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THERE'S
DANGER BELOW
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BC ONE CALL is
a province-wide non-profit organization providing one toll-free
number to call before digging: 1-800-474-6886. Telus Mobility
and Cantel offer free air time to cellular callers (*6886). |
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Safety is BC ONE
CALLs primary concern. |
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The objective
of BC ONE CALL is to minimize risk associated with accidents
involving buried facilities such as pipelines, telecommunications
cables, water and sewage lines, and electrical wires. |
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BC ONE CALL is
endorsed by the Canadian Gas Association, the BC Construction
Association, Operating Engineers Local 115, the Consulting Engineers
of BC, the Amalgamated Construction Association of BC, the Lower
Mainland Equipment Owners Association, the BC Road Builders
and Heavy Construction Association, the BC Construction Industry
Health and Safety Council, the National Energy Board, the BC
Federation of Labour, the Fire Chiefs Association of BC, the
BC Public Works Association, the Union of BC Municipalities
(UBCM) and the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists. |
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BC ONE CALL is
a member of One Call Systems International (OCSI). |
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British Columbia
is the second province in Canada to establish a province wide
system. Alberta was the first, launching Alberta One Call in
1984.
In the year before Alberta One Call was established, the
City of Calgary conducted 73,204 locates and recorded 1,765
accidents. After six years of membership, the City responded
to calls from excavators by conducting 109,622 locates and
recorded 949 incidents -- more than a 46% reduction in damages.
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An accident which
damages one of the many buried facilities in BC can mean loss
of life, personal injury, environmental damage or disruption
of essential services. |
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Users of BC ONE
CALL reduce the risk of accidents causing personal injury or
property damage and benefit from the convenience of having only
one number to call before digging. |
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Potential users
of BC ONE CALL include anyone who disturbs the ground in British
Columbia. Typical users include equipment operators, contractors,
home builders, developers, landscapers, and the railways as
well as federal, provincial and municipal departments. |
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Excavators are
required to call BC ONE CALL at least three working days,
excluding Saturday, Sunday and holidays, before the excavation
begins. |
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BC ONE CALL advises
callers of the member companies with buried facilities in the
area of the proposed excavation and then alerts member companies
of the digging request. Members call the excavator to advise
of the whereabouts of the buried facilities in their area. |
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Until every owner
and operator of buried facilities in British Columbia is a member
of BC ONE CALL, excavators must determine and notify any
non-member companies which may have facilities in the area. |
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