Best Practice Toolkit

The CGA Best Practices Guide is the original, and still most popular, industry resource for ensuring the safety of those who work or live near underground facilities. The Best Practices manual includes more than 130 practices that cover all phases of the 811 process, agreed to by 16 stakeholder groups.

The following toolkit is available to assist members and damage prevention stakeholders in using the Best Practices Guide and participating in the best practices process.

Best Practices Guide Online

Order Version 19

Best Practices Guide

Visit Best Practices Guide Online

Download Best Practices Guide (PDF)

Order Best Practices Version 19 Hard Copies

Best Practices Process

Propose a Practice

Best Practices Archive

Infographics

Download "Communicating potential for private facilities" Infographic

Download "Cross Bores" Infographic

Download "New/Under Construction Facilities" Infographic

Download Introducing the Best Practices 18.0

Infographic: Best Practices 2-1

Infographic: Best Practices 3-14

Infographic: Best Practices 3-31

Infographic: Best Practices 4-1

Infographic: Best Practices 4-2

Infographic: Best Practices 4-3 & 4-8

Infographic: Best Practices 5-1

New Practices - Best Practices 18.0

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Best Practices FAQ

What are CGA’s Best Practices?

CGA’s Best Practices is a book that features damage prevention best practices that have earned consensus support from all 16 stakeholder groups that comprise CGA. These practices cover all stakeholder groups and the entire process from one call center notification to locating to excavation.

Each new edition of Best Practices is distributed at the CGA Annual Meeting (typically held in mid-March) and also available digitally here. You may also order copies of Best Practice books by completing an order form by clicking here.

How is a new Best Practice proposal considered for inclusion?

Each new proposed practice requires a seven-step process that begins by completing a BP proposal form. Each submitted proposal form is added to the next Best Practices Committee meeting agenda, where the committee must reach consensus on moving forward with the review process.

Each item that advances through this initial review is assigned a transaction record (TR) number and is investigated in more detail by a subcommittee, which will draft Best Practices language for full committee comment. TR’s that receive consensus approval from all stakeholder industries represented on the committee are then forwarded to the CGA Board of Directors for final approval.

Does a Best Practice need to be tested as a pilot program to be adopted by CGA?

CGA does not require a Best Practice proposal to have been tested as a pilot program, but it is encouraged. If a pilot program associated with a new Best Practice proposal has occurred and results have been documented, the CGA Best Practices Committee would use that information to determine if a proposed practice is worthy of further review.

Is there a deadline for submitting a practice proposal?

CGA is always open to receiving practice proposals from members. CGA recommends members consult with the Best Practices Committee schedule to submit a proposal in advance of an upcoming meeting.

How can I learn more about CGA’s Best Practices Committee?

Click here to learn more about the Best Practices Committee.