GUELPH, ONT. – A new regulation that came into effect April 1 gives Ontario One Call, an administrative authority that promotes safe excavation in Ontario and facilitates locate requests by excavators, the regulatory capability to issue administrative penalties.
Specifically, penalties will be handed out for non-compliance with prescribed provisions of the Ontario Underground Infrastructure Notification System Act, 2012, including digging without locates or not delivering locates within specified timelines.
For many years, performance of locates by underground infrastructure owners and operators has declined, causing excavation project delays, slowing the pace of important construction activities, including new housing, transit and broadband projects, indicates a release.
“Ontario One Call will be implementing this new regulation in a very thoughtful way, relying on existing compliance tools to encourage locate performance improvement over time,” said Jim Keech, president and CEO of Ontario One Call, in a statement. “In so doing, our objective is to usher in a new era of collaboration between industry participants that delivers industry performance improvement and allows projects to be completed on schedule.
“As such, our focus remains on ensuring individuals are aware of their responsibilities under the act and working with them towards a common goal of compliance with the law. As a result, One Call will make every effort to educate individuals on their responsibilities under the act, with penalties used only where appropriate in the exercise of independent discretion by Ontario One Call’s assessors appointed under the act.”
He added the service Ontario One Call provides protects people from harm and infrastructure damage.
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