unearthed - March 2006

Public records exemption approved for SSOCOF proprietary confidential business information

Senate Bill 1510 was recently signed into law by Gov. Charlie Crist, providing a public record exemption for proprietary confidential business information held by Sunshine State One Call for the purpose of describing the extent and root cause of damage to an underground facility or using the member ticket management software systems.

It will be included in The Underground Facility Damage Prevention and Safety Act, Chapter 556, Florida Statutes as s. 556.113.

Typical information covered underneath this exemption includes any information provided by an SSOCOF member which is a plan, map, facility location, diagram, internal damage investigation report or analysis, dispatch methodology, or trade secret as defined in s. 668.002, or which describes the exact location of an underground facility or the protection, repair or restoration thereof. Also included in the exemption is any information provided by an excavator which is an internal damage investigation report or analysis relating to damage to underground utility facilities.

The bill also explains that this information is exempt from public disclosure only if the information is treated by the member company as confidential, would be reasonably likely to be used by a competitor to harm the business interests of the company and is not otherwise readily available.

To view the complete bill, click here.

IRTHNet is the web-based ticket management system Sunshine State One Call offers 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. Because of the public records exemption, any information accessed or provided through IRTHNet is confidential.

IRTHNet is a totally web-based product that is easy to use and easy to set up. The benefits of this system are phenomenal:

Proving public education effectiveness is quickly becoming a hot button for SSOCOF and its member companies as budgets tighten and governmental regulations such as RP1162 are developing standards and setting goals for the underground facility industry.

"For Sunshine State One Call, we look at a number of statistical data including damage data, non-compliance reports and ticket volume," states Cheryl Ritter, SSOCOF Damage Prevention Manager. "Through our educational and promotional efforts, we hope to see a reduction in damages to underground facilities plus their costs, personal injuries, deaths and vital service outages."

The Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) developed by the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) is one way SSOCOF members can report and gather this information. "And when it's done by all members in the state, we will get a better picture of our effectiveness," added Ritter.

DIRT users can generate reports on the damage information they’ve submitted to the database as well as raw data for the entire company; however, under no circumstances will company-specific data be made available to any user except those responsible for data submission.

While DIRT has taken every precaution necessary to protect everyone's data, there has still been a hesitation on the part of SSOCOF member companies to provide this information due to SSOCOF's operation underneath the Sunshine and Public Records Laws. With the passing of Senate Bill 1510 (Chapter 556.113, F.S.) these concerns can be put to rest. The bill exempts any information housed at SSOCOF that is proprietary and confidential as long as the company that provides the information also views it as confidential. This exemption includes damage data submitted to DIRT.

SSOCOF urges all members to begin using DIRT. When you do, make sure that you grant SSOCOF access to your raw data. Raw data does not include company specific information. Rather, we would know that an excavator installing communications lines damaged an electric line because he did not have a valid locate ticket, did not wait two full business days, or the lines weren’t marked accurately, etc.

"With the raw data, Ritter explains, "we will be able to develop basic geographical assumptions on damages and their causes will allow us to develop targeted educational programs.

At the July 2007 Board meeting, SSOCOF's directors approved the purchase of Virtual Private DIRT which will be offered free to all damage prevention stakeholders in Florida. With Virtual Private DIRT, data is stored in the same data center as the North American DIRT data; however, a member can opt not to share the data with North American DIRT. Watch for more information about this in future editions of unearthed.

For more information on DIRT and instructions for granting SSOCOF access to your raw data, click here. To start reporting damages today, click here.

New form developed for service area uploads

SSOCOF has implemented a new form, Member Service Area Data Upload Activation Agreement, which simplifies the verification process members use to make additions or deletions to their service areas using shape files.

When choosing to use this new form, members continue to upload their shape files in the current manner. They also verify that the pending deletion and addition layers are accurate. What does not occur is the members recording their changed quads onto the Database Activation Form for SSOCOF's Member Services Department to compare with the uploaded data to identify any discrepancies. Note: Members may continue using the Database Activation Form when uploading shape files. Members that draw their changes directly onto the map in the Irth Ticket Management System will continue to use the current Database Activation Form.

By signing the Member Service Area Data Upload Activation Agreement, the member is stating that the service area data was defined without the help of SSOCOF, and agrees the pending changes accurately reflect the service area, including the buffer zone.

Data uploads are processed after hours, between the ours of 8 p.m. and midnight, in the order they are received. If the number of uploads received are not able to be processed in a single night, they will remain in queue until the next processing window the following evening. When you receive an email confirmation of the data upload being processed, verify that the changes are accurate and then submit the new Member Service Area Data Upload Activation Agreement or completed Database Activation Form.

Once the appropriate forms are received by the Member Services Department and they are reviewed for accuracy, the pending changes will be released into production by the Member Services Department. Member Service Area changes will only be released into production during normal business hours, which are normally Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Once the service area is released into production in the Irth Ticket Management System, it cannot be cancelled or withdrawn if errors, omissions, defects or discrepancies are discovered and corrections cannot be done until the next normal data upload cycle. SSOCOF will not be able to cancel locate tickets sent based on the erroneous data or send or resend tickets that should have been delivered for the member had the data been correct. That is why it is imperative for members to make sure their information is accurate before submitting either the Member Service Area Data Upload Activation Agreement, or the Database Activation Form.

By signing the SSOCOF Member Service Area Data Upload Activation Agreement, members accept full and complete responsibility and liability for any accidents, injuries or damages that occur as a result of the defective data.

If you have any questions or need an SSOCOF Member Service Area Data Upload Activation Agreement, please contact our Member Services Department at memberservices@callsunshine.com or (800) 651-6720.

SSOCOF now offers a four promotional items with the 811 logo. SSOCOF members make these items possible through payment of a charge per locate ticket received,

currently at 50 cents - one of the lowest ticket
prices in the nation! Visit our store to order your supplies.

SSOCOF has implemented a new Enforcement Awareness Program to educate local police, sheriff and code enforcement offices throughout Florida on the importance of enforcing Chapter 556 in their political jurisdictions to protect public safety and prevent damages to vital underground utilities. This move comes after the off-duty enforcement pilot program was concluded in May.

The new program focuses on education and awareness to facilitate the consistent, fair and equitable enforcement of Chapter 556 by code and law enforcement authorities throughout Florida within five years.

SSOCOF's four damage prevention liaisons have already started building relationships with the Florida Association of Clerks of the Courts, Florida Association of Code Enforcement (FACE), Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Police Chiefs Association, Florida Sheriff’s Association, Florida League of Cities, Florida Association of Counties, Florida City County Management Association and the Florida Public Risk Management Association.

SSOCOF is also working to get its information incorporated into police academies and as part of in service training for existing officers. FACE has already approved SSOCOF's enforcement presentation to offer one continuing education credit to each code enforcement officer who views the presentation.

Members and excavators who wish to make officers in their areas aware of this can contact a damage prevention liaison. To find out who your liaison is, click here.

In a pilot damage prevention program between Verizon and SSOCOF, more than 24,000 door hangers have been used to educate homeowners on the damage prevention process.

Verizon has a total goal of distributing 250,000 of the door hangers to homeowners in Manatee, Sarasota, Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk, Pinellas and cities such as Oldsmar, Bradenton, Palmetto, Tampa, Tarpon and Winter Haven. Currently, more than 4,000 are being distributed on a monthly basis. To accomplish this massive undertaking, Verizon uses its seven primes to do the actual distribution.

"For Verizon and its primes, the number of calls regarding the marks in customer’s yards has been virtually eliminated in most cases," states Misty Wise, Verizon's Area Manager Quality Assurance, FTTP Construction, giving them more time to concentrate on the business at hand. The homeowners are using the door hangers for the information they need.

The door hangers, designed with English on one side and Spanish on the other, explain the color codes so homeowners can easily identify which facilities run through their yard. They also make homeowners aware of the need to call before digging and when marks are destroyed.

"I think homeowners may think twice about digging in their yard without locates when they understand what all the paint represents," Wise added. "Plus, they will be more likely to stop someone else from digging without locates."

SSOCOF's Operations Committee is currently conducting a review of the positive response codes used by a member or its contract locator to indicate whether an excavation site has been cleared or marked and any reasons why the area may not be marked. SSOCOF's damage prevention liaisons are also seeking input during presentations and meetings.

If you would like to recommend a change to an existing code, propose a new code or request a code deletion, please contact the liaison in your area. All suggestions will be assembled and presented for discussion during the next Operations Committee meeting. Note: All subscribers to ssocof@mail.callsunshine.com will receive notification of this meeting. Click here to reach the liaison closest to you. For a complete review of all positive response codes, click here.

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


Click here to view our website		August 2007

	Public records exemption approved for SSOCOF proprietary confidential business information Senate Bill 1510 was recently signed into law by Gov. Charlie Crist, providing a public record exemption for proprietary confidential business information held by Sunshine State One Call for the purpose of describing the extent and root cause of damage to an underground facility or using the member ticket management software systems. It will be included in The Underground Facility Damage Prevention and Safety Act, Chapter 556, Florida Statutes as s. 556.113. Typical information covered underneath this exemption includes any information provided by an SSOCOF member which is a plan, map, facility location, diagram, internal damage investigation report or analysis, dispatch methodology, or trade secret as defined in s. 668.002, or which describes the exact location of an underground facility or the protection, repair or restoration thereof. Also included in the exemption is any information provided by an excavator which is an internal damage investigation report or analysis relating to damage to underground utility facilities. The bill also explains that this information is exempt from public disclosure only if the information is treated by the member company as confidential, would be reasonably likely to be used by a competitor to harm the business interests of the company and is not otherwise readily available. To view the complete bill, click here. IRTHNet gives members powerful ticket management, FREE IRTHNet is the web-based ticket management system Sunshine State One Call offers 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. Because of the public records exemption, any information accessed or provided through IRTHNet is confidential. IRTHNet is a totally web-based product that is easy to use and easy to set up. The benefits of this system are phenomenal: 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. To start using today, contact Member Services at memberservices@callsunshine.com or (800) 651-6720. SSOCOF seeks damage, DIRT data Proving public education effectiveness is quickly becoming a hot button for SSOCOF and its member companies as budgets tighten and governmental regulations such as RP1162 are developing standards and setting goals for the underground facility industry. "For Sunshine State One Call, we look at a number of statistical data including damage data, non-compliance reports and ticket volume," states Cheryl Ritter, SSOCOF Damage Prevention Manager. "Through our educational and promotional efforts, we hope to see a reduction in damages to underground facilities plus their costs, personal injuries, deaths and vital service outages." The Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) developed by the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) is one way SSOCOF members can report and gather this information. "And when it's done by all members in the state, we will get a better picture of our effectiveness," added Ritter. DIRT users can generate reports on the damage information they’ve submitted to the database as well as raw data for the entire company; however, under no circumstances will company-specific data be made available to any user except those responsible for data submission. While DIRT has taken every precaution necessary to protect everyone's data, there has still been a hesitation on the part of SSOCOF member companies to provide this information due to SSOCOF's operation underneath the Sunshine and Public Records Laws. With the passing of Senate Bill 1510 (Chapter 556.113, F.S.) these concerns can be put to rest. The bill exempts any information housed at SSOCOF that is proprietary and confidential as long as the company that provides the information also views it as confidential. This exemption includes damage data submitted to DIRT. SSOCOF urges all members to begin using DIRT. When you do, make sure that you grant SSOCOF access to your raw data. Raw data does not include company specific information. Rather, we would know that an excavator installing communications lines damaged an electric line because he did not have a valid locate ticket, did not wait two full business days, or the lines weren’t marked accurately, etc. "With the raw data, Ritter explains, "we will be able to develop basic geographical assumptions on damages and their causes will allow us to develop targeted educational programs. At the July 2007 Board meeting, SSOCOF's directors approved the purchase of Virtual Private DIRT which will be offered free to all damage prevention stakeholders in Florida. With Virtual Private DIRT, data is stored in the same data center as the North American DIRT data; however, a member can opt not to share the data with North American DIRT. Watch for more information about this in future editions of unearthed. For more information on DIRT and instructions for granting SSOCOF access to your raw data, click here. To start reporting damages today, click here. New form developed for service area uploads SSOCOF has implemented a new form, Member Service Area Data Upload Activation Agreement, which simplifies the verification process members use to make additions or deletions to their service areas using shape files. When choosing to use this new form, members continue to upload their shape files in the current manner. They also verify that the pending deletion and addition layers are accurate. What does not occur is the members recording their changed quads onto the Database Activation Form for SSOCOF's Member Services Department to compare with the uploaded data to identify any discrepancies. Note: Members may continue using the Database Activation Form when uploading shape files. Members that draw their changes directly onto the map in the Irth Ticket Management System will continue to use the current Database Activation Form. By signing the Member Service Area Data Upload Activation Agreement, the member is stating that the service area data was defined without the help of SSOCOF, and agrees the pending changes accurately reflect the service area, including the buffer zone. Data uploads are processed after hours, between the ours of 8 p.m. and midnight, in the order they are received. If the number of uploads received are not able to be processed in a single night, they will remain in queue until the next processing window the following evening. When you receive an email confirmation of the data upload being processed, verify that the changes are accurate and then submit the new Member Service Area Data Upload Activation Agreement or completed Database Activation Form. Once the appropriate forms are received by the Member Services Department and they are reviewed for accuracy, the pending changes will be released into production by the Member Services Department. Member Service Area changes will only be released into production during normal business hours, which are normally Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Once the service area is released into production in the Irth Ticket Management System, it cannot be cancelled or withdrawn if errors, omissions, defects or discrepancies are discovered and corrections cannot be done until the next normal data upload cycle. SSOCOF will not be able to cancel locate tickets sent based on the erroneous data or send or resend tickets that should have been delivered for the member had the data been correct. That is why it is imperative for members to make sure their information is accurate before submitting either the Member Service Area Data Upload Activation Agreement, or the Database Activation Form. By signing the SSOCOF Member Service Area Data Upload Activation Agreement, members accept full and complete responsibility and liability for any accidents, injuries or damages that occur as a result of the defective data. If you have any questions or need an SSOCOF Member Service Area Data Upload Activation Agreement, please contact our Member Services Department at memberservices@callsunshine.com or (800) 651-6720. 811 promotional items now in stock SSOCOF now offers a four promotional items with the 811 logo. SSOCOF members make these items possible through payment of a charge per locate ticket received, currently at 50 cents - one of the lowest ticket prices in the nation! Visit our store to order your supplies. SSOCOF takes grass roots approach to enforce 556 SSOCOF has implemented a new Enforcement Awareness Program to educate local police, sheriff and code enforcement offices throughout Florida on the importance of enforcing Chapter 556 in their political jurisdictions to protect public safety and prevent damages to vital underground utilities. This move comes after the off-duty enforcement pilot program was concluded in May. The new program focuses on education and awareness to facilitate the consistent, fair and equitable enforcement of Chapter 556 by code and law enforcement authorities throughout Florida within five years. SSOCOF's four damage prevention liaisons have already started building relationships with the Florida Association of Clerks of the Courts, Florida Association of Code Enforcement (FACE), Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Police Chiefs Association, Florida Sheriff’s Association, Florida League of Cities, Florida Association of Counties, Florida City County Management Association and the Florida Public Risk Management Association. SSOCOF is also working to get its information incorporated into police academies and as part of in service training for existing officers. FACE has already approved SSOCOF's enforcement presentation to offer one continuing education credit to each code enforcement officer who views the presentation. Members and excavators who wish to make officers in their areas aware of this can contact a damage prevention liaison. To find out who your liaison is, click here. Verizon uses door hangers, reduces number of inquiry calls In a pilot damage prevention program between Verizon and SSOCOF, more than 24,000 door hangers have been used to educate homeowners on the damage prevention process. Verizon has a total goal of distributing 250,000 of the door hangers to homeowners in Manatee, Sarasota, Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk, Pinellas and cities such as Oldsmar, Bradenton, Palmetto, Tampa, Tarpon and Winter Haven. Currently, more than 4,000 are being distributed on a monthly basis. To accomplish this massive undertaking, Verizon uses its seven primes to do the actual distribution. "For Verizon and its primes, the number of calls regarding the marks in customer’s yards has been virtually eliminated in most cases," states Misty Wise, Verizon's Area Manager Quality Assurance, FTTP Construction, giving them more time to concentrate on the business at hand. The homeowners are using the door hangers for the information they need. The door hangers, designed with English on one side and Spanish on the other, explain the color codes so homeowners can easily identify which facilities run through their yard. They also make homeowners aware of the need to call before digging and when marks are destroyed. "I think homeowners may think twice about digging in their yard without locates when they understand what all the paint represents," Wise added. "Plus, they will be more likely to stop someone else from digging without locates." SSOCOF committee evaluates positive response codes SSOCOF's Operations Committee is currently conducting a review of the positive response codes used by a member or its contract locator to indicate whether an excavation site has been cleared or marked and any reasons why the area may not be marked. SSOCOF's damage prevention liaisons are also seeking input during presentations and meetings. If you would like to recommend a change to an existing code, propose a new code or request a code deletion, please contact the liaison in your area. All suggestions will be assembled and presented for discussion during the next Operations Committee meeting. Note: All subscribers to ssocof@mail.callsunshine.com will receive notification of this meeting. Click here to reach the liaison closest to you. For a complete review of all positive response codes, click here. 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	JOIN NOW Like this newsletter and want to receive it on a regular basis? Click here to subscribe. You'll receive a confirmation email that you MUST reply to in order to complete the enrollment process. IMPORTANT DATES August 17 Executive Committee September 3 Call center closed for Labor Day. Internet Ticket Entry available to request locate tickets. Remember to add one day to your two full business day wait before digging. September 20 SSOCOF Committee Meetings beginning at 8 a.m. in DeBary, FL. September 21 SSOCOF Board Meeting beginning at 8 a.m. in DeBary, FL. 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 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. REMEMBER! SSOCOF takes locate ticket calls in Spanish. Call 811 or (800) 432-4770. VISIT SSOCOF's ONLINE STORE FOR YOUR FREE PROMOTIONAL ITEMS View the 2005-06 annual report Contact us.

	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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