Gold Shovel Association
UtilitiesArizona, United States2-10 Employees
Gold Shovel Standard is a nonprofit organization focused on improving workforce and public safety and the integrity of buried infrastructure. Based in Tempe, Arizona, the group emphasizes transparency among buried-asset operators, locators, and contractors as a driver of continuous improvement in damage prevention and safety for workers and communities. Its certification program signals an increased commitment to damage prevention and safer excavation around buried assets, reflecting its view that robust safety management systems should integrate damage prevention throughout operations. The organization serves stakeholders in the utilities sector who manage or engage with buried infrastructure, offering a framework to reduce damages and associated risks. In addition to its core mission, Gold Shovel Standard has undergone organizational changes in the past, including a collaboration with the Common Ground Alliance to broaden participation in damage prevention initiatives.