Common Ground Alliance
Common Ground Alliance at Construction on the Mall
Common Ground Alliance (CGA) is the national nonprofit trade association dedicated to protecting underground utility lines, people who dig near them and their communities.
COMMITTED TO SAVING LIVES
CGA is a member-driven organization of nearly 3,200 damage prevention professionals spanning every facet of the industry. Established in 2000, CGA is committed to saving lives and preventing damage to North American underground infrastructure by promoting effective damage prevention practices. When buried utilities are damaged, the effects can be vast, devastating, and disruptive to entire communities. CGA’s mission is to keep every community safe and connected to critical services.
OUTREACH AND PROGRAMS
CGA manages several key outreach programs to support its mission. 811, the national contact-before-you-dig number, is a core CGA campaign supported by members and non-members alike. CGA’s Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) program provides the only comprehensive accounting and analysis of damages to buried infrastructure in the U.S. and Canada via its annual DIRT Report. The Best Practices Guide is the consensus-based preeminent resource for damage prevention, and has informed several state damage prevention laws.
$30 BILLION ISSUE
CGA’s DIRT Report estimates that dig-ins to buried utilities cost the U.S. $30 billion annually. Infrastructure improvements supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act combined with a generally high pace of construction mean that excavation activity across the country is increasing – and it is imperative that development involving digging takes place responsibly.
REDUCING DAMAGES BY 50% OVER 5 YEARS
Earlier this year, CGA announced a bold challenge to the industry to reduce annual damages to buried utilities by 50% over the next 5 years. Participation in CGA’s new Damage Prevention Institute – which uses metrics-based assessments and a shared accountability model to accredit facility owner/operators, locators and excavators – is a critical pathway to achieving this ambitious goal.
HARNESSING TECHNOLOGY
Many damages to buried infrastructure could be avoided through the use of existing technologies. CGA’s Technology Committee and Next Practices Initiative promote the advancement of novel and emerging damage prevention technologies with the potential to make a significant impact on worker and community safety. Equipment manufacturers are a key CGA stakeholder group.
Visit CGA’s booth on the National Mall on May 14-16 to learn more about safe digging.