One Call – it is the law

Bill 8 – The Ontario Underground Infrastructure Notification System Act, 2012, introduced by Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey (PC) and Hamilton East – Stoney Creek MPP Paul Miller (NDP), was recently signed into law. It establishes a not-for-profit, single point-of-contact call system for all underground infrastructure location services in Ontario. The industry-led One Call system streamlines the locate process. The economic benefits created through a One Call system are secondary to the increase in safety for homeowners and workers. In 2010 alone, there were almost 3200 natural gas line breaks in Ontario. Click here to read about plumber safety, crossbores and the importance of One Call to our industry. “Ontario’s current, voluntary approach doesn’t work,” said Jim Douglas, president of the Ontario Regional Common Ground Alliance (ORCGA). “Safety cannot be a voluntary exercise. We only need to look at our closest neighbour, New York State, which has a mandatory One Call system in place, to see that they have half the number of incidents that we do in Ontario. In fact, mandatory One Call systems are in place in all 50 states, reducing the risk of serious injury or fatality to workers and the general public.” The One Call system now falls under the Ontario Ministry of Consumer Services.