As proud partners of 811 and the Common Ground Alliance (CGA), Vivax-Metrotech acknowledges August 11th every year as 811 Day. 

Today is a reminder to dial 8-1-1 or visit your state’s 811 website before digging for any project, whether it takes place on a worksite or in your own backyard. Any project, big or small, residential or commercial, requires calling 811 before breaking ground. 

The reason for this is simple: digging is the number one cause of utility damage. 

 

Damage Prevention

Digging without locating and marking buried utilities leads to 30 billion dollars in damages every year nationwide. Calling 811 is a simple step that is crucial for preventing outcomes that are both costly and dangerous. According to the Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA), calling 811 gives a 99% guarantee of avoiding related accidents. 

Better than just marking utilities is doing so with trusted accuracy and confidence, and we’re proud to offer this experience with Vivax-Metrotech tools. 

Vivax-Metrotech provides equipment that utility owners, contractors, and field professionals can rely on to locate, verify, and inspect critical underground infrastructure before and during excavation. Our development of precise locating technology, such as the first ever utility locator with integrated RTK GNSS accuracy, is motivated by the need to reduce risks in the field and establish practices that are both safer and more efficient. By accurately locating and marking buried utilities, there’s greater assurance of safe excavation and maintenance to follow.  

Our Commitment to Safety

Vivax-Metrotech is a member of CGA’s Damage Prevention Action Center, which advocates for the implementation of damage prevention policies for underground infrastructure. Together with our industry partners, we have pushed for stronger safety and compliance standards for buried assets, including last year’s successful Pipeline Safety Act and current campaign for the Pipeline Safety and Authorization (PIPES) Act.  

This summer, our team members contributed to these efforts through demonstrations at the US Department of Transportation PHMSA Innovation Showcase and the National Conference of State Legislatures. These opportunities have allowed us to spread awareness of the risks associated with buried utility work and provide education on industry best practices, as well as the ways those practices can be strengthened.   

As we improve the technology used in utility locators, we improve our ability to create safe conditions for both worksites and the communities they take place in—meaning, protections for all the people involved with utility infrastructure. It’s crucial for us to use our experience to inform policies and to continue to do so as the industry evolves. 

On this 811 Day, Vivax-Metrotech proudly joins our partners in promoting damage prevention and safe excavation. Whether you work with power, telecom, water, or gas infrastructure, investing in accurate locating and inspection equipment is an investment in safer projects, fewer service interruptions, and better protection for communities. 

Next week, we’ll be attending the Global Damage Prevention Summit in Nashville to keep the conversation on preventing utility damage going. We’re looking forward to continued opportunities to convene and share knowledge on damage prevention practices.