Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth
Stanley "Skip" Pruss
Director

MISS DIG - Prevent Dangerous and Costly Accidents! 

In December of 2006 a lineman apprentice was operating a vibratory plow installing an underground primary power cable 36 inches below the ground surface.  The equipment struck and ruptured a 24-inch high pressure natural gas pipe line resulting in a massive release of pressure, creating a crater 60 feet across and killing the employee.  The gas line serviced a substantial area of southwest Michigan and was shut down for several days while the line was repaired.

In September of 2007 two employees were painting a house.  While moving a 24 foot aluminum extension ladder the employees struck an over-head primary power line 16 feet above the ground, injuring one employee and electrocuting the other.  The electrical discharge and heat created by the strike melted the base of the ladder and damaged the over-head power line to the extent that the line had to be replaced by the local power company.

The above incidents are unfortunately not all that unusual.  However, there are means for employers to prevent such accidents from taking human life and causing costly interruption and repair to utility services.      

The MISS DIG System:

The mission of MISS DIG System, Inc. is to safeguard the public, environment, property and utility infrastructures and promote utility damage prevention through a quality, cost effective process for customers.
 
MISS DIG System, Inc. is a statewide one-call construction safety and utility damage-prevention company that has received in excess of eleven million staking requests since the one-call center opened in 1970. A toll-free call is all it takes to have MISS DIG notify the more than 800 participating members to stake their underground utility lines and/or provide overhead electric line assistance to ensure adequate clearances are maintained.  Homeowners, excavators or other employers can call MISS DIG at
(800) 482-7171, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  MISS DIG can also be reached by simply dialing 811.  More information on the MISS DIG System is available on their website at www.missdig.org.

MIOSHA also encourages contractors to contact their local Damage Prevention Association (DPA).  The website link below gives a listing of all the DPAs’ in Michigan. http://www.missdig.net/DPA-Groups/DPA-Groups-Contractors.html
These associations are a source for knowledge and the sharing of information to help contractors perform their job safely.
 
MISS DIG System, Inc. was established as a result of the Michigan Protection of Underground Facilities, Public Act 53 of 1974.  Act 53 states that a person or public agency must give written or telephone notice to MISS DIG on intent to excavate, tunnel, discharge explosives or demolish at least three full working days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, but not more than 21 calendar days, before commencing the activity.  Upon notification, MISS DIG will notify participating members to stake their underground utility lines and/or provide overhead electric line assistance to ensure adequate clearances are maintained.  Participating utilities include underground telephone and telegraph, gas, electric, water, sewer, and storm lines and drains.  

Not less than one working day in advance of the proposed construction activity, unless otherwise agreed between the person and public agency performing the activity, the member contacted by MISS DIG must inform the person or public agency of the approximate location of the underground facilities owned or operated by the public utility in the proposed activity area.  The public utility company will typically arrange to have an individual respond to the site for the purpose of staking where they believe underground utilities are located.

MIOSHA Rules:

It is the employer’s responsibility to identify all underground utilities before beginning an excavation in accordance with Part 9, Rule 931(1).  Upon notice from the contractor, MISS DIG will notify the utility companies they have on their member list that an excavation site needs to be staked.  Do not assume that all the utilities have been staked!  The only way to know for sure that all the utility companies contacted by MISS DIG have responded, is to contact MISS DIG a second time to ensure that all the appropriate utility companies have responded to the MISS DIG notice and have been to the site to stake their particular utility.  MISS DIG provides information on their website that can be accessed on-line once a contact has been made.  If the utility company has not responded to the MISS DIG notice then the utility company should be contacted directly.
  
Part 9, Rule 931(2) states:  Upon receiving the information from the public utility, an employer shall exercise reasonable care when working in close proximity to the underground facilities of any public utility. If the facilities are to be exposed, or are likely to be exposed, only hand digging shall be employed in such circumstances and such support, as may be reasonably necessary for protection of the facilities, shall be provided in and near the construction area.
 
In addition, MIOSHA Part 1, Rule 115; Part 8, Handling and Storage of Materials; Part 10, Lifting and Digging Equipment; Part 11, Fixed and Portable Ladders; Part 12, Scaffold and Scaffold Platforms, and Part 32, Aerial Work Platforms all have language which addresses maintaining a minimum of 10 feet from energized electrical parts.  The distance increases as the energy source exceeds 50 kV (kilovolts).   

MIOSHA Part 17, Electrical Installations, Rule 1724 requires that employees are protected by de-energizing the circuit and locking out and tagging it, unless the employee is guarded by insulation, insulated tools, or insulating matting or blankets sufficient to protect against the voltage involved.  

For additional assistance, please contact the Construction Safety and Health Division at 517-322-1856 or the Consultation Education and Training Division at 517- 322-1809.  Construction Safety Standards can be viewed on the MIOSHA website at www.michigan.gov/mioshastandards. 

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