In the Same Trench: How Operators and Contractors Prevent Strikes Together
Every few minutes, somewhere in the United States, an underground utility line is struck. Each of those strikes carries consequences from safety risks and environmental impacts to costly delays and damaged reputations. The price tag is staggering: damages tied to excavation cost the economy tens of billions of dollars annually. But behind the numbers are people, operators managing critical infrastructure and contractors moving earth to build what communities and industries rely on.
That is where our story begins. We may represent different parts of the value chain, but when it comes to protecting what is underground, we are in the same trench.
Two Perspectives, One Goal
Casey Thames – Pipeline Operator’s View
I have spent 15 years in midstream operations, with experience across transmission and gathering systems for natural gas, oil, water, NGL, and fiber infrastructure. I serve on the Board of Directors for the Damage Prevention Council of Texas and have been deeply involved in the cause for many years. My work has centered on pipeline operations and integrity management, keeping systems safe, compliant, and reliable. For operators, the challenge of damage prevention is relentless. Every locate request, every ticket, every mile of pipeline represents both a regulatory obligation and a responsibility to the public. A single strike on a regulated system does not just mean repairs, it can trigger federal reporting, operational downtime, and community concern. My motivation is straightforward: keeping people safe, maintaining trust, and ensuring that our industry delivers energy without unnecessary risks.
Daniel Radabaugh – Contractor’s View
On the contractor side, the job looks different, but the pressure is just as real. My crews are tasked with moving projects forward, often under tight deadlines and with multiple stakeholders watching. Every bucket of dirt we move carries the potential of what is beneath it. Our responsibility is to balance productivity with precision, making sure our people go home safe at the end of the day. Hitting a line does not just slow a project, it can injure workers, strain relationships with clients, and affect a company’s reputation. Prevention, for our team at Xccelerated Construction Unlimited, is as much about pride in workmanship as it is about risk management.
Together, we represent two sides of the same challenge. The details may differ, but the outcome we want is the same: zero strikes.
Why Collaboration Is the Only Way Forward
Operators own the assets. Contractors move the earth. Locators interpret the maps. Regulators enforce the rules. No single group can succeed in isolation.
From the operator’s chair, it is frustrating to see excavation work start without a call to 811 or to discover that a strike could have been avoided if procedures had been followed. From the contractor’s side, inaccurate records or vague locates can turn even the most diligent crew into a target for risk. The reality is clear: the gap between paper processes and field realities is where damage happens. Collaboration, not blame, is the bridge we need.
Why Now?
This conversation could not come at a better time. On August 11 (811 Day), the industry reminded the public and professionals alike of the three digits that can prevent most utility strikes. In mid September, the Global Excavation Safety Conference in Dallas will bring together hundreds, if not thousands of stakeholders to address these issues head on, followed quickly by the Texas811 Damage Prevention Summit in early October. Both industry meetings reiterate that damage prevention is not just a technical detail, it is a movement.
Our aim is to keep that momentum going here at OGGN. This blog marks the start of a biweekly series where we will explore topics like mapping accuracy, enforcement challenges, the realities of “no call” digs, and how new technology is reshaping prevention.
Where We Are Going
The goal of this series is not to point fingers but to share perspectives. As an operator and a contractor, we will bring a combined lens to the table: compliance, policy, and community responsibility on one side, productivity, workforce safety, and client expectations on the other.
We will talk about what works, what does not, and where the gaps still exist. We will highlight innovations, case studies, and lessons learned. And most importantly, we will keep the conversation focused on solutions that drive the industry closer to the 50 in 5 Challenge, reducing damages by half within five years.
Closing Thoughts
We invite you to follow along, share your own experiences, and challenge us with questions or topics you want addressed. Damage prevention is not an operator issue or a contractor issue, it is an industry issue, and solving it will take every stakeholder pulling in the same direction.
Because at the end of the day, we are not just talking about lines in the ground. We are talking about people, communities, and the trust that makes energy and infrastructure possible. And when it comes to preventing strikes, we are all in the same trench.
Co-Authored by:
Casey Thames: caseythames@gmail.com
Daniel Radabaugh: daniel@xccelerated.net