Pennsylvania One Call System Response to COVID-19

3/23/20

COVID-19 Update: Increased use of surface  disinfectant wipes cause higher sewer maintenance and risk of "Activating" Cross Bore damages:

▪  Flushing wipes in toilets can cause more sewer backups and result in more drain cleaning
▪  Drain cleaning should not use cutting tools when near a gas line crossing area
▪  Disposal of wipes is recommended in waste bins

Click here for more information on Cross Bores

3/20/20  COVID-19 Update and the Governor’s Executive Order

Utility Services are considered life sustaining businesses and do not fall under the Executive Order.

The requirements of the Underground Utility Line Protection Law (UULPL) have not changed. 

Pennsylvania One Call System, Inc. remains fully operational through both our call center and online services, to receive underground utility locate requests and to provide those notices to our member utilities. 

Excavators:

If you have an active ticket and are delaying the work, please call POCS to cancel the notice to prevent utility locators from unnecessary activities.

If you are doing work exempt from the Executive Order, please review the utility responses carefully as utilities who are unable to mark in the time required may reach out to you to find a mutually agreeable schedule for locating the site.

Facility owner members:

The UULPL permits a facility owner to reach out to the excavator to negotiate a mutually agreeable locate date/time.

After you have reached an agreement with the excavator, use KARL response code 006 – Scheduled Date of Mark, and include the Date and Time you will mark the work site.

We wish everyone continued health and safety!

3/17/20

Pennsylvania One Call System, Inc. (POCS) is announcing that beginning immediately and until further notice, all POCS training programs, POCS face to face activities and meetings are being postponed.  This decision results from an abundance of caution for the well-being of our staff, our industry partners and the citizens of Pennsylvania, as well as the guidance provided by Governor Wolf and state health officials in their most recent response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Please note, POCS remains fully operational through both our call center and on line services, to receive underground utility locate requests from the excavation community and homeowners and to provide those notices to our member utilities. 
 
Please continue to monitor www.paonecall.org for additional information and updates and encourage our members, industry partners and their loved ones to stay safe and healthy.

Pennsylvania One Call System continues to monitor the Coronavirus (COVID-19) developments closely.  The safety, health, and well-being of our staff and stakeholders is our top priority. A Crisis Response Plan has been developed and distributed to our staff.

We encourage all of our stakeholders to be vigilant in preventing the spread of this virus, as well as others.  

Follow best practices such as:

  • Wash your hands often with soap for at least 20 seconds, use hand sanitizer when hand washing is not an option
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick
  • Reduce social interactions
  • Stay home when you are sick
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces

Our systems are designed in a manner allowing continued operations in an event staff is not able to report to the office.  A number of our agents have the ability to work from home.  If our at home agents are not able to keep up with the incoming calls, the caller will be encouraged to use our online applications to enter proposed excavation online. We expect little to no impact on the delivery of these notifications to our facility owner members. 

In the event of an office closure for an extended period of time, Pennsylvania One Call System’s Management will immediately:

  • Change IVR to inform customers and stakeholders of the situation
  • Broadcast messages will be sent to facility owner delivery addresses
  • Emails will be sent to our stakeholders
  • Use social media to inform our callers and members of the situation and any impact to services
  • Ensure planned events or trainings are postponed to another date and all attendees are notified
  • Provide regular updates to staff and stakeholders

We will continue to monitor the situation and communicate any changes in our plans.  To get the latest information and updates regarding COVID-19, please visit the Pennsylvania’s department of Health website at: https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx