Each day in the United States, Canada, and throughout the world there are reports of fires and explosions causing injury and death related to poorly planned and unsafe mechanical excavations (backhoe, trackhoe or other mechanical means) which occur when underground utilities/facilities are accidentally struck, or excavations collapse. As contractors, utilities and municipalities perform planned excavations of known underground facilities to locate existing lines, cables and pipes for inspection or maintenance and repairs, the same events often occur.
