1. Dial Before You Dig The Importance of Safe Excavation

2. The Importance of Safe Excavation
Dial Before You Dig - a free referral service designed to protect Australia’s underground assets and workers
Single point of contact for all excavators to obtain information
Middle man between Australia’s excavators and our Members – the owners of underground assets
Not for profit community service
National organisation

3. The Service The essential first step in any excavation
Lodging an enquiry is free
Funded by our Members
Enquiries can be lodged online - – 24/7
Dial Before You Dig has a single contact number – free call

4. The Service Nationally in 2012/13 – over 900,000 enquiries
Over 3.5 million referrals nationally
Over 86% of all enquiries lodged online
Call centre – based in Melbourne
We refer enquiry to Member - Member then responds within 2 business days
Enquiries continue to grow on an annual basis

5. Central Enquiry & Notification Service
The Service
Customer
Enquiry
Dial Before You Dig
Utility 1 1
Utility 2
Utility 3
Enquiry
Confirmation 3
Utility 4 2
Central Enquiry & Notification Service
Notification 4
Utility response

6. Our Members Power, water, gas and telecommunications organisations
Councils
Other organisations with underground assets
Non asset owning Members

7. On-Line Service

8. The Online Service

9. The Online Service

10. The Online Service

11. Mobile I-Phone App Service

13. Damages Most damages are caused through…
Lack of Planning
Lack of Awareness
Wrong Assumptions
Ignorance
Machinery involved in damaging underground networks
Augers, backhoes, excavators, boring machines, directional drilling, bitumen strippers

14. Damages The main causes of damage… Not using Dial Before You Dig
Not waiting for information to arrive
Using plans that are out of date
Not having plans onsite
Not paying attention to clues at the work site
Assuming the depth or alignment of underground networks

15. Damages The main causes of damage…
Changing the job specifications halfway through
Not realising how many activities can damage underground networks
Not realising that networks can exist at more than one level
Assuming that registered easements tell the whole story
Not communicating onsite

16. Damages
CONSEQUENCES
Costly delays to projects as damage repaired and services are restored.
The damager runs the risk of a substantial repair bill.
Bad Press for the offending organisation.

17. Damages CONSEQUENCES The Service owner has to respond to the damage.
Services to network customers are interrupted.
The community can be put at risk through damaged services (e.g. water supply to a hospital cut).
Remember Dial Before You Dig is a Quality Assurance component and an essential safety tool. Incorporate it into your planning!

18. How To Avoid Damage
What can you do to avoid damage to underground networks?
Understand & Demonstrate your “Duty of Care”
Protects Employment Protects Your Company Protects Essential Services
Your “Duty of Care” is to …
Plan Pothole Protect and only then Proceed

19. Dial Before You Dig The vital first step
Every time – no matter what the project
Wait for plans
Remember – plans indicate presence only
Use contact numbers provided
Use locators if necessary
Avoid costly and dangerous damages

20. Questions