Wisconsin Underground Contractors Association

“Ultimately, we’re the only organization in the state of Wisconsin that focuses on construction underground, which is a little bit of a different ballgame,” depicts Executive Director, Ruth Hackney. “The stakes are higher. If there are incidents or accidents, it puts our members and their employees at higher risk. If there’s a mistake that happens, the cost of repair is quite a bit higher than if it were something above ground. So, our goal is to have a positive relationship between our members, the unions, and the governing bodies to eliminate potential areas of tension or harm.” WUCA’s core mandates revolve around two primary objectives, with safety being a priority. Hackney describes, “It’s really important to us that this industry, which holds high risks, is as safe as possible. We do that through training, through connections with government entities to ensure that specifications are up to date, and we have strong relationships with OSHA and other governing boards.” Building and maintaining important partnerships is also key for the association, and integral to its functioning. “We have strong relationships with the Operators Union and the Laborers Union, where we are the third neutral party that’s helping the negotiations between the laborers and the contractors and employers themselves,” she explains, adding that WUCA also works closely with the city of Milwaukee and other municipalities in the state, promoting best practices. SAFETY INITIATIVES Hackney further highlights the importance of safety in underground construction, particularly when digging into areas where electric or gas lines could be present. “If they’re not properly located and if there’s a mistake that happens it could quite literally mean explosions,” she acknowledges. “So, it’s vital that we have a strong relationship with Diggers Hotline and our utility providers because being able to know exactly where a gas line or an electric line is, is critical to the safety of our members.” Beyond the immediate dangers of mislocated lines, she underscores the broader risks associated with underground work, noting, “You often think it can’t be that big of a deal, but if there was a collapse of a tunnel, or if there was something that caught employees or workers underground, they are not only not going to have oxygen, but it would be catastrophic. The stakes are just so incredibly high for the workers.” 3 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 11, ISSUE 06 WISCONSIN UNDERGROUND CONTRACTORS ASSOCIAT ION