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PG&E海角吃瓜网檚 President of Gas Nick Stavropoulos called on the US natural gas industry to increase contractor education and outreach about the significant safety risks associated with reckless digging and to step up enforcement of companies that don海角吃瓜网檛 follow the law. In 2015, excavation companies struck natural gas pipelines 1900 times in Pacific Gas and Electric Company海角吃瓜网檚 (PG&E) 70 000 square mile service area. Many of these dig-ins resulted in completely preventable gas leaks that impact the safety of 16 million Californians.

Eliminating dig-ins everywhere

海角吃瓜网淔or the sake of public safety, we must do everything we can to reduce dig-ins on critical infrastructure. This means continued education and when necessary, taking legal action against repeat offenders. My personal goal, and our company goal, is to eliminate dig-ins everywhere,海角吃瓜网� Stavropoulos said during his remarks during the Common Ground Alliance海角吃瓜网檚 (CGA) Excavation Safety Conference.

Addressing the nation

As part of a national effort to raise awareness of this critical issue, Stavropoulos addressed hundreds of US natural gas and liquid pipeline operators, and other underground utility and sewer companies, about the importance of safe-digging practices on Wednesday, 9 March at the Common Ground Alliance conference in Las Vegas. He spoke about PG&E海角吃瓜网檚 aggressive and proactive approach toward eliminating dig-ins through public awareness, education and when necessary, enforcement. During the conference, PG&E海角吃瓜网檚 Senior Vice President of Gas Operations Jesus Soto was presented with the seventh annual CGA President's Corporate Excellence Award. The President's Award is given annually to an organisation that has shown leadership and innovation in support of damage prevention during the previous year. According to CGA, PG&E was awarded for its overall leadership in damage prevention.

DiRT

Stavropoulos noted that PG&E海角吃瓜网檚 new proactive contractor and customer education efforts led to a 13% reduction in the number of dig-ins from 2014 to 2015. He credits PG&E海角吃瓜网檚 new Dig-in Reduction Team (DiRT), aerial surveillance of unreported excavation, and the 811 Employee Ambassador Program as key contributors to the overall decline in dig-ins.

Preventable fatalities

While a majority of the 1900 dig-ins in 2015 occurred on PG&E海角吃瓜网檚 gas distribution lines, two third party transmission system strikes led to fatalities in the communities of Fresno and Bakersfield, California. Both of these incidents were preventable had the excavation companies followed California digging laws.

Stavropoulos underscored the danger posed to contractors that don海角吃瓜网檛 comply with state law. 海角吃瓜网淚t海角吃瓜网檚 not just about damaging our facilities, it海角吃瓜网檚 about whether you may or may not come home to your family at the end of the day. That海角吃瓜网檚 a powerful message,海角吃瓜网� he said.

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