Despite nationwide 811 coverage, buried utilities were hit some 200,000 times in 2024, according to the Common Ground Alliance (CGA), which is partnering with AEM and next week’s Utility Expo to bring an interactive “educational activation” called Damage Prevention Live to the show in Louisville.
There will be hands-on demonstrations that will show attendees the roles of mapping, locating, communication, marking systems, and excavation techniques to prevent damage to underground utilities.
Gas and telecom contractors should take particular note: CGA’s annual Dirt Report that catalogues underground hits reports that the two industries combined experienced 136,749 hits in 2024.
Learn about new products scheduled for The Utility Expo
Located in Lot K on The Utility Expo Grounds, Damage Control Live is a circuit of real-world applications where the CGA’s best practices come to life with the help of sponsoring organizations.
Seven key applications/stations include:
- Mapping
- Subsurface Utility Engineering
- Markers for Underground Facilities
- Communication Between Parties
- 811 Facility Locate Request
- Excavation Within the Tolerance Zone
- Vacuum Excavation.
“We recognize that organizations like CGA are leading the way in safety culture with consensus-driven best practices, robust public awareness campaigns and industry collaboration, and we are thrilled to bring these initiatives to life at The Utility Expo in 2025,” said The Utility Expo Show director Brianne Somers.
“This activation is about more than education—it’s about protecting workers, communities and critical infrastructure. The Utility Expo is proud to provide a platform where attendees can gain practical tools and knowledge that directly improve safety on every job site.”
The CGA has 4,000 members who are damage prevention professionals in the utility industry.
About the Author
Frank Raczon
Raczon’s writing career spans nearly 25 years, including magazine publishing and public relations work with some of the industry’s major equipment manufacturers. He has won numerous awards in his career, including nods from the Construction Writers Association, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, and BtoB magazine. He is responsible for the magazine's Buying Files.