Global ESC Education

Sessions, Workshops, & Summits

Educational sessions are offered by professional speakers and industry experts who share their time and experience to increase industry knowledge on damage prevention, public awareness, and other related topics. In addition, interactive industry-focused summits impanel industry leaders to address major issues and explore potential solutions. Conference registration required to participate in all education sessions and summits.

Conference Sessions

Session:

Speaker:

Track:

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Description:

Session	Speaker	Track	Day	Start Time	End Time	Description
Electric Safety Summit	Moderator: Cliff Meidl Panelist: Glen “Cookie” Cook, Energy Queensland	Electric				Coming Soon!
Fiber Optic Asset Protection Summit	Moderator: Christopher McDermott, AT&T Panelists: Andrea Stainback, Lumen George Kemp, MetroNet	Telecom				Coming Soon!
Notification Center Summit	Moderator: Bruce Campbell, MISS DIG 811 / FNCA	Notification				Coming Soon!
Water & Sewer Infrastructure Protection Summit		Water & Sewer				Coming Soon!
Pipeline Safety & Awareness Summit	Moderator: Kesley Tweed, PAPA	Gas & Oil				Coming Soon!
Excavator Perspective Summit	Moderator: Jerry Hoover, Badger Daylighting	Excavator				Coming Soon!
Global Locate Summit	Moderator: Ron Peterson, Nulca	Locate				Coming Soon!
Power of Don’t: Communication and Leadership Excellence	John Brix, Professional Speaker	Professional Development				The mind is divided into two basic aspects – the conscious and subconscious mind. POD will give delegates a new understanding on how these two aspects work with each other and how to ensure training and mentorship are completed properly to ensure long-term memory recall. With the tools delegates gain they will be able to relay information better, increase the success of learning while decreasing the time spent on training and information delivery.
The RAS System	John Brix, Professional Speaker	Professional Development				Coming Soon!
Critical Mass of Risk	John Brix, Professional Speaker	Professional Development				Coming Soon!
RP1162	Terri Larson, Larson Communications	Gas & Oil				In this session, you’ll get an update on API RP1162, 3rd Edition. Learn how it has changed compared to the 1st Edition and what it means for operator public awareness programs.
Two Confined Space Standards – Which one is for you?	Bruce Magee, United Rentals	Excavator				Although OSHA’s construction industry-focused confined space regulations were released in 2015, there is still confusion to which Standard should be followed. Join Bruce Magee as he helps clarify misunderstandings between when workers should follow General Industry Standard, 1910.146, and Construction Industry Standard, 1926 Subpart AA. Keeping those in mind, this session will then address the importance of training your workers on the proper standard and provide ways to ensure everyone is compliant and safe.
1st Amendment Audits	Jim Willis, In-Dev Tactical	All Industries				Coming Soon!
De-Escalating Volatile Situations in the Field	Jim Willis, In-Dev Tactical	Excavator				Some handle verbal confrontations with ease, but for most, it’s difficult and unpleasant. Utility workers are no exception, and de-escalation is seldom the go-to response. Utility work tends to attract Type-A personalities, so backing down is rarely the first instinct. The good news is de-escalation is a learned skill. Personnel who deal with the public need proactive skills that allow them to understand when and how to engage, when to disengage, and when to escape the situation.
Believe in Safety	Brandon Schroeder, Believe in Safety, LLC	Electric	Wednesday	1:00 PM	1:50 PM	Everyone makes decisions about safety and many of them in an instant. The wrong safety habits make it easier to make wrong decisions that are impossible to undo. Brandon survived an arc flash explosion that should have killed him. Listen as he recounts the tragedy and discusses the contributing factors and how it all could have been avoided. This presentation leaves delegates with a stronger understanding, and respect, for doing the job correctly and safely.
Leading Women of Damage Prevention	Ketha Molina, Texas811 Jennifer Pratt, Damage Prevention Council of Texas	All Industries				The Leading Women of Damage Prevention (LWDP) is a social enterprise designed for the advancement and discovery for all women who have an interest in the production of underground infrastructure. Our mission is to influence and encourage all women in the damage prevention industry to be bold, confident, and brilliant through collaboration, empowerment, and networking.
Bedrock Mapping Study with GPR and Geospatial Mapping Techniques	David Acosta, CSTi Joey Gallegos, CSTi John Gallegos, CSTi	GPR				This study will show the integration of GPR paired with Geospatial Mapping Techniques to create a 3D surface and subsurface model of the findings. This acquisition method along with SUE Level A techniques provides an additional non-destructive method to expose the bedrock to align the sampled 3D profile data. While pairing these data sets, we will also show the impact of planning, costs, structure and utility conflict analysis of this Design-Build Project. This award-winning design build project has since been completed and has gained recognition for these pre-design efforts and has set a precedence on future projects.
GPR Technology in Support of Search and Rescue Operations for Victims in the Earthquake of September 19, 2017 in Mexico	Alejandra Vera, INSET	GPR				On September 19, 2017, an earthquake of 7.1 magnitude on the Richter scale was registered with an epicenter near Mexico City. The earthquake was a result of a rupture in the North American plate, the which most of the national territory is settled. This earthquake left considerable damage in the center of the country, mainly Mexico City, due to the dense population and complex structures in the subsoil. At least 39 collapsed buildings were reported. Thanks to the versatility and practicality of GPR equipment, machines were implemented to support in the search and recovery efforts days after the seismic event. Join Alejandra to hear her impactful story and her request to all in the GPR community.
Strategies to Consider for Reducing Update Tickets	Susan Bohl, OKIE811	Notification				Are you seeing an increase in Update Tickets in your state? Are tickets being updated but there’s no excavation taking place before the excavation start date? In Oklahoma, we’ve seen a major increase in Update Tickets over the past 3 years and we’re receiving more and more complaints from locators that no one is working at the site where lines are being remarked. So, what can we do about it and why would we look at reducing ticket volume? Come find out what we did, why we did it and what some other states are considering doing to help cut out what might be considered waste in the 811 system.
The Causes of Utility Damages in North Carolina: Direct Causes vs Root Causes	Dr. Ahmed Al-Bayati, Lawrence Technical University Louis Panzer, North Carolina 811	Excavator, Notification				How does NC 811 categorize the cause of damages? What are the differences between direct causes and root causes? How do we identify the areas where attention will bring the most benefit? This session presents the immediate causes of damages in North Carolina. Learn how you can leverage data in your state to help direct activities to reduce damages.
You the Jury: Trial of an Underground Utility Damage Claim	James Proszek, Hall Estill Anthony Jorgenson, Hall Estill	All Industries				Question the witnesses, view the evidence, be the jury, and decide the case. Practicing trial attorneys and expert witnesses present a trial based on an actual underground damage case. The audience participates by asking questions of the judge, the lawyers, and the witnesses before rendering a verdict based on the evidence, testimony, and arguments they hear and see during the trial.
Meet Buxus: Information the Way Emergency Responders Want (and Need It)	Lindsay Sander, Sander Resources Chief Jonathan Lamm, City of Cocoa, Florida Michelle Cechowski, East Central Florida LEPC Staff	Gas & Oil				Buxus is the first of its kind app that promotes communication between utility operators and emergency responders. The app delivers information about individual pipeline operators who subscribe to the system. The app is positioned to transform the way emergency response liaison activities are conducted in the future and more importantly how pipeline emergencies are initially responded to by responders. Attendees will learn more about the app and lessons learned through the initial deployment. Attendees will also hear from responders using the system.
Operationalizing Risk Scoring to Reduce Damages	Jim Plasynski, KorTerra	All Industries				Coming Soon!
Damage Happens – What Comes Next?	Taylor Fudge, Claims Management Resources Jonathan Musgrove, Claims Management Resources	All Industries				Despite best efforts, accidents happen. It is inevitable underground assets will sustain damage at some point. An immediate response to these accidents and the information gathered are key to determining liability and resolving claims.
Buried Alive: A Survivor’s Story	Joe Tantarelli, Trinity Safety Consulting	Excavator				Joe Recalls what started out as a typical day at work where he was laying pipe in a trench when suddenly his day turned not so typical when the trench collapsed on him and he had to be dug out and rushed to the hospital. This session will cover why Joe took risks on the job even though he knew the hazards. He will also explore how your state of mind contributes to making serious mistakes and attendees will learn the strategies to help workers avoid these types of incidents in the future.
CAMO 101	Ed Landgraf, CAMO / Texas 811 David Ferguson, Texas 811	Gas & Oil				Coming Soon!
Eyes Wide Open	John Brix, Professional Speaker	Professional Development				Eyes Wide Open (EWO) is about how to set your new and younger workers up for success. Remember your first day on the job? The stress associated with it. Be it in management or as a field level worker, the first few months of a new job can be very stressful. Add on top of that critical incident stress, cultural assimilation factors and new interpersonal dynamics, what tools did you learn in your onboarding or field training to set you up for success? EWO discusses the aspects of how to set up your training programs to allow maximum retention of information in the most efficient time period. Teaching and training philosophies are shared to give attendees the right tools for the creation of a remarkable training program. EWO also discusses the stress associated to being a new hire and the integration process into a company’s culture. You will also learn how the body is affected by stress, stress fatigue and natural stress responses so that you can self-identify stress issues as well as recognize stress related responses to those around you to help mitigate their long-term stress effects.
Paying Attention Could Make All the Difference	Jim Willis, In-Dev Tactical	All Industries				Coming Soon!
How Can a Good BBS Observation and Feedback Help with Damage Prevention	Joe Tantarelli, Trinity Safety Consulting	Excavator				Mark Twain states in a letter, “The report of my death was an exaggeration.” So goes BBS / Observation / Feedback. We take a deeper dive into why some of these valuable BBS / Observation / Feedback processes die-off? We will share steps that can help revive or build a useful BBS / Observation / Feedback process to improve Human Factors Management in, not only safety, but also another valuable asset, damage prevention.
Discussing the Optimization of the Utility Consenting and Permitting Process	Duane Rodgers, PelicanCorp Jason Manning, PelicanCorp	Notification				Coming Soon!
Who Are the People in Your Neighborhood?	Chad Shannon, MEA Kelsey Tweed, PAPA Whitney Price, PASA	All Industries				Coming Soon!
Part 1: Look Up and Live	Glen “Cookie” Cook, Energy Queensland	Electric				In Queensland, Australia an average of 750 accidental contacts occur with powerlines every year. Unfortunately, each year one person is electrocuted and approximately 15 people are severely burned and injured. All these accidents are avoidable, and mainly occur due to a lack of planning and awareness to the powerline hazard and ‘inattentional blindness’. Inattentional blindness results from a lack of attention or when an individual fails to perceive danger in plain sight, such as powerlines. Put simply, we can plan to work near the powerlines we cannot see but for overhead powerlines we rely on workers to identify powerlines hazards onsite. For industries, such as agriculture and construction, the risk is high for accidental contacts with powerlines. Having a powerline safety tool, like the Look Up and Live app, to be able to effectively plan work near powerlines has assisted in reducing overall incidents by 25% in Queensland.
Educating the Next Generation: Georgia 811’s Digger Dog Program	Maria Copeland, Georgia 811	Notification				Georgia 811’s mascot Digger Dog and Education Administrator Maria Copeland travel throughout the state of Georgia promoting the message of safe digging at elementary schools. Digger provides a fun, interactive, free program designed to equip young Georgians with the tools and information needed to protect themselves in hazardous situations. He shares information about safe digging, smelling gas and acting fast, and safety techniques to use around overhead electrical lines in his 35-minute energetic, informative, and life-saving presentation. Information in Digger’s presentation is geared for second and third grade but can be presented to other age groups in modified formats. His message fits several criteria found in Georgia’s Performance Standards for 2nd and 3rd grades, which is a great way in which this program appeals to teachers and administrations. Georgia 811 wants students to not only remember the basic information that is covered, but to go home and tell their parents about the presentation. We send workbooks, fridge magnets, and other small goodies home with each student so help reach parents. The program has been going strong in Georgia for over 15 years and we are happy to share our success story with other stakeholders in hopes that they may be encouraged to create an educational program for children or even replicate aspects of the Digger Dog program.
Natural Disasters and Damage Prevention – After the Disaster	Shannon Neufeld, Canada Energy Regulator	Gas & Oil				Climate change has led to more and more extreme weather events. As we all know, these events can cause billions of dollars in property damage. For landowners, natural disasters are harrowing and can be really frightening when they impact their family, property, and livelihood. You can’t assume your Damage Prevention and Public Awareness activities take human behavioral factors into account. We will talk about some of the ways you can improve your Damage Prevention program to respond after the disaster.
Fiber builds with damage prevention as a high priority: A case study of effective partnerships	George Kemp, MetroNet	Telecom				Coming Soon!
The Domino Effect: Educating & Empowering Safe Digging Advocates for the Ag Community	Whitney Price, PASA / Infrastructure Resources	Gas & Oil				What messages do farmers and ranchers relate to? Who do they trust? What communication mediums are most effective? Open communication between operators and ag professionals builds a foundation of trust and resource. We can learn a lot from each other. Hear about what’s worked, what we’ve learned, and what we hope to achieve.
Session	Speaker	Track	Day			Description

Workshops at Global ESC

Damage Investigation with an Expert Witness w/ Ron Peterson ($255)

Tuesday, February 14, 2023
8:00 AM – 12:30 PM EST

Damages to underground assets occur regularly. Every company needs a policy ensuring everyone in the field can properly conduct a field incident investigation, in a timely manner, for cost recovery. As an expert witness, Ron Peterson will focus on the required elements of a successful damage investigation, by helping you set the stage to determining a valid root cause investigation by following standard investigative procedures vital to an effective analysis of damage. Learn how to protect your company through proper documentation of damage incidents through photographic, interview, and investigative procedures.

Ron will break the individual components of a quality root cause investigation into easily digestible segments.

Pre-registration is required. Box lunch is not included.

Utility Locator Skills Enhancement w/ Bob Nighswonger ($395)

Tuesday, February 14, 2023
8:30 AM – 3:30 PM EST

Not only is this skills training workshop a great introductory session and a valuable career-building tool for the novice locator, the workshop was designed to challenge and expand the knowledge base of even the most seasoned of pros on the art of underground line locating and marking.

This two-fold training workshop begins with a live classroom training session with comprehensive animated slide presentations, lively discussions, and a supporting workbook loaded with reference materials and classroom activities. The classroom session is followed by hands-on instruction performed outdoors where a variety of conventional and not-so-conventional equipment is placed in the hands of the workshop participants.

This workshop is approved for 6-8 Continuing Educational Hours or Training Credits for Water Operator Certification renewals in California, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.

The workshop is approved for 8 contact hours for CWEA certificate holders for credit toward the continuing education requirement for re-certification.
Pre-registration is required. Box lunch included in cost.

What Will They Say About You? w/ Wylie Davidson & Amy Davis ($255)

Monday, February 13, 2023
8:30 AM – 12:30 PM EST

Dig deeper into exploring the core values of how to effectively leave a lasting legacy. Leaving a legacy is something we all have in common, good or bad, and it’s how we use the tools provided for us that allow us the ability to rise or fall.

Pre-registration is required. Box lunch is not included.

Education Session Endorsers

We thank these organizations for their collaborative efforts in developing content for their respective industries. Look for these logos indicating sessions that have been endorsed by them.

Session Tracks

With 80+ Conference sessions developed and presented by industry experts, it can sometimes be difficult to determine which topics best fit your individual educational needs. To help you determine the best fit, our sessions are categorized based on industry. We recognize the value of cross-discipline training and Full Conference delegates are always welcome to attend any session. Use the Education Table above to filter for session tracks that apply to you. Select one or more and the table will show you all sessions that apply.