CAGC Champions Passage of SC Underground Safety Law

After 15-Year push, Carolinas AGC Successful in Getting Safety Legislation Passed

COLUMBIA, S.C., June 8, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- After pushing for changes to SC's underground safety and damage prevention law for over 15 years,  Carolinas AGC (CAGC) and members celebrated success as Governor Haley signed into law underground safety legislation on June 7.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100409/DC83321LOGO)

The legislation calls for:

• Mandatory one-call center membership: SC will now have a true "one call" program with all utility owner/operators required to be members of SC811 - SC's "Call Before You Dig" service.
• Positive response: Utilities will be required to advise excavators on the status of their response to a notice of intent to excavate, closing the circle of communication in the call before you dig process.
• Tolerance zone: The tolerance zone for locating facilities and safe digging in the vicinity of underground utilities is reduced from 30 to 24 inches.
• Modernization: Integration of new standards, technologies and practices.
• 811/One-Call Center governance: The number of seats on the SC811 Board of Directors is increased, providing additional stakeholders, particularly the construction industry a stronger voice in SC811's operations.
• Enforcement: Spells out each stakeholder's responsibilities in the process. Enforcement will remain with the Attorney General's office, but with an enhanced adjudication process.
• Federal Intervention: This law brings SC more in line with federal standards, helping us avoid federal enforcement intervention.

"Most importantly, this legislation will help ensure public and workforce safety," states Allen Gray, CAGC Utility Division Director, "it spells out each stakeholder's responsibilities in the one call process and provides mechanisms to hold all stakeholders responsible for fulfilling those responsibilities."

"One of the biggest incentives for Carolinas AGC and its members was the need to make our members' job sites safer," said Leslie Hope, Dir., SC Government Relations & Divisions for CAGC. "The changes will go a long way in making jobs sites safer than they have been in years."

Carolinas AGC builds its 2,300 members' businesses through workforce development, business development, profit management, and workers' compensation insurance. Visit Carolinas AGC at www.cagc.org.

For additional information: Lori Tharp, Director, Communications & Specialty/Supplier Networks, 704/372-1450 ext. 5227, [email protected]

SOURCE Carolinas Associated General Contractors

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