GeoStabilization International® Renews Gold Shovel Standard Certification

GeoStabilization International has successfully renewed their Gold Shovel Standard Certification, a widely-recognized indication of increased safety awareness and a commitment to continuous damage prevention improvement.

GSS Certification is a proactive indication of an increased investment in damage-prevention to drive safety, reduce damages, and minimize the risks associated with excavating on or around buried assets. GSS Certified excavators rely upon a robust safety management system, which specifically incorporates prevention of damage to critical buried infrastructure to increase public and workforce safety. Companies with the Gold Shovel Standard Certification must have a complete Damage Prevention-Safety Management System (DP-SMS). These companies:

• Have a leadership and management commitment to infrastructure damage prevention
• Require specific training for all workers on jobs with excavation
• Enforce whistleblower and stop work responsibility for workers
• Maintain a policy to adhere to specialized best practices of excavation operations
• Maintain a policy to hire Gold Shovel Standard subcontractors with few exceptions
• Use thorough investigation and corrective action procedures
• Have access to specialized tools to track and manage their operations to prevent damages

For more information on the Gold Shovel Standard certification, visit www.goldshovelstandard.org.