Safety & Environment
We exemplify our commitment from the top down
As an industry leader, we find too many contractors give lip service to safety.
However, here at DBE, safety planning begins at the project bid stage.
We thoughtfully complete our projects ensuring maximum safety to our employees and the public at large. Over the past several years our Experience Modification Rating (EMR – by which worker compensation insurance is calculated) has been below industry standards.
We exemplify our commitment from the top down that management is dedicated to a safe work place and it’s reflected in our ratings:
2022-2023 EMR RATING
We may be contractors, but as Floridians, we take the environment very seriously. It drives our economy, tourism and provides outdoor enjoyment for us all. Below are a few measures we perform that help enforce our commitment.
Most folks outside the utility industry may not be aware of what lies inside a typical right-of-way (ROW), let alone a very congested one with multiple facilities running through it.Because these ROWs are of limited size, and can accommodate limited infrastructure, it is critically important that existing utilities are identified before our work gets started. This begins by locating what facilities lie near the path of our construction, and then exposing 2 feet in either direction of our projected path.
Our drilling operations entail the use of a mineral known as bentonite. It’s characteristics are very much like clay, and is similar to kitty litter.Because the term horizontal directional drilling is also used in oil & gas exploration, the bentonite / water “mud” is often mistaken for well fracturing fluid. To be certain, bentonite is non-toxic and is not hazardous to the environment. For more information about the mineral, click here to learn about MSDS. It may surprise you that fresh-water wells are also drilled using bentonite.
We care deeply for the environment and the aquatic life whose habitats may temporarily be altered by construction. DBE deploys erosion & sedimentation control devices to preserve site soils and prevent migration or washout. To that end, turbidity control of all water sources is of major importance.
When drilling below grade with high-pressure fluids & tooling, it is vital to understand the geological and geotechnical site data. Sometimes, the pressurized fluids find a void in vertical soils where they make their way to the surface. This is known as a frac-out or inadvertent return. They are never intended but require remediation techniques nonetheless – as defined in our Frac-out Response Plan.
During drill operations, our crews are trained to watch for signs of this occurrence and stay in communication with the driller controlling flow.