The Common Ground Alliance (CGA) has launched a new resource aimed at advancing the damage prevention industry’s ongoing mission to enhance excavation safety.
Featured in the CGA’s 2023 DIRT Report and Interactive Dashboard, the CGA Index serves as a benchmarking tool designed to track year-over-year progress in U.S. damage prevention efforts.
The Common Ground Alliance (CGA) has introduced a new tool they say will help the damage prevention industry’s ongoing efforts to enhance excavation safety.
Developed in collaboration with Virginia-based research firm Hanover Research, this model applies a methodology that measures annual damages and monitors progress toward CGA’s ambitious 50-in-5 initiative. Introduced in February 2023, the initiative calls on the industry to cut damages to critical underground utilities in half by 2028.
The CGA Index score for 2023 was 94, reflecting a six-point decrease in damages from the organization’s 2022 baseline score of 100. In her customary introduction within the report, CGA President & CEO Sarah K. Magruder Lyle noted that while this reduction is promising, it also “underscores the considerable work ahead to reach our goal of reducing damages by 50% over five years.”
“The Index will be instrumental in identifying new areas for damage analysis, measuring progress, and directing our efforts in the years ahead,” she added.
Key Findings from the 2023 DIRT Report
The report indicates that the top six root causes of damage have remained consistent, accounting for 76% of incidents for the third consecutive year. These causes include:
- Failure to notify 811
- Excavator failure to maintain clearance
- Locator error leading to unmarked facilities
- Improper excavation practices not otherwise classified
- Locator error resulting in inaccurate markings
- Excavation conducted before verifying marks through potholing
Additionally, the report highlighted that in 2023, excavators faced a 50/50 chance of beginning their work on schedule.
“This disrupts efficiency, weakens trust in the 811 system, and endangers lives,” Magruder Lyle stated. “Addressing this challenge head-on must be a priority for every stakeholder in the coming year.”
Additional Insights from the 2023 Data
– Trends in damage to facilities and the types of work causing incidents remained steady compared to 2022. Telecommunications infrastructure accounted for nearly half of reported damages, with natural gas making up approximately 40%.
– The 2023 report reclassifies the previously combined “energy” work type into separate natural gas and electric categories. This change revealed that water/sewer projects were the leading cause of damages, followed by telecom and construction/development.
– Excavation and construction stakeholders remained the primary sources of damage reports for the second consecutive year.
“As we look to the future, the urgency of our mission is evident,” Magruder Lyle emphasized. “The ongoing surge in excavation activities, driven by federal and state infrastructure investments, presents both challenges and opportunities. While it tests the limits of our current systems, it also offers a chance to showcase the power of data-driven decision-making and industry-wide collaboration.
“I encourage each of you to see yourselves not just as stakeholders, but as agents of change in this crucial mission,” she continued. “Commit to advancing our 50-in-5 goal by enhancing your organization’s data quality, implementing targeted strategies to reduce top damage causes, fostering deeper collaborations across industries, engaging with the DPI, and embracing innovation.”
How SiteMap® Helps Prevent Subsurface Damage
The most effective way to minimize the risk of subsurface damage on your next excavation project is to follow legal requirements and notify 811 before digging—then enlist the expertise of a professional private utility locating firm like GPRS for a complete, accurate map of underground utilities at your site.
Our SIM-certified Project Managers leverage advanced tools such as ground penetrating radar (GPR) and electromagnetic (EM) locating. Combined with our top-tier training program, these technologies enable us to provide utility locating services with an industry-leading accuracy rate of 99.8%+, keeping you and your team safe from the dangers of utility strikes.
With SiteMap® (patent pending), powered by GPRS, this accurate, field-verified data is accessible 24/7. Securely available on any computer, tablet, or smartphone, SiteMap® ensures your project team always works from the same precise infrastructure data—helping you plan, design, manage, excavate, and build with confidence.
By eliminating errors caused by miscommunication and giving you complete control over your data, SiteMap® helps prevent costly and dangerous mistakes. Because when you control the data, you control the risk.
Click below to schedule a live, personal SiteMap® demo today!