preventing damage to underground utilities when digging

Preventing damage to underground utilities when

digging

9 March 2006

Afke van Rijn Deputy director Telecom market

TOPICS Current situation

Problems/Bottlenecks

Goal of this particular Act

Content of the Act

Current state of affairs

Current situation

Dutch situation in general

Current system of self-regulation (KLIC)

Policy document (November 2004)

New Act

Problems/Bottlenecks No obligation to report digging/to provide data

Lack of quality of the information asked/information not on time

Digging must be done with the utmost care

Unclear who, in practice, is accountable for what

Goal of this particular Act

Prevention of damage to underground utilities when digging.

To guarantee public interests as security of supply of utilities and safety for environment

Means: legal obligation to exchange information + obligation to dig with care

Responsibilities Excavator responsibilities

- Notification- Digging with care

Owners or operators responsibilities- Providing correct and timely information

The information process

Digging with care

Just acting according to the Law is not enough. Prearrangements necessary about what digging with care is.

But also: Communication to the parties involved Measures by third parties

Government bodies involved

Dutch Land Registry Office (Kadaster)

Radiocommunications Agency Netherlands(Agentschap Telecom)

Current state of affairs

The Act will not take effect at the same time as the electronic information system:

Act a.s.a.p. after approval Upper Chamber Electronic system: according to plan in 2009

February 2006: Act sent to Parliament Before summer 2006: debate Lower Chamber After summer 2006: debate Upper Chamber

SummaryWith the new law there will be:

Obligations with regard to exchange of information for excavators and owners/operators

Obligations to dig carefully More clarity regarding the individual

responsibilities of parties involved

But to achieve desired change in behaviour: Agreement between parties involved with regard to

digging safely Communication Actions by others (for instance: insurers)

All parts needed to achieve goal (less incidents)

Further questions or remarks concerning this subject?

Please e-mail us at:

Grondroerdersregeling@minez.nl