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from the desk of
Annette Bowman
The Conflict of Claims
The 811 center often gets asked to assist with damage claim collection by providing reports or other information. In addition, we have excavators who contact 811 asking why they received an invoice for a repair and question the associated repair costs. The question that may need to be asked is if repair costs help to deter and change behavior to reduce damages or if there is a better alternative.
Is the use of enforcement a better option? Does reporting damages that are a direct result of violations of the Underground Damage Prevention and associated training requirements prove to be more productive than a bill for damage repairs? Does the requirement of training better educate the excavator to improve
operational programs and policies that result in fewer to no damages on future project sites? Is there a completely different approach that needs to be investigated closer?
In the enforcement arena, the enforcement authority often sees complaints filed due to a damage. One needs to keep in mind that a damage is not necessarily a violation of the law. A violation of the provisions of the law that result in a damage is a different set of circumstances.
These are some of the topics that will be discussed and investigated further in this edition of Alabama 811 Magazine. We encourage you to think outside the box and share any ideas or thoughts you might have.
Annette Bowman Executive Director Alabama 811
2024, Issue 4
Alabama 811
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