unearthed - May 2006

SSOCOF has scheduled three No Notification Zone Feasibility Workshops throughout Florida to hear public comment on establishing zones where excavation can be undertaken without notice to the system as now required by Chapter 556. The workshops are as follows:

Registration: 8:30 - 9 a.m.
Workshop: 9 - 11:30 a.m.

September 20
Maitland Civic Center
641 South Maitland Avenue
Maitland, FL 32794-1124

September 26
Palm Beach County Water Utilities Central Regional Operations
8100 Forrest Hill Blvd.
(Okeeheelee Park South)
West Palm Beach, FL 333416

September 28
FL League of Cities
Raymond C. Sittig Hall
301 S Bronough St.
Tallahassee, FL 32301

These workshops are being conducted to comply with changes approved by the Florida 2006 Legislative session, effective October 1, 2006. Section 556.105. To view this part of the statute, click here.

The feasibility study will be presented to Legislature on or before February 1, 2007.

SSOCOF gives members powerful ticket management with IRTHNet, FREE

IRTHNet is the new, web-based ticket management system Sunshine State One Call is offering free to its members to easily manage all areas of locate ticket processing. IRTHNet users log into a secure website to review locate tickets, assign field personnel, and clear “no conflict” tickets. The benefits of this system are phenomenal:

Easy to use. Easy to set up.
Online and offline processing.
Fast and flexible ticket searches using ticket ID, excavator name, creation date, dig location, status, priority, specific date or date range.
Browser based - use your computer and Internet connection.
Digital map friendly - display dig sites of multiple tickets and process tickets directly from map screen.
Automatic ticket handling - after you set up key words or geographic information.
Automatic notifications - alerts you of emergency tickets, tickets matching your filter, missing tickets, system notices and broadcasts.
Information easily shared between members and locators.
Reduces paper and storage costs.
Plus so much more!

Click here to discover more about this ticket management tool.

SSOCOF's new safety training course, Caution: Utilities Below is now offered on CD in addition to the Internet. The CD contains the same great information as the CD and is perfect for those who have slower Internet speeds or no Internet at all! As long as the CD is installed and used on the same machine, it will track your progress so you can return to the lesson where you stopped. It also prints out a certificate after the final test, perfect for in-house training. The biggest difference with the CD is that it does not qualify for continuing education credits towards a contractor's license. To get your copy, click here and complete the promotional item order form.

Anyone wishing to earn one credit towards their contractors license, will need to complete the program online. For more information and to register with SSOCOF, click here.

SSOCOF has stepped up its outreach to Florida homeowners this year to spread its message, Call Before You Dig, at the Orlando Home Show, September 22-24 in Hall North B in the Orange County Convention Center’s North/South complex off Universal Boulevard. While consumers learn about the latest in products and services for home remodeling, we'll be there to remind them about the dangers of digging associated with some home improvement projects. Stop by and see us at booth 110.


Click here to view our website		September 2006
Your input needed 'No notification zones' discussed at statewide workshops SSOCOF has scheduled three No Notification Zone Feasibility Workshops throughout Florida to hear public comment on establishing zones where excavation can be undertaken without notice to the system as now required by Chapter 556. The workshops are as follows: Registration: 8:30 - 9 a.m. Workshop: 9 - 11:30 a.m. September 20 Maitland Civic Center 641 South Maitland Avenue Maitland, FL 32794-1124 September 26 Palm Beach County Water Utilities Central Regional Operations 8100 Forrest Hill Blvd. (Okeeheelee Park South) West Palm Beach, FL 333416 September 28 FL League of Cities Raymond C. Sittig Hall 301 S Bronough St. Tallahassee, FL 32301 These workshops are being conducted to comply with changes approved by the Florida 2006 Legislative session, effective October 1, 2006. Section 556.105. To view this part of the statute, click here. The feasibility study will be presented to Legislature on or before February 1, 2007. SSOCOF gives members powerful ticket management with IRTHNet, FREE IRTHNet is the new, web-based ticket management system Sunshine State One Call is offering free to its members to easily manage all areas of locate ticket processing. IRTHNet users log into a secure website to review locate tickets, assign field personnel, and clear “no conflict” tickets. The benefits of this system are phenomenal: Easy to use. Easy to set up. Online and offline processing. Fast and flexible ticket searches using ticket ID, excavator name, creation date, dig location, status, priority, specific date or date range. Browser based - use your computer and Internet connection. Digital map friendly - display dig sites of multiple tickets and process tickets directly from map screen. Automatic ticket handling - after you set up key words or geographic information. Automatic notifications - alerts you of emergency tickets, tickets matching your filter, missing tickets, system notices and broadcasts. Information easily shared between members and locators. Reduces paper and storage costs. Plus so much more! Click here to discover more about this ticket management tool. FREE safety training offered on CD, web SSOCOF's new safety training course, Caution: Utilities Below is now offered on CD in addition to the Internet. The CD contains the same great information as the CD and is perfect for those who have slower Internet speeds or no Internet at all! As long as the CD is installed and used on the same machine, it will track your progress so you can return to the lesson where you stopped. It also prints out a certificate after the final test, perfect for in-house training. The biggest difference with the CD is that it does not qualify for continuing education credits towards a contractor's license. To get your copy, click here and complete the promotional item order form. Anyone wishing to earn one credit towards their contractors license, will need to complete the program online. For more information and to register with SSOCOF, click here. See us at the Orlando Home Show SSOCOF has stepped up its outreach to Florida homeowners this year to spread its message, Call Before You Dig, at the *Orlando Home Show*, September 22-24 in Hall North B in the Orange County Convention Center’s North/South complex off Universal Boulevard. While consumers learn about the latest in products and services for home remodeling, we'll be there to remind them about the dangers of digging associated with some home improvement projects. Stop by and see us at booth 110.		IMPORTANT DATES September 20 Feasibility Workshop in Maitland September 21 Committee Meetings September 22-24 Orlando Home Show at the Orange County Convention Center September 22 Board Meeting September 26 Feasibility Workshop in West Palm Beach September 28 Feasibility Workshop in Tallahassee October 1 Revised law effective. Order your 2006 Excavation Guide now. (Scroll down for link.) October 25-26 CONEX show at the Orange County Convention Center CALENDAR Keep in touch with what's happening at Sunshine State One Call. Visit our calendar for events, meetings and holiday closings and more information on the dates listed above. HOT LINKS Pre-order your October 2006 Excavation Guide Learn how you will be affected by changes to Chapter 556, effective October 1, 2006. SSOCOF offers help before, during and after a hurricane. Florida Utilities Coordinating Committee REPORT DAMAGES The Damage Information Reporting Tool is available for anyone to use to report damages to underground facilities. For more information on how to use DIRT and sharing information with SSOCOF, click here. Contact us.
No Bull Locate Rodeo team represents Florida at International Locate Rodeo August 5, 2006, Sunshine State One Call's locate rodeo team competed in the International Locate Rodeo in Georgia. As winners of SSOCOF's 2006 no bull Rodeo Challenge, the winners also received a cash prize of $300, a recognition plaque and travel expenses to the International Locate Rodeo. Winners were selected based on three criteria: Zero liable damages for 90 days preceding the date of entry into the No Bull Rodeo Challenge. A liable damage is defined as a damage due to an error or omission by the locate technician. Zero safety violations for 90 days preceding the date of entry into the No Bull Rodeo Challenge. An essay the explains why his or her performance represents excellence in locating and damage prevention and why he or she you would best represent Florida’s locating community at the International Locate Rodeo. The No Bull Rodeo Challenge was designed to give special recognition to the profession of underground utility locating and to forge a partnership between the locate industry and SSOCOF that promotes safety, damage prevention and on-going education. If you're a locator and missed this opportunity, watch this website for information on future contests. t No Bull Rodeo Challenge winners from L to R: (front) Grady Pate, Keith Davis, Russell Maclees. (back) James Villarreal, Paul Donohue, Matthew Sherwood. Not Pictured: Eddie Benetiz and Troy Parsley.
Survey helps improve service to callers SSOCOF offers a customer satisfaction survey for its callers to use to rate the service received while requesting a locate ticket over the phone and it gives them an opportunity to suggest any improvements. The surveys are reviewed by management and responded to as necessary. Complete a survey by clicking here. We thank you in advance for helping SSOCOF continue to be the best one call center in the nation!

Sunshine State One Call of Florida is a private, not-for-profit, corporation created by Florida legislature in 1993. Its purpose is to educate excavators and homeowners on the requirement to Call Before You Dig and provide a free system for the excavating public to notify owners of pending excavation activity near underground utilities. Last year, SSOCOF received more than 1.8 million notices of proposed excavation in Florida. SSOCOF offers free educational sessions to professional excavators and homeowners. For more information on free classes and other SSOCOF services, visit www.callsunshine.com.


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