Kansas: 2011 State Damage Prevention Program

Overview

Main Objective

The KCC will work toward enforcement of laws and regulations of the damage prevention process.

Public Abstract

ELEMENT 7 - ENFORCEMENT: The KCC will continue the One Call enforcement presence of the KCC in the Wichita area and adjacent counties. We also expect to see an increase in the use of civil penalties for violations. Since beginning in 2008 as a pilot program, this effort is demonstrating the impact that a more aggressive enforcement presence can have on raising the awareness level of the excavator and utility operator. One key to the success of the program has been an inspector dedicated to only damage prevention activities. This has allowed the KCC to have a presence in the field at the site of the damage before repairs are complete. With the complexity of a typical construction site where many tasks are being performed simultaneously, the circumstances surrounding a utility damage are often unique. The ability to interview the parties involved, to look at the locate marks, and to understand the type of excavating equipment involved, provides the inspector with the information needed to make a creditable determination of the cause.

Relevant Files & Links