Sunshine 811 is a not-for-profit corporation which began with the 1992 adoption of the “Underground Facility Damage Prevention and Safety Act,” Chapter 556, Florida Statutes. Underground utility owners and operators are required by this law to be members of Sunshine 811. Member underground utility owners and operators fund its operation.
Making Florida the safest place to dig is Sunshine 811’s purpose. They also:
- Educate excavators on the 811 process.
- Process the excavator’s dig site and contact information.
- Send the above information to member utility companies.
- Operate the Positive Response System, which makes it easy for utilities and excavators to communicate.
For the excavator, calling 811 helps prevent hefty fines and repair costs due to utility service outages, injuries, environmental contamination and property damage.J
John Segovia is the Damage Prevention Liaison for South Florida, handling Broward, Collier, Miami-Dade, Indian River, Martin, Monroe, Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties. John works with construction companies, public utility representatives, locate representatives and the general public to provide bilingual education and awareness on the importance of the 811 Safe Digging Process.
Prior to joining Sunshine 811, John had 15-plus years in the occupational health and safety field. John has worked with public and private entities to reduce on-the-job injuries and encourage general wellness.
Being passionate about safety, Segovia emphasizes, “Everyone wants to go home at the end of the day. It’s my job to make sure workers understand and practice good safety steps and follow protocol.”
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