As the year comes to a close, we take a look at some of the most popular stories on www.digdifferent.com. If you missed any of these, now is your chance to catch up. Enjoy this look back at 2023.
10. Secrets for Recruiting and Retaining Top Talent
The U.S. construction industry faces a critical skilled labor shortage, with a high number of job openings but a record low number of experienced jobseekers. Jeani Ringkob of StoryBuilt Growth Advisory emphasizes the need for strategic approaches in recruitment and retention.
9. Safe Excavation Alliance Unites Several Organizations to Protect Utility Construction Employees
Safety was a top concern among readers in 2023. This article from July reports on the National Utility Contractors Association signing an agreement with several stakeholder organizations to better protect industry employees who perform trenching and excavation work.
8. DIRT Report Highlights Increased Excavation-Related Damage to Buried Utilities
The Common Ground Alliance's 2022 DIRT Report indicates an increase in damages to underground utilities. This uptrend, amidst growing excavation activities and infrastructure investments, highlights the need for enhanced damage prevention strategies.
7. Air Excavator, Portable Vac Unit Combo Prove to Be Efficient Digging Solution
Hawaii Private Locators, led by CEO Dave Dickey, efficiently locates underground utilities using a combination of air excavators and portable vacuum units. It’s a strategy that allows for precise excavation in tight spaces and reuses the extracted dry soil for backfill, reducing costs and increasing efficiency.
6. Follow These Simple Steps for Safe Excavation
Excavation is highly hazardous due to factors like soil type, water, buried utilities and heavy machinery. Regular training and daily safety checklists are vital to keep employees alert and prevent workplace accidents.
5. CGA Launches Ambitious Industry Challenge to Cut Underground Utility Damages in Half
The Common Ground Alliance launched its "50 in 5" challenge, aiming to cut damages to underground utilities by 50% in five years. This initiative responds to damage rates costing the U.S. $30 billion annually, focusing on strategic, data-driven solutions to prevent critical infrastructure damages.
4. Tips to Avoid the Most Common Safety Mistakes on Job Sites
You’ve heard it before but let it sink in: More workers die in construction than in any other industry. This article explores some of the most common safety mistakes and offers advice to prevent them.
3. The Utility Expo On Pace to Break Exhibit Space Record
This article announced the opening of registration for the 2023 Utility Expo, which featured more than 850 exhibitors and 50 education sessions during its return to Louisville’s Kentucky Exposition Center in September.
2. Utility Crews Need Excavator to Pull Massive Root Infestation Out of Sewer
The headline says it all. In Adelaide, Australia, a massive tree root mass weighing half a ton was removed from the sewers, averting potential community disruptions and sewage overflows.
1. Tips to Maintain Success While Scaling Your Excavation Business
In the top article of 2023, author Amanda Clark offers advice for scaling a service business with a growing customer base. Hint: It’s crucial to decide on the desired size and expansion rate while preserving the qualities that initially drove success.
