Underground Safety Board finds violations across multiple excavation cases, orders education and fines

The California Underground Safety Board on July 14 found multiple contractors and excavation firms in violation of state excavation rules and recommended educational and monetary sanctions to the Contractors State License Board.

The board considered more than a dozen separate enforcement cases involving failures to notify the regional notification center before digging, and failures to contact emergency services after damaging subsurface installations. In every case the board recommended that the contractor complete the board’s required education course; in most cases it also recommended a monetary penalty ranging from $1,000 to $8,000. The board’s findings will be forwarded to the Contractors State License Board for final action.

Why it matters: the violations involve the core safety practices of the state's "call before you dig" system (California Government Code section 4216 and implementing Title 19 regulations). Board members emphasized that even small projects and residential ADU work can put neighbors and first responders at risk when statutory steps are skipped.

The board opened its enforcement docket by finding violations in a small-business case brought by Artistry Development (Investigation N2424954). Owner Cody Moore addressed the board in person and said, "I came here just to take responsibility for the matter. I've never had an issue like this happen before." The board found two violations (failure to notify the regional notification center before excavating and failure to call 911 after damaging a gas…