Released by Routledge and authored by industry leaders Scott Landes and Benjamin R. Dierker, the book arrives as the CGA’s Damage Information Reporting Tool reveals that excavation accidents are rising in tandem with national construction activity. The index, which uses a 2022 baseline of 100, highlights a troubling trend: rather than retreating, damage rates have surpassed the starting point of the industry's five-year mitigation effort.
New Book Analyzes Record Surge in U.S. Underground Utility Damage
The Common Ground Alliance has reported a record-high national index for excavation damage, signaling a failure to curb accidents despite industry-wide reduction goals. As the 2025 index climbs to 102, a new book, Holding Back Disaster, arrives to address the systemic policy and operational gaps behind these mounting infrastructure failures.
Mapping the Systemic Failure
Rather than framing the issue as a simple technical error, the authors argue that the crisis stems from a fragmented landscape of federal oversight, state-level dig laws, and inconsistent local enforcement. The text examines the disconnect between national infrastructure investment and the practical realities faced by field crews, utility locators, and project managers. By bridging the gap between federal policymakers and the local jobsite, the book aims to serve as both a reference for industry professionals and a guide for regulators navigating the complex architecture of 811 administration and public works. With endorsements from former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters and other federal infrastructure leaders, the work launches on August 10, just ahead of National 811 Day.
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