Uncover persistent challenges in current damage prevention system

Submit Your 2021 Damage Data to DIRT

With less than two months until the deadline, now is the time to get your 2021 DIRT data ready for submission!

Your damage and near miss data is essential to help determine how we as an industry can continue improving our processes. By law, Sunshine 811 members are required to submit their damage reports by Thursday, March 31.

Each year, facility operators are required by the Underground Facility Damage Prevention and Safety Act, Chapter 556, Florida Statutes. Sunshine 811 compiles the data to gauge damage prevention efforts in Florida. The Common Ground Alliance (CGA) compiles the data into an annual nationwide DIRT Report.

The data collected will be used to analyze the root causes of these damage and near miss events, and conduct trend analyses. We will use the data to drive conversations toward persistent challenges in the current system and target our education to those areas where damages are higher. The end goal is a better informed excavating public and effective educational programming. The data is not used for enforcement purposes or to determine liability.

Visit Florida’s Virtual Private DIRT to begin submitting your data or create a new DIRT account. If you find anything to be confusing, access the USER’S GUIDE. If that does not answer your question or is unclear, visit Submit a Feedback or Support Request link.

Please fill out the form as completely and accurately as possible based on the best of your knowledge and information that is availableSeveral fields have choices “Unknown/Other.” Use of this choice is discouraged, as complete and accurate information brings the most value to the data analysis.

If your organization has any questions about DIRT data, or if you need assistance submitting your data, contact Steve Blaney, CGA’s Manager of Data Reporting & Industry Analysis, at StevenB@commongroundalliance.com.

 

MEMBER REQUIREMENTS

s.556.105(12)(b) If an event damages any pipe, cable or its protective covering, or other underground facility, the member operator receiving the notice shall file a report with the system. Reports must be submitted annually to the system, no later than March 31 for the prior calendar year, or more frequently at the option and sole discretion of the member operator. Each report must describe, if known, the cause, nature, and location of the damage. The system shall establish and maintain a process to facilitate submission of reports by member operators.

* Sunshine 811 currently uses the Common Ground Alliance DIRT System for required damage and near miss notifications.

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