The Safety Moment by Utility Safety Partners

Stories and Strategies

In our modern culture, the safety moment has evolved as brief and casual conversations in which to share. They are the perfect time to bring up safety topics in a non-threatening (though potentially lifesaving) way. The Safety Moment Podcast is produced by Utility Safety Partners – a non-profit corporation that has been providing communication service between the digging community and the owners of buried facilities since 1984. Let’s talk about damage prevention, excavation safety, locating and marking, watching for overhead powerlines, and legislative matters to ensure contractors and neighbours can all do their work safely. Let's talk safety - it's always a good conversation.

  1. 2d ago

    Building a Profession From the Ground Up: The DPP Certification Story

    Send us Fan Mail What if the people who keep gas lines, fibre, and power cables from being torn out of the ground have never had a profession to call their own?  Mike Sullivan talks with Coral Lukaniuk; engineer, longtime pipeline-integrity and public-awareness leader, and founder of coRoc Solutions, now Executive Director of the brand-new Damage Prevention Professional (DPP) Certification Program.  They unpack a strange truth: damage prevention is named in federal and provincial regulation, yet nearly everyone in it "fell into" the work, with no curriculum, credential, or career pathway behind them.  Coral explains why a nonprofit like Utility Safety Partners is the right home for the program, why it's emphatically not "just an Alberta thing," and why building a profession is a decades-long project worth starting now.  The conversation lands on a simple test of success: a day when DPP certification is a job requirement, and a damage-prevention pro is recognized as readily as an electrician at your door. Listen for: 2:59 Why has no one ever built a career path for the people protecting what's buried beneath us? 7:25 Why does it matter that a nonprofit — not a company — is behind this certification? 13:58 Why would a board chase a goal that comes with no guarantee of success? 26:12 Why do so many people wrongly dismiss this as "just an Alberta thing"? 30:53 What does success actually look like for a profession that has never existed?  Connect with Guests:Coral Lukaniuk,Executive Director | coRoc Solutions LinkedIn | Damage Prevention Professional Certification   Follow The Safety Moment via Utility Safety Partners  X | Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook   Got an episode idea? info@utilitysafety.ca

    44 min

  2. Jun 17

    The Algorithm Knows Where You're Digging Before You Do

    Send us Fan Mail What if the next threat to buried infrastructure isn't an excavator's bucket….it's an algorithm that already knows where every line is buried?  Mike sits down with AI strategist, futurist, and bestselling author Peter Swain, who has led more than 1,400 technology projects with companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Google, to confront a question the damage prevention industry can no longer avoid: could big tech effectively map North America's buried infrastructure without ever touching the industry's proprietary records?  Swain's answer: yes... through correlated data alone, sets up a wide-ranging, unflinching conversation about AI models already measuring in the genius IQ range, predictions of an end to all disease within a decade, and why regulated industries will be dragged forward by rising expectations whether they're ready or not.  Along the way, the two dig into the failure of regulation, our own culpability in giving data away for convenience, and evidence that human critical thinking is measurably declining just as we need it most.  It ends with Mike answering a question few industry leaders would touch: what happens if AI makes his own job unnecessary?  Listen for: 9:17 How long can a safety industry afford to move slow? 14:00 What does genius-level AI mean for human judgment on site? 20:04 If AI takes safety jobs, can UBI catch the fall? 25:29 Could big tech sell the buried world back to its owners? 31:01 What happens to dig site safety when critical thinking fades?  Connect with Guests:Peter Swain, AI Technologist | 5x Best Selling Author | International Keynote speaker Website | Email | LinkedIn | X Follow The Safety Moment via Utility Safety Partners  X | Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook   Got an episode idea? info@utilitysafety.ca

    46 min

  3. Jun 3

    REPLAY - Lines in the Sky: The Overhead Risk You’re Overlooking

    Send us Fan Mail This is a REPLAY of an episode first published in May 2025. What if the next big thing in utility safety isn’t underground—but overhead?  Mike Sullivan sits down with Nathan Coutu from ATCO Electric to spotlight the groundbreaking "Lookup and Live" application, a collaborative initiative aimed at reducing overhead power line contacts.  Nathan shares how this Alberta-wide, GIS-based mobile and web app helps users visualize and safely navigate around energized overhead lines—especially crucial for agricultural, construction, and utility workers.  Drawing inspiration from similar successes in Australia and Saskatchewan, he reveals the collaborative journey of Alberta utilities working together for public safety, the staggering contact statistics that prompted action, and the powerful simplicity of a solution that could save lives.  If you’ve ever thought "I knew the power line was there—I just didn’t see it this time," this episode could be a game-changer. Listen For: 3:48 The Birth of “Lookup and Live” in Alberta 5:16 From “Where’s the Line” to a Province-Wide Collaboration 7:22 The Overhead Threat You Keep Ignoring 16:51 50% Fewer Incidents: What Australia Taught Us 24:52 The Push for Simplicity and Adoption 27:20 Breaking Through Data Sharing Barriers Connect with guest Nathan Coutu LinkedIn   Follow The Safety Moment via Utility Safety Partners  X | Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook   Got an episode idea? info@utilitysafety.ca

    36 min

  4. May 20

    The Safety Conversations That Started with Coffee

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when a pandemic coffee chat accidentally becomes one of the most respected podcasts in the energy industry?  Mike Sullivan sits down with James Cross, co-creator of Coffee with Jim and James, to unpack the origin story behind the show that connected an entire industry during COVID.    James shares how a simple Zoom conversation evolved into a powerful platform for collaboration, storytelling, and safety advocacy across the natural gas and damage prevention world.    From his roots in West Texas and a passion for public speaking to taking the podcast live on the road and into the field, James reflects on the lessons learned from hundreds of conversations with frontline workers, industry leaders, and safety professionals. The discussion dives deep into safety culture, near miss reporting, industry collaboration, and whether podcasts truly make a difference.     Emotional, funny, and deeply human, this episode is both a celebration of community and a reminder that the most impactful conversations often start with a cup of coffee.    Listen for: :40 How Did A Pandemic Coffee Chat Turn Into A Hit Industry Podcast? 7:53 Why Was Convincing The First Podcast Guest So Difficult? 13:39 What Happened When Coffee With Jim And James Went Live At A Conference? 26:40 Are Safety Metrics Measuring The Right Things In The Industry? 47:07 What Dangerous Situation Did PG&E Workers Face In The Field?   Connect with Guests:James Cross, Chief Experience Officer | EWN LinkedIn| Website | Podcast  Follow The Safety Moment via Utility Safety Partners  X | Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook   Got an episode idea? info@utilitysafety.ca

    54 min

  5. May 6

    The Absence of C-suite Ownership of Damage Prevention Culture

    Send us Fan Mail Every day across North America, workers excavate near buried infrastructure that could kill them and most of the people who built the system protecting them can't explain how the whole thing fits together.  Mike Sullivan sits down with Scott Landes, a four-decade figure in North American damage prevention who co-founded Rhino Marking & Protection Systems and the Excavation Safety Alliance.  Scott and Mike explore what the industry has built and what it is still failing to do, the absence of C-suite ownership of damage prevention culture, the near-impossible challenge of changing state-level legislation even when it's broken, and why Scott believes a simple cultural shift at the top of major utility companies could eliminate 99% of damage incidents.  The conversation closes on a practical challenge: what is the one action every listener could take tomorrow to immediately reduce the risk of a strike?   Listen for: 6:35 What does Jimmy Buffett's brand genius have to do with how damage prevention companies succeed or fail? 17:31 Why did it take 40 years for someone to write the first comprehensive book about the damage prevention industry? 21:32 Who is Holding Back Disaster actually written for — and what does it hope to change? 37:42 If you rewrote this book in ten years, what would you hope the industry had finally solved? 44:24 What is the one action every person in damage prevention could take tomorrow to immediately reduce the risk of a strike?   Connect with Guests: Scott Landes, CEO, Excavation Safety Alliance, LLC Minneapolis LinkedIn | Website  Follow The Safety Moment via Utility Safety Partners  X | Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook   Got an episode idea? info@utilitysafety.ca

    50 min

  6. Apr 15

    REPLAY - Measuring Absence in Damage Prevention

    Send us Fan Mail This is a REPLAY of an episode first published in August 2024. How do you measure what didn’t happen?   In this episode, Mike sits down with Wayne Jensen to explore the fascinating concept of quantifying the absence of damage in the damage prevention industry.   They discuss the evolution of safety practices, the challenges of relying too heavily on regulations, and the importance of recognizing proactive behavior in preventing accidents.   The conversation dives deep into the human side of safety, celebrating the unsung heroes who ensure nothing goes wrong – and the complexities of proving that their efforts were the reason why.  Listen For: 3:19 - The Origin of Monthly Damage Prevention Meetings 8:09 - The Effectiveness of Public Awareness Programs 20:56 - Are We Too Reliant on Legislation? 28:33 - Responsibility and Accountability in Damage Prevention  Guest: WAYNE JENSEN Website | Sign Up Page   Follow The Safety Moment via Utility Safety Partners X | Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook Got an episode idea? info@utilitysafety.ca

    53 min

  7. Apr 1

    It's Not a Safety Problem. It's a Human Problem.

    Send us Fan Mail What if the most powerful safety speaker is the one without a dramatic scar to explain?   Mike Sullivan sits down with Wylie Davidson, motivational speaker and safety culture specialist behind the Leaving a Safety Legacy program, to explore what it actually takes to make a safety message stick.  Wylie built his career not on a dramatic injury story or a near-miss, but on a fundamental conviction: safety culture isn't a program, it's a human problem.  The conversation digs into why experienced workers take shortcuts (hint: it's wired into us), how leaders can influence behaviour without micromanaging, and why a single presentation, no matter how powerful achieves nothing without a plan for the day after.  Listen for: 12:04 Why do experienced workers keep taking shortcuts? 17:28 What does it actually mean to make a safety message sustainable? 21:19 How do you reach the person in the back row who doesn't want to be there? 37:53 What has a decade of speaking across North America taught you about people? 42:38 What separates leaders who build lasting safety culture from those who erode it?   Connect with Guests: Wylie Davidson, Keynote Speaker | Workplace Culture Specialist LinkedIn | Website  Follow The Safety Moment via Utility Safety Partners  X | Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook   Got an episode idea? info@utilitysafety.ca

    55 min

  8. Mar 18

    What It Takes to Build a Safer Canada Underground

    Send us Fan Mail Canada's underground utility infrastructure sustains billions of dollars in damage every year... and the data needed to stop it keeps slipping through the cracks.  Mike Sullivan is joined by CCGA Executive Director Todd Scott for a wide-ranging conversation about momentum, leadership, and the future of damage prevention in Canada.  They unpack the success of the Halifax event, why bringing the industry together in person still matters, how a new generation is stepping up across the board and committees, and why that leadership transition feels so encouraging.  The episode also digs into the hard realities behind DIRT reporting, the challenge of collecting useful national data, the need for stronger municipal engagement, and the growing role AI could play in mapping, quality assurance, and field safety.  At its core, this is a thoughtful and optimistic discussion about where the Canadian Common Ground Alliance is headed next and what it will take to build a smarter, stronger, more connected damage prevention community.   Listen for: 18:29 Why is voluntary DIRT reporting Canada's biggest damage prevention blind spot? 23:24 What does a 99% damage reduction in ALP locates tell us about the future of best practices? 33:48 How could AI transform notification centres and field locate quality and what has to come first? 38:18 What did the Sereno societal cost analysis reveal and why did the number drop so dramatically? 46:32 What is Todd Scott most looking forward to at the 2026 CCGA Symposium in Calgary?   Connect with Guests: Todd Scott, Executive Director of Canadian Common Ground Alliance Todd's LinkedIn | Todd's Email | CCGA LinkedIn | CCGA Website   Follow The Safety Moment via Utility Safety Partners  X | Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook   Got an episode idea? info@utilitysafety.ca

    51 min
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Ratings & Reviews

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About

In our modern culture, the safety moment has evolved as brief and casual conversations in which to share. They are the perfect time to bring up safety topics in a non-threatening (though potentially lifesaving) way. The Safety Moment Podcast is produced by Utility Safety Partners – a non-profit corporation that has been providing communication service between the digging community and the owners of buried facilities since 1984. Let’s talk about damage prevention, excavation safety, locating and marking, watching for overhead powerlines, and legislative matters to ensure contractors and neighbours can all do their work safely. Let's talk safety - it's always a good conversation.

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