Page 6 - TN811 2023 Issue 1

In the damage prevention world, there is a first time for everything. In our Tennessee 811 magazine, we have a first as well. We have never recognized or featured two Damage Prevention MVPs in the same quarterly issue of the magazine. For this edition, we’ll still call them Damage Prevention MVPs or more appropriately Damage Prevention Co-MVPs. Both MVPs work for Oak Ridge Utility District (ORUD) in East Tennessee, and they locate gas lines. ORUD’s Operations Manager, Sam Andavazo (a former Damage Prevention MVP himself), gave me
the recommendation to feature these locators. Those locators are Bob Davis and Brian Smith and we will break down what makes them our Damage Prevention Co-MVPs.
Bob Davis, ORUD
4 • Tennessee811 2023, Issue 1
Bob Davis
Bob Davis has over 30 years in the natural gas industry, working 22 years for ORUD. Of those 22 years, he has worked as a locator for 20 years. He previously worked for a gas company
in Virginia Beach, Virginia for 9 years in the construction department. Bob typically locates for ORUD in the Oak Ridge area specifically but could locate their whole system which includes Roane County. Bob told me, “I’ve been locating this system so long, I can look at a locate ticket and know how the
line will run.” Through his longevity at ORUD, Bob has built good relationships with customers, excavators, and other utilities. He told me, “That’s what is
so good about being in this locating business for so long in the same city. You have good communications with
other locators of other utilities.” As far as excavators, Bob always wants to make sure the excavator understands what his locate markings mean and communicates with them regularly.
With Bob’s experience, he gave me an outline of how to train a new locator:
• Safety first
• Dangers of natural gas, if not located correctly
• Take your time, locate accurately
• Different scenarios of locating
• Good endurance needed, could walk up to 6 to 7 miles a day
• Strong mindpower, stay motivated
Damage
Prevention MVPs Bob Davis and
Brian Smith of ORUD
By Jason Fryer,
Damage Prevention Liaison Tennessee811