Translator Disclaimers
For Immediate Release: Contact: Peter Peretzman
Date: 06/20/2022 609-900-5626
Highlighting Construction Precautions as Part of Trench Safety Month
Trenton, N.J.—June is Trench Safety Month. NJBPU reminds everyone in the utility construction industry to practice safety and education during Trench Safety Stand Down (TSSD) week, which begins on June 20 and continues through June 24. The National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA), along with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), remind the industry to practice safety year-round and to conduct safety education and exercises during this week.    

 

“New Jersey continues to be in the forefront of promoting and ensuring safety in the utility industry,” said Joseph L. Fiordaliso, President, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.  “I commend our Reliability and Security Division for partnering with NUCA and OSHA and participating in safety education and exercises during Trench Safety and Stand Down Week. It is extremely important that we ensure safe practices in our industry across the state every day.”

 

NUCA has held Trench Safety Stand Down Week for the utility industry every June since 2016. This year’s event will occur at hundreds of jobsites across the nation, reaching tens of thousands of workers, sharing information about excavation hazards and reinforcing the importance of using trench protective systems and protecting workers from trenching hazards. 

 

 

TSSD Week is a series of organized events held by NUCA and industry members to emphasize the message of safety around jobsite trenches and excavations. During the week of June 20, TSSD encourages the industry to hold safety training, educational seminars, live demonstrations of trench rescues, and other activities to reinforce the message of trench safety. 

 

In 2019, more than 47,000 member employees and first responders at over 4,500 jobsites, from 324 organizations took part in the stand down.  Safety exercises and reminders are essential. According to OHSA, 17 industry employees lost their lives through trench accidents in 2018. 

 

About the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU)

NJBPU is a state agency and regulatory authority mandated to ensure safe, adequate and proper utility services at reasonable rates for New Jersey customers. Critical services regulated by NJBPU include natural gas, electricity, water, wastewater, telecommunications and cable television. The Board has general oversight and responsibility for monitoring utility service, responding to consumer complaints, and investigating utility accidents. To find out more about NJBPU, visit our website at www.nj.gov/bpu.

 

About the Division of Reliability and Security

The Division of Reliability and Security is charged with the reliability and security of all lifeline utility services and critical infrastructure for the State of New Jersey: electric, natural gas, water and telecommunications.  This includes responsibility for consequence management of any petroleum shortages as well as cyber security.

 

Bureau of Emergency Management & Security

The Division’s Bureau of Emergency Management & Security handles all emergency management and preparedness functions involving the provision of critical utility services.  This includes service disruptions, incidents, and catastrophic events, intentional acts and accidents. This is a first responder, planning, and consequence management unit, which maintains continuous communication and engagement with the private sector and government partners.  It is heavily involved in Utility Tabletop Exercises and state level workgroups.

Bureau of Pipeline Safety

The Division’s Bureau of Pipeline Safety is responsible for a federally required safety program with inspection and enforcement responsibilities for New Jersey’s natural gas infrastructure.  This Bureau is federally funded with discrete performance requirements dictated by our federal partners.  The Bureau handles pipeline safety inspections, accident investigations, enforcement and rulemaking, while also providing consultation on gas infrastructure issues.