American Gas - March 2012 - (Page 10)

SAFETY SECURITY RELIABILITY SAFETY FIRST 30 Days to ‘Dig’ It Along with April showers come many opportunities to spread the safe digging message. out the busy spring, summer and fall digging seasons. Data from the 2010 DIRT Report shows that damage occurs less than 1 percent of the time when an excavator notiﬁes a one-call center before digging, so encouraging stakeholders to make that call is critical. Follow a Plan Over the last four years, damage prevention stakeholders have implemented several creative NSDM campaigns COURTESY OF COMMON GROUND ALLIANCE that have successfully encouraged people to call 811 before digging to know what’s below. Many of these campaigns are outlined in the 2012 communications plan recently unveiled by the Common Ground Alliance (CGA). ational Safe Digging Month (NSDM), e communications plan serves as a tool to which occurs every April, is one of the help industry stakeholders plan for, implement best opportunities throughout the year and measure their various outreach campaigns to promote the safe digging message to felduring this important month and beyond. CGA low employees, industry peers and the general introduced its ﬁrst communications plan to public. Because utility lines are damaged once stakeholders in December 2010. Since then, this every 3 minutes nationwide, and one-third of all-inclusive document has become the go-to these incidents are caused by failure of the tool for any stakeholder interested in spreading professional excavator or homeowner to call the safe digging message. 811 before digging, it is important to continue e plan, hosted at www.call811.com/ to emphasize the safety message during campaign-materials, contains a comprehenNSDM this year. sive 13-month calendar, general 811 talking e National Safe Digging Month campaign points, fact sheets, a graphic standards guide celebrates its ﬁfth year in 2012. e campaign is for using the 811 logo and tagline, along with held in April since this month truly marks the campaign-speciﬁc communications tools beginning of spring, which is when many digfor CGA’s two signature campaigns: NSDM ging projects start in earnest for both profesand 8/11 Day. e NSDM tools cover a broad sionals and homeowners. Reminding these auspectrum of outreach tactics, including media diences that calling 811 before digging is an easy relations, traditional advertising, outdoor banand critical ﬁrst step to any project is especially ners, website buttons and tips to help earn a important at this time of year so that everyone proclamation from the state governor. ese keeps that message top-of-mind throughdocuments should be customized to make sure N KHRYSANNE KERR is vice president of communications and program development for the Common Ground Alliance. 10 MARCH 2012 AMERICAN GAS http://www.call811.com/campaign-materials

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Gas - March 2012

American Gas - March 2012
Contents
President’s Message
In the News
Safety First
Ask AGA
Leaders on Leadership
A Better Balance
Places to Be
Vendor News
Noteworthies
Jobline
Marketplace
Advertisers’ Index
Facts on Gas

American Gas - March 2012