The NEW Damage Prevention Process in Alberta 7.1 guidelines have been released by USP's Best Practices Committee!

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USP Newsletter – February 2024

The February edition highlights our recent podcast about the Alternate Locate Provider (ALP) program, the collaborative efforts that led to the newly released version of the Damage Prevention Process in Alberta document, explains the importance of Damage Prevention Standards, and more!

USP Newsletter – January 2024

In the January edition, we review USP’s 2023 activities, describe the upcoming Alternate Locate Provider (ALP) program, explore the benefits of shifting from Call Before You Dig to Click Before You Dig, and more…

USP Newsletter – December 2023

In the December edition, we provide details on how you can support USP’s legislation efforts, learn about the new Locating and Marking Standard, recap our software user group’s objectives, and more!

2023 Holiday Hours

 

Please note that only days with regular business hours are included in the 3-5 day minimum notice period on routine locate requests.

USP Newsletter – November 2023

In the November edition, we review our 2023 digital advertising campaign, explore how coordinating efforts can advance damage prevention, learn about home heating safety, and more.

In Remembrance – Fraser Paterson

On the passing of Fraser Paterson – a message from USP President, Mike Sullivan

It was with profound sadness that we learned of the untimely passing of Fraser Paterson, Senior Director of Health & Safety with Plains Midstream Canada, earlier this week. Fraser enjoyed a 30+ year career in the transmission pipeline industry beginning as a welder’s helper and later becoming a Land Agent with TC Energy. It was there that I met him over 20 years ago and enticed him to join my team at Alliance Pipeline. We worked hard and had a great time doing it but our paths would eventually take us in new directions. I moved on from Alliance and eventually, Fraser did, too. When he joined Plains in a damage prevention leadership capacity, he soon joined AOC’s Board of Directors; moving into the role of Vice Chair and eventually, Chair of the Board of Directors. It was during his time on the Board that AOC unified services with the Alberta Common Ground Alliance and the Where’s the LINE? campaign; and, it was also during his tenure the Annual Member Fee was introduced – both equally pivotal and defining moments in our corporate history.

Fraser leaves behind his wife, Brooke, and their kids, Connor and Caelin. His passing leaves a formidable gap in the lives of his extended family and friends and among the pipeline industry he greatly admired and contributed towards. I’m going to miss him.

Rest in peace, old friend.

Image of Fraser Paterson
Fraser Paterson

 

USP Newsletter – October 2023

In the October edition, we talk about the difference between priority and emergency locate requests, staying safe after contacting an overhead power line, upcoming locate software changes, how future generations will affect business practices, and more…

Closed for regular operations: November 13, 2023

USP is observing Remembrance Day on Monday, November 13, 2023. The Contact Centre will accept emergency calls only and all emergency requests will be called out to facility owners or their locators.

Monday, November 13th will be excluded from the 3 or 5 business days’ notice to facility owners on routine locate requests.

Overhead Notification Pilot Program

USP is excited to announce the start of our Overhead Notification Pilot program!

Beginning November 1, 2023, excavators whose dig sites overlap with a participating asset owner’s registered above-ground facility will notice that asset owner listed on their locate request ticket. Excavators will receive an automatic response from USP that advises them of the nearby overhead line and contains instructions on how to proceed safely around the asset. 

The automatic response will look like this

The purpose of the pilot is to reduce contacts with overhead lines during excavation by reminding excavators to have a plan to work safely around overhead assets, and by providing contact information to arrange a safety orientation when the work will be within 7 metres of an overhead line.

Not all overhead assets are included in this pilot. Remember to always ask yourself “Where’s the LINE?”

USP Newsletter April 2023

In this month’s edition of Click to Know What’s Above and Below we have advice for homeowners’ Spring projects, a new QR code, a wrap-up of our USP Safety Conference, the compelling journey of Chad Kennedy and his Sea-to-Sea for PTSD campaign, and more…