SAFETY

The underground contract locating industry exists to promote the protection of underground facilities from destruction, damage or dislocation to prevent death and injury to all individuals, damage to property, and the loss of services to the general public.

Central to our overall safety program is our active participation in NULCA and the Common Ground (CGA) Best Practices initiative. OCCLS is a founding member of NULCA – the National Utility Locating Contractors Association. We currently serve on the executive committee of NULCA and hold a seat on the Board of Directors.

NULCA’s Mission statement:

“The mission of NULCA is to define, establish and maintain standards and practices performed by the underground utility locating industry. Our highest priority is the safety of the general public, excavators and our employees in the protection of North America’s underground infrastructure. As an Association, we will accomplish our mission by partnering with utility owners, excavators, one-call centers, suppliers and regulatory agencies, as well as other interested parties determined to provide a leadership role in the reduction of underground facility damages.”

Our safety program encompasses all OSHA mandated policies, the NULCA Professional Locator Competency Standards, and the Damage Prevention Best Practices. Our comprehensive training program covers general work place safety, traffic safety and control, a vehicle safety plan, and specific hands on training for the locate process.