This year’s event will feature 17 classes, all offered completely FREE of charge, many providing certifications necessary for construction personnel throughout Missouri. In addition to the FREE courses, the Summit will also feature the highly competitive excavator and locate rodeos, an exhibit hall with premiere vendors for the construction industry, and many other exciting opportunities that you won’t want to miss. ALL meals, certifications, classes, and events are completely FREE!

Registration for vendors will begin September 1st and participants can sign up beginning September 15th. As the nation’s largest event of its kind, we expect 1,500 people to attend this year. Because this is such a highly regarded and successful event, registration will close when we reach capacity. It is strongly suggested to register early to guarantee your spot.

Additionally, this MO CGA site is in the process of being redesigned. We hope to launch the site in the next couple of weeks and are excited about the new functions it will provide.

We look forward to seeing you in November!

Throughout the nation and even recently in our own backyard, underground utility lines are damaged far too frequently. Because of the significant increase in the amount of infrastructure that is buried out of site, the risk for damage has never been greater. With the exponential increase in fiber installation necessary to carry faster bandwidth to homes both urban and rural, in addition to the rehabilitation of numerous gas, electric, water, and sewer facilities, the invisible landscape of Missouri’s underground utilities is changing at record speed.

The MO CGA, in cooperation with related associations and organizations seeks to raise awareness about the risks and to educate as many excavators, contractors, and homeowners about the importance of damage prevention.

In April and beyond, we encourage you to do your part in making every time you dig a safer experience.

For more information on how to get involved with the MO CGA and any of our awareness efforts, please visit the Contact page to email one of our staff.

For those looking to get involved with the Damage Prevention & Excavation Safety Summit hosted by the MO CGA, please contact the 2014 Summit Chairman Derek Leffert at your convenience.

STAY SAFE!!

In addition to 18 courses provided completely free of charge, participants competed in locator and excavator rodeos and other events for cash prizes. For the first time anywhere, a live trench rescue was performed by the Boone County Fire Protection District Task Force 1. This live demonstration of a real trench rescue in action provided viewers with a firsthand view of what processes and procedures must be observed when someone is buried in an unsafe trench. This demonstration was tied to the summit’s keynote speaker Eric Giguere who gave participants a play by play of what happened when he was buried alive and reminded them of the need to work safely.

We will be posting photos, videos, and presentations of the event very soon. Please check back often to see updated content. Additionally, registration for the 2014 Damage Prevention & Excavation Safety Summit will open in September. Your early registration ensures your spot and guarantees you access to the high quality FREE training that the Missouri Common Ground Alliance has earned the well-deserved reputation of providing. We hope to see you return on November 5th & 6th, 2014.

Between now and then, stay SAFE!

In addition to the popular OSHA 10, Excavation Competent Person, and Locator Training that is offered FREE of charge to attendees, the MO CGA will offer several new FREE courses this year including Flagger Certification, Repairing a Damaged Utility, Construction Insurance & Safety, and Contractor/Subcontractor Relations.

Additionally, for the first time ever in the United States, the nationally renowned Boone County Fire Protection District will perform a LIVE trench rescue to demonstrate how people are methodically freed from being buried alive. This is sure to be an event that you won’t want to miss.

Registration for attendees will begin on August 15th. Due to the overwhelming success of the event, registrations will be accepted on a first-come first-served basis. Because of space and class limitations we encourage you to register as early as possible to guarantee your spot.

In addition to the FREE educational training, we will once again host an equipment rodeo for backhoe/excavator operators and a locator rodeo to utility locators. We will also have numerous fun events, FREE meals, phenomenal door prizes and dozens of vendors on site to demonstrate their products and services. FREE DNR, DHSS, and other educational credits will also be offered for those requiring licensing credits.

We look forward to seeing you in November and encourage you to contact us with any questions. If your organization would like to help sponsor the event or would like to display your products and/or services, please contact us as soon as possible so that we may include your information in our promotional material.

Be SAFE!

Derek Leffert
2013 Summit Chairman

(Governor Jay Nixon issuing the Safe Digging Month Proclamation)

The proclamation marked the start of outreach in all corners of Missouri to remind those who dig to contact Missouri One Call prior to starting their projects. In addition to the proclamation, excavation and utility stakeholders have participated in strategically placing 811 banners in high traffic areas, distributing damage prevention literature, attending safety events, conducting media interviews, and hosting the Paul Jr. 811 Bike at the Missouri State Capitol.

(MO PSC Chairman Robert Kenney poses with the 811 Bike)

The Missouri Common Ground Alliance, in concert with our counterparts throughout the nation, place a specific emphasis on education and awareness in April. With hundreds of thousands of miles of underground utility infrastructure and the potential risk to life, health, property, and essential public services, the MO CGA takes an active role in promoting principles and practices designed to reduce potential catastrophes.

For more information on how YOU can get involved in carrying the message, please explore this site and feel free to contact us at mocommonground .

Be Safe!

Nearly 900 people converged for the free courses and competition last year. This November, the MO CGA will once again offer FREE OSHA 10 & Competent Person training in addition to 14 other courses designed to raise awareness and enhance the safety of the construction and utility industries. More than 50 hours of FREE training is available as follows:

· OSHA 10 (10 Hours)

· Competent Person (4 Hours)

· Locator Training (4 Hours)

· Confined Spaces (2.5 Hours)

· Overhead Power Line Safety (2 Hours)

· Directional Drilling Safety (2 Hours)

· Damage Investigations (2 Hours)

· Trench Safety (2 Hours)

· Fall Protection (2 Hours)

· Liability in Trench Accidents (2 Hours)

· Heavy Equipment Safety (2 Hours)

· Supervisory Accountability (1.5 Hours)

· Technology Roundtable (1.5 Hours)

· Fleet Safety (1.5 Hours)

· Vacuum Excavation Demonstration (1 Hour)

· The Trial of an Underground Damage (1 Hour)

In addition to the free courses, an Excavator Rodeo & Locator Rodeo will once again give attendees the option to compete for cash prizes and demonstrate their skill level while competing with other operators and locators throughout the state. Furthermore, dozens of vendors will be on hand to demonstrate new products and services. You also won’t want to miss the opportunity to win one of the many prizes given away including a 55” HDTV and a Benelli 12 gauge.

Registration for participants will open on September 15th. We strongly encourage you to REGISTER EARLY to reserve your spot as class sizes are limited. The deadline to register to attend will be October 26th, however, we may close registration early due to limited capacity.

For an idea of what to expect at the nation’s largest CGA summit, feel free to watch the video from 2011 on the main Summit page or by CLICKING HERE.

We look forward to seeing YOU in November!

Regards,

Derek S. Leffert
2012 Summit Chairman

One Call Concepts has been taking the 811 Bike on a national tour, as a new way to share an important safety message at events that reach various industries and the general public. The tour included Missouri this June.

On June 12, the Bike made an appearance at the Kansas City T-Bones baseball game, which had a crowd of over 10,000!

On June 13, the Bike appeared in Jefferson City at the State Capitol Building where Missouri One Call System contacted the media, displayed their Damage Prevention Education Trailer, and provided free lunch. The turn-out was great and everyone learned an important message!

The next morning on June 14, the Bike continued its tour to Columbia where it made an appearance at Missouri Employers Mutual.

That same evening, the Bike made its last stop in Missouri (for now!) to see the River City Rascals play at the TR Hughes Ballpark in O’Fallon.

Thousands of people will get to see the bike first-hand during the next few years, putting 811 and damage prevention in the spotlight all across the country.

“Ever since we announced we were working with PJD to build the 811 Bike, we’ve gotten a tremendous amount of positive feedback from many people outside of our industry,” says Hoff, “We’re glad that they are excited about something we think will carry the message of damage prevention to an entirely new group of people.”

The 811 Bike was created for One Call Concepts, Inc by Paul Jr. Designs and appeared on American Chopper Senior Vs. Junior earlier this year. After 30 years of providing damage prevention services across the country, One Call Concepts decided to give back to the Damage Prevention Industry by sharing this ‘vehicle’ for safety with EVERYONE, traveling cross-country spreading the word about the importance of calling 811 BEFORE you dig – every time.

The 811 Bike will be touring the country for the rest of 2012. Notable appearances include the Missouri State Fair in August, the Iowa State Fair August 16-18 in Des Moines, and in November, the 2012 Greater Chesapeake damage prevention training conference in Maryland. For more information, e-mail info@occinc.com, or check out the 811 Bike on Facebook at www.facebook.com/811bike.

THANK YOU to all who attended, supported, and participated in the first Missouri Common Ground Alliance Damage Prevention & Excavation Safety Summit November 9th & 10th. The event dramatically exceeded our expectations and we are grateful to all who took time out of busy schedules to join us! We are especially appreciative of all 60 of our Summit sponsors who boldly committed to our first attempt at bringing all stakeholders together for a common purpose.

Nearly 900 people converged in Columbia, MO for the 2-day event! Participants who attended training chose from a 14-course program and demonstrated their skills in the Equipment Rodeo as well as the Locate Rodeo. According to early accounts, this event was the largest CGA-related summit ever to be held in the nation. The success was due to our sponsors, equipment manufacturers, volunteers, partner associations and organizations, as well as those diligently listened to course instructors and presenters.

For the vendors who allied with the MO CGA, it was a valuable and beneficial venture. Steve Dunlap, Area Sales Manager for Radiodetection summarized the vendor perspective and sentiments of many by commenting, “Just wanted to tell you that, from a Radiodetection view, you did an OUTSTANDING job putting the Summit together. I have been attending shows like this for over 15 years and I can tell you I have never seen a conference that took care of every detail as you did on this Summit. As a manufacturer, we appreciate the attention to details and the number of attendees; it makes our investment in a conference worthwhile”. All vendors echoed Radiodetection’s opinion and 100% of those surveyed were enthusiastic about returning next year.

Participants were equally impressed with the first event, many indicating their intention to return next year. “I can’t begin to describe how timely and useful this conference was. I wanted to thank you for all the time and work you put into the Safety Summit from the perspective of an outsider this was a success. The speakers were well versed and entertaining, registration was a breeze, the booths provided useful information and handouts and everyone in our company agreed the food was way more than expected and delicious”, said Christina Kelly of JD Kelly Excavating.

The MO CGA group will meet in December to critique the event in detail and begin laying the foundation for 2012. Surveys have been distributed to all who attended and will be utilized to further improve the summit.

If your organization would like to participate in next year’s event, please contact the MO CGA at mocommonground or subscribe to this blog for updates on exciting news and events. Also, please remember to check the calendar for upcoming meetings and events.

Additionally, pictures, presentations, and videos will soon be uploaded to the Summit tab. Please check back in mid to late December for revised content.

Be safe!

THANK YOU to all who attended, supported, and participated in the first Missouri Common Ground Alliance Damage Prevention & Excavation Safety Summit November 9th & 10th. The event dramatically exceeded our expectations and we are grateful to all who took time out of busy schedules to join us! We are especially appreciative of all 60 of our Summit sponsors who boldly committed to our first attempt at bringing all stakeholders together for a common purpose.

Nearly 900 people converged in Columbia, MO for the 2-day event! Participants who attended training chose from a 14-course program and demonstrated their skills in the Equipment Rodeo as well as the Locate Rodeo. According to early accounts, this event was the largest CGA-related summit ever to be held in the nation. The success was due to our sponsors, equipment manufacturers, volunteers, partner associations and organizations, as well as those diligently listened to course instructors and presenters.

For the vendors who allied with the MO CGA, it was a valuable and beneficial venture. Steve Dunlap, Area Sales Manager for Radiodetection summarized the vendor perspective and sentiments of many by commenting, “Just wanted to tell you that, from a Radiodetection view, you did an OUTSTANDING job putting the Summit together. I have been attending shows like this for over 15 years and I can tell you I have never seen a conference that took care of every detail as you did on this Summit. As a manufacturer, we appreciate the attention to details and the number of attendees; it makes our investment in a conference worthwhile”. All vendors echoed Radiodetection’s opinion and 100% of those surveyed were enthusiastic about returning next year.

Participants were equally impressed with the first event, many indicating their intention to return next year. “I can’t begin to describe how timely and useful this conference was. I wanted to thank you for all the time and work you put into the Safety Summit from the perspective of an outsider this was a success. The speakers were well versed and entertaining, registration was a breeze, the booths provided useful information and handouts and everyone in our company agreed the food was way more than expected and delicious”, said Christina Kelly of JD Kelly Excavating.

The MO CGA group will meet in December to critique the event in detail and begin laying the foundation for 2012. Surveys have been distributed to all who attended and will be utilized to further improve the summit.

If your organization would like to participate in next year’s event, please contact the MO CGA at mocommonground or subscribe to this blog for updates on exciting news and events. Also, please remember to check the calendar for upcoming meetings and events.

Be safe!

It will be held on November 9th and 10th, 2011 at the Boone County Fairgrounds in Columbia, MO and will consist of nearly 40 hours of educational instruction (some of which are CEU eligible or offer pertinent certifications), an equipment expo, a multi-line excavator rodeo, a locator rodeo (with gas, water, electric, and telecommunication divisions), and additional events too numerous to mention. Best of all, the Summit, all materials, meals, and continuing education credits and certifications will be offered FREE of charge to participants. Considering that the value of the OSHA 10 and Competent Person training generally runs in excess of $150+ per person, we are hopeful that organizations will take advantage of the no-cost opportunities to educate their staff.

Additionally, companies with products and services relevant to the utility and excavation industries are strongly encouraged to participate to demonstrate their value to Summit participants. With minimal fees and significant exposure, vendors cannot afford to miss out on this cost-effective opportunity to showcase their product lines. Many companies have already agreed to partner in this inaugural event and we have plenty of room to add yours.

For complete program information and forms, please visit http://mocommonground.org/register/excavatorsummittregistration.pdf. Please visit the Summit page on this site to register online.

We look forward to seeing you in November and encourage you to contact Summit Chairman Derek Leffert at 573-280-8500 if you have any questions.