Chapter 1
The Best Practices Manual - Version 17.0
The Best Practices Guide is the preeminent and trusted resource for underground damage prevention with more than 160 practices that cover all phases of the safe digging process. The practices included within this guide are agreed to by consensus of 16 industry stakeholder groups and are designed to improve worker safety, protect vital underground infrastructure, and ensure public safety during excavation activities conducted in the vicinity of existing underground facilities.
CGA releases a new edition of Best Practices every spring with all approved updates that reflect changes in damage prevention.
Best Practices 17.0 – New Practices and Modifications
During 2019, the CGA added and amended practices that appear in Version 17.0. The following new practices and definitions were approved by the Best Practices Committee and CGA Board in 2019: