The Manitoba Common Ground Alliance (MCGA) made notable progress in 2022 addressing locate concerns, especially the timeliness of the locates performed by utilities. With nearly a 90% success rate for a locate to be completed within 10 business days, this is great news for the excavating community.
That was made possible by the collaborative effort of the MCGA, working intensively with Bell MTS since 2021 to improve their locate response times which was affecting the excavating community.
The MCGA is a member-driven organization focusing on promoting effective damage prevention practices in connection with underground infrastructure activities.
It was able to provide that “link” between industry, utility and one-call notification centers to address concerns and create an avenue for all parties to participate through a solution-based environment.
“I think the heavy construction industry has noticed real improvement in the last year with the process and timeliness of locates, and that shows the value of a volunteer group of dedicated industry and utility members,” MHCA President Chris Lorenc said.
One of the alliance’s other main accomplishments in 2022 was developing and implementing the Ground Disturbance 201 standard.
The MCGA saw the need to create a ground disturbance standard benefiting the excavation industry that also reflected Manitoba’s “uniqueness” in excavation practices. It partnered with Alberta’s Utility Safety Partners (USP) establishing a Manitoba Training Standards Committee and bringing to life Manitoba’s Ground Disturbance 201 Standard
The MCGA consists of 67 members, with additional utility members signing on in effort to ease the challenges of the excavation community and ensure ground disturbance is done safely.
The MCGA will continue its work toward ensuring excavation is safe and damage free.
