Digup ticket was originally created to inform utility owners that damage had occurred and allow them the opportunity to investigate it further. There are no requirements for the utility owners to respond currently. The Digup ticket provides an opportunity that should not be glossed over. Here is why and what you, as a utility, should do when you receive a Digup ticket.

• Acknowledge that you received it. Sometimes, the excavator will make comments on what they claim is damaged, but keep in mind that even though they mention a specific utility, other utilities may have received damage in the same process. You may even want to go on site and check it out. If you are the damaged utility, the excavator would appreciate an outreach to help them understand what you want them to do at that point (e.g., refill the hole, wait for someone to show up, etc.).
  
  
• Tie your Digup tickets back to the original ticket. This shows you what the type of work was, who was digging, and the tools used. This information can tell you more about the damage profile and help to provide you information on the “whys” of the damages to your facilities and “who” may be involved in damages to your utilities.

The D.I.R.T. (Damage Information Reporting Tool) is a reporting tool maintained by Common Ground Alliance. In Missouri, gas and electric utilities are required to report damages through the D.I.R.T. system. I would encourage all utilities and excavators to submit D.I.R.T. reports because this information goes directly into the national report that is most viewed upon. Presently, the data provides an incomplete picture.

If you have more interest in tracking your damage data, about Digup tickets, or the D.I.R.T. report, please contact anyone with Missouri 811. Likewise, don’t forget that you can contact us at any time to arrange free on-site training for you and your staff.