unearthed - May 2006

Ticket definition amended to include undeveloped land

Excavators now have the flexibility to request tickets for areas of undeveloped land up to one square mile. This decision, approved by the SSOCOF Board of Directors at its January meeting, is in addition to the existing ticket definitions found in the October 2006 Excavation Guide on pages 24 and 25.

The new ticket definition is as follows: One locate ticket may cover an area of undeveloped land of no more than one square mile, provided that the boundaries of the undeveloped land area where the work is to be performed are described on the ticket. This ticket may also include work to be performed on any single street or right-of-way bordering the area of undeveloped land. Work to be performed on any additional bordering street or right-of-way will require a separate ticket.

When requesting a ticket for undeveloped land, clearly state that the excavation work will be done on undeveloped land and define the boundaries as clearly as possible.

Excavation Guides are being revised to include this new definition and will be available soon with a January 2007 date. Because this is the only change incorporated into the Guides, please order inserts to supplement any inventory you may have of the October 2006 Guides.

To view all ticket definitions, please click here.

To view and print an insert, please click here.

SSOCOF launches CGA Regional Partnership March 7

SSOCOF has partnered with the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) to establish a Regional Partnership. The main goal of the partnership is to foster communications among Florida's damage prevention stakeholders (excavators, locators, road builders, electric, telecommunications, oil, gas, railroad, water, one call, public works, equipment manufacturing, state regulators, insurance and engineering/design), and with the CGA.

SSOCOF will hold regional partnership meetings throughout the state where participants will learn about nationwide damage prevention activities and measures, and have the ability to voice opinions and influence the development of new national damage prevention best practices.

Regional Partnership Meetings

Kick-off event
March 7, 2007
2 to 3 p.m. at the CGA Excavation Safety Conference and Expo
Tampa - April 6, 2007 - watch for more details
Tallahassee - April 11, 2007 - watch for more details
Broward - April 25, 2007 - watch for more details

Established in 2000, the CGA is a national group dedicated to ensuring public safety, environmental protection, and the integrity of services by promoting effective damage prevention practices. In recent years, the association has established itself as the leading organization in an effort to reduce damages to all underground facilities in North America through shared responsibility among all stakeholders.

Feasibility Study on no locate zones completed

SSOCOF recently completed it's Feasibility Study on establishing "no facility zones" in Florida, as required by the 2006 Florida Legislature. The study requirements are fully set forth in s. 556.105(1)(d), Florida Statutes.

Sunshine has exhausted all practical avenues available to solicit public comment and has provided regional workshops for purposes of getting additional comments on “no facility zones.” Sunshine has conducted considerable review of all public comments, researched practical concerns for administration of "no facility zones," and visited Lake Worth Drainage District, the proponent of “no facility zones,” to view its operations.

Sunshine State One Call of Florida, Inc. recommends that no action be taken now or in the future by the Florida Legislature to amend Chapter 556, the “Underground Facility Damage Prevention and Safety Act,” to provide for the establishment or recognition of zones for the purpose of allowing excavation within such zones to be undertaken without notice to the system as now required by the act.

Nineteen thousand growth chart posters featuring Kyle Busch, NASCAR driver, will be distributed at scheduled Daytona 500 events February 16 - 18, 2007 at Daytona International Speedway. Included in those events are Daytona USA interactive programs and Fan Club Forums. An additional 50,000 charts will be distributed through all Publix stores in the following areas: Avon Park, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Highland, Indian River, Lake Placid, Lee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Palm Beach, St. Lucie and Volusia. Visit your local Publix customer service counter for your copy. You can also order a limited number of the posters from SSOCOF's promotional item order form this April.

Florida excavators are invited to attend the CGA Excavation Safety Expo free of charge, March 6, 7 or 8 and SSOCOF's Safety Theater March 7, 2007. Registration deadline for this free offer is February 27. Enter registration code 123.

The Expo gives you the opportunity to meet prospective vendors, compare products and network with fellow industry personnel. There also are on-floor activities consisting of demonstrations, presentations and discussions related to the underground infrastructure.

SSOCOF conducts four safety theater presentations on March 7 from damage prevention awareness to mapping technology in Florida. Now is your chance to attend these presentations, completely free of charge:


Click here to view our website		February 2007
Ticket definition amended to include undeveloped land Excavators now have the flexibility to request tickets for areas of undeveloped land up to one square mile. This decision, approved by the SSOCOF Board of Directors at its January meeting, is in addition to the existing ticket definitions found in the October 2006 Excavation Guide on pages 24 and 25. The new ticket definition is as follows: One locate ticket may cover an area of undeveloped land of no more than one square mile, provided that the boundaries of the undeveloped land area where the work is to be performed are described on the ticket. This ticket may also include work to be performed on any single street or right-of-way bordering the area of undeveloped land. Work to be performed on any additional bordering street or right-of-way will require a separate ticket. When requesting a ticket for undeveloped land, clearly state that the excavation work will be done on undeveloped land and define the boundaries as clearly as possible. Excavation Guides are being revised to include this new definition and will be available soon with a January 2007 date. Because this is the only change incorporated into the Guides, please order inserts to supplement any inventory you may have of the October 2006 Guides. To view all ticket definitions, please click here. To view and print an insert, please click here. SSOCOF launches CGA Regional Partnership March 7 SSOCOF has partnered with the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) to establish a Regional Partnership. The main goal of the partnership is to foster communications among Florida's damage prevention stakeholders (excavators, locators, road builders, electric, telecommunications, oil, gas, railroad, water, one call, public works, equipment manufacturing, state regulators, insurance and engineering/design), and with the CGA. SSOCOF will hold regional partnership meetings throughout the state where participants will learn about nationwide damage prevention activities and measures, and have the ability to voice opinions and influence the development of new national damage prevention best practices. Regional Partnership Meetings Kick-off event March 7, 2007 2 to 3 p.m. at the CGA Excavation Safety Conference and Expo Tampa - April 6, 2007 - watch for more details Tallahassee - April 11, 2007 - watch for more details Broward - April 25, 2007 - watch for more details Established in 2000, the CGA is a national group dedicated to ensuring public safety, environmental protection, and the integrity of services by promoting effective damage prevention practices. In recent years, the association has established itself as the leading organization in an effort to reduce damages to all underground facilities in North America through shared responsibility among all stakeholders. Feasibility Study on no locate zones completed SSOCOF recently completed it's Feasibility Study on establishing "no facility zones" in Florida, as required by the 2006 Florida Legislature. The study requirements are fully set forth in s. 556.105(1)(d), Florida Statutes. Sunshine has exhausted all practical avenues available to solicit public comment and has provided regional workshops for purposes of getting additional comments on “no facility zones.” Sunshine has conducted considerable review of all public comments, researched practical concerns for administration of "no facility zones," and visited Lake Worth Drainage District, the proponent of “no facility zones,” to view its operations. Sunshine State One Call of Florida, Inc. recommends that no action be taken now or in the future by the Florida Legislature to amend Chapter 556, the “Underground Facility Damage Prevention and Safety Act,” to provide for the establishment or recognition of zones for the purpose of allowing excavation within such zones to be undertaken without notice to the system as now required by the act. SSOCOF, NASCAR drive 'Call Before You Dig' message to children Nineteen thousand growth chart posters featuring Kyle Busch, NASCAR driver, will be distributed at scheduled Daytona 500 events February 16 - 18, 2007 at Daytona International Speedway. Included in those events are Daytona USA interactive programs and Fan Club Forums. An additional 50,000 charts will be distributed through all Publix stores in the following areas: Avon Park, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Highland, Indian River, Lake Placid, Lee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Palm Beach, St. Lucie and Volusia. Visit your local Publix customer service counter for your copy. You can also order a limited number of the posters from SSOCOF's promotional item order form this April. Excavators invited to SSOCOF Safety Theater, CGA Excavation Safety Expo Free Florida excavators are invited to attend the CGA Excavation Safety Expo free of charge, March 6, 7 or 8 and SSOCOF's Safety Theater March 7, 2007. Registration deadline for this free offer is February 27. Enter registration code 123. The Expo gives you the opportunity to meet prospective vendors, compare products and network with fellow industry personnel. There also are on-floor activities consisting of demonstrations, presentations and discussions related to the underground infrastructure. SSOCOF conducts four safety theater presentations on March 7 from damage prevention awareness to mapping technology in Florida. Now is your chance to attend these presentations, completely free of charge: Damage Prevention Education and Promotion What do NASCAR, the Orlando Magic and bass fishing have to do with Sunshine State One Call? Each plays an important role in promoting “Call Before You Dig.” Attend this session and discover how Sunshine State One Call is spreading the damage prevention message to homeowners, excavators, members and locators. We’ll also highlight the new online program and other value-added services offered free to all Florida stakeholders to enhance their experience with Sunshine State One Call. With the lowest ticket price in the nation, see how much you’re getting for so little. One-Call Law Enforcement in Florida Damage prevention education is vital to raising public awareness of the four step process of damage prevention: (1) call before you dig; (2) wait the required time; (3) respect the marks; and (4) dig safely. However, enforcement is also an important element of an effective damage prevention program. Attend this presentation to learn about the various efforts that have been undertaken in Florida to increase compliance with Chapter 556, the Underground Facility Damage Prevention and Safety Act, F.S., and help reduce accidental damage and injury from excavation. Internet Ticket Entry Damage Prevention call centers everywhere are realizing the enormous time and cost advantages of receiving locate tickets over the internet (ITE). Attend this session to learn what strategies Sunshine State One Call successfully developed and implemented to get high-volume excavators off the phone and onto the internet to achieve its goal of 60% incoming ITE volume and assure high ticket quality! Mapping for Members and Excavators Florida is the third largest state in the nation and one of the fastest growing as more and more people choose to live, work, retire and vacation here. Attend this session to learn how Sunshine State One Call keeps its land base current in the face of non-stop, year-round construction of new roads, residential subdivisions and commercial developments. See also an overview of the tools available to help members of Sunshine State One Call establish and maintain accurate service area registrations and to help excavators accurately describe their dig site locations.		IMPORTANT DATES February 16 Executive Committee Meeting March 6 - 8 CGA Excavation Safety Conference and Expo March 7 SSOCOF's CGA Regional Partnership Meeting at the CGA Excavation Safety Conference. Watch for more details. March 7 SSOCOF Safety Theater presentations at the CGA Conference and Expo March 29 SSOCOF Committee Meetings March 30 SSOCOF Board Meeting April Call Before You Dig Month Help promote Call Before You Dig Month by publishing our news release, playing our radio commercials on your phone system, hanging our poster, or running our commercial/PSA on your cable station. 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. QUICK LINKS Enter the No Bull Locate Rodeo today, represent Florida at International Locate Rodeo in Georgia View the 2005-06 annual report SAFETY TRAINING NOW OFFERED IN SPANISH If you would like to offer a class to your Spanish speaking employees, contact Sergio Clavijo to schedule today. REPORT DAMAGES The Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) 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.

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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