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Oct 16, 2026
Colorado 811 Damage Prevention Summit & Expo
CO811 Event
The Colorado 811 Damage Prevention Summit & Expo is an opportunity for damage prevention professionals and boots on the ground workers to come together, learn best practices and participate in tailored education tracks for locators, excavators, pipeline operators and more!
When: Friday, October 16, 2026
Where: Denver Marriott Tech Center - 4900 S Syracuse St, Denver, CO 80237
Who should attend: Excavators, Pipeline Operators, Utility Owner/Operators, Locators, and other damage prevention professionals.
Registration Fee: $35
Watch this space for more information on 2026 education sessions, speakers and sponsorships!
Education Tracks
Excavator Education Track
Who Should Attend
This track is designed for professionals working in and around excavation activities, including:
Field excavators and crew members
Supervisors and foremen
Contractors and construction professionals
Anyone responsible for ensuring safe, compliant digging practices
Learning Objectives
Participants will gain a stronger understanding of safe excavation practices and how to apply them in real-world conditions. Key objectives include:
Reinforcing safe digging behaviors in the field
Improving understanding of Colorado-specific requirements and regional variations
Reducing damages caused by preventable decisions and process gaps
Strengthening coordination between excavators, locators, and facility owners
What You’ll Learn
This track covers essential concepts and practical applications to support safe and efficient excavation, including:
Safe excavation practices and trench safety fundamentals
The locate process—what to expect before, during, and after submitting a ticket
Positive Response and its role in field operations
Common causes of underground utility damage and how to prevent them
Real-world scenarios, case studies, and current industry expectations
Why Attend
Attendees will leave with practical, job-site-ready knowledge that can be applied immediately. Benefits include:
Reduced risk of costly damages, project delays, and injuries
Greater clarity on expectations across jurisdictions and projects
Increased confidence when working around underground infrastructure
Specific session information coming soon!
Utility Members & Locators Education Track
Who Should Attend
This track is designed for professionals who own or are responsible for locating and protecting underground facilities, including:
Utility locators (in-house and contract)
Facility owners and operators
Damage prevention professionals
Anyone responsible for locating, marking, or responding to tickets
Learning Objectives
Participants will strengthen their skills and understanding of high-quality, compliant locating practices. Key objectives include:
Improving consistency and quality in locating work
Strengthening adherence to Colorado standards and expectations
Enhancing safety for locators working in dynamic and high-risk environments
Advancing awareness of emerging tools and technologies
What You’ll Learn
This track focuses on practical applications and industry expectations to help locators perform with accuracy and confidence, including:
Locator safety, with a focus on roadway and high-risk environments
Colorado standards, best practices, and regulatory expectations
Positive Response processes, documentation, and accountability
New and emerging technologies, including digital and advanced locating tools
Best practices for accuracy, documentation, and communication in the field
Why Attend
Attendees will leave with the tools and insights needed to deliver high-quality, reliable locate work, including:
Clear alignment with Safety Commission expectations and industry standards
Improved quality and defensibility of locate documentation and practices
Increased safety awareness in real-world job conditions
Exposure to new tools and innovations shaping the future of locating
Specific session information coming soon!
Pipeline Operators Education Track
Who Should Attend
This track is designed for professionals responsible for pipeline safety, compliance, and risk management, including:
Pipeline operators and integrity teams
Utility owners and operators
Compliance, legal, and regulatory professionals
Anyone responsible for pipeline safety and risk management
Learning Objectives
Participants will gain a stronger understanding of how to enhance pipeline safety and reduce risk across their organizations. Key objectives include:
Strengthening pipeline safety and damage prevention practices
Enhancing collaboration between operators, excavators, and locators
Ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements and expectations
Reducing risk through improved communication, oversight, and education
What You’ll Learn
This track focuses on regulatory awareness, industry challenges, and practical strategies for improving pipeline safety, including:
State and federal regulatory requirements specific to pipeline operations
Common challenges and root causes of pipeline damages
Effective communication and coordination with excavators and locators
Risk management strategies and incident prevention approaches
Industry trends, lessons learned, and emerging focus areas
Why Attend
Attendees will leave with the insights and strategies needed to improve compliance, safety, and operational performance, including:
Greater clarity on regulatory requirements and compliance expectations
A clearer understanding of the role of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and how state agencies support pipeline safety
Improved ability to anticipate and prevent high-risk incidents
Stronger relationships with stakeholders across the damage prevention ecosystem
Practical, actionable strategies to reduce risk and enhance operational performance
Specific session information coming soon!
Professional Development Education Track
Who Should Attend
This track is designed for leaders and professionals who support excavation operations from the office and the field, including:
Supervisors, managers, and team leads
Operations and safety leaders
Office staff supporting field operations
Executives and emerging leaders in the damage prevention industry
Learning Objectives
Participants will gain the tools and insights needed to lead more effectively and strengthen organizational performance. Key objectives include:
Strengthening leadership and building a strong, safety-focused culture
Improving communication between field and office teams
Equipping leaders with tools to reduce damages through better processes, data, and people management
Addressing workforce challenges, including retention, engagement, and development
What You’ll Learn
This track focuses on practical strategies and real-world applications to improve leadership and operational outcomes, including:
Leadership strategies for building and sustaining a strong safety culture
Identifying and addressing communication breakdowns across teams
Using data and insights to improve performance and reduce damages
Workforce development strategies, including retention and skills building
Real-world challenges faced by organizations across the industry
Why Attend
Attendees will leave with actionable insights and strategies to strengthen their teams and organization, including:
Practical leadership tools that can be implemented immediately
Improved team performance and alignment across departments
Enhanced decision-making using data and operational insights
Strategies to address workforce challenges and improve retention
Specific session information coming soon!
Excavator Education Track
Who Should Attend
This track is designed for professionals working in and around excavation activities, including:
Field excavators and crew members
Supervisors and foremen
Contractors and construction professionals
Anyone responsible for ensuring safe, compliant digging practices
Learning Objectives
Participants will gain a stronger understanding of safe excavation practices and how to apply them in real-world conditions. Key objectives include:
Reinforcing safe digging behaviors in the field
Improving understanding of Colorado-specific requirements and regional variations
Reducing damages caused by preventable decisions and process gaps
Strengthening coordination between excavators, locators, and facility owners
What You’ll Learn
This track covers essential concepts and practical applications to support safe and efficient excavation, including:
Safe excavation practices and trench safety fundamentals
The locate process—what to expect before, during, and after submitting a ticket
Positive Response and its role in field operations
Common causes of underground utility damage and how to prevent them
Real-world scenarios, case studies, and current industry expectations
Why Attend
Attendees will leave with practical, job-site-ready knowledge that can be applied immediately. Benefits include:
Reduced risk of costly damages, project delays, and injuries
Greater clarity on expectations across jurisdictions and projects
Increased confidence when working around underground infrastructure
Specific session information coming soon!
Utility Members & Locators Education Track
Who Should Attend
This track is designed for professionals who own or are responsible for locating and protecting underground facilities, including:
Utility locators (in-house and contract)
Facility owners and operators
Damage prevention professionals
Anyone responsible for locating, marking, or responding to tickets
Learning Objectives
Participants will strengthen their skills and understanding of high-quality, compliant locating practices. Key objectives include:
Improving consistency and quality in locating work
Strengthening adherence to Colorado standards and expectations
Enhancing safety for locators working in dynamic and high-risk environments
Advancing awareness of emerging tools and technologies
What You’ll Learn
This track focuses on practical applications and industry expectations to help locators perform with accuracy and confidence, including:
Locator safety, with a focus on roadway and high-risk environments
Colorado standards, best practices, and regulatory expectations
Positive Response processes, documentation, and accountability
New and emerging technologies, including digital and advanced locating tools
Best practices for accuracy, documentation, and communication in the field
Why Attend
Attendees will leave with the tools and insights needed to deliver high-quality, reliable locate work, including:
Clear alignment with Safety Commission expectations and industry standards
Improved quality and defensibility of locate documentation and practices
Increased safety awareness in real-world job conditions
Exposure to new tools and innovations shaping the future of locating
Specific session information coming soon!
Pipeline Operators Education Track
Who Should Attend
This track is designed for professionals responsible for pipeline safety, compliance, and risk management, including:
Pipeline operators and integrity teams
Utility owners and operators
Compliance, legal, and regulatory professionals
Anyone responsible for pipeline safety and risk management
Learning Objectives
Participants will gain a stronger understanding of how to enhance pipeline safety and reduce risk across their organizations. Key objectives include:
Strengthening pipeline safety and damage prevention practices
Enhancing collaboration between operators, excavators, and locators
Ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements and expectations
Reducing risk through improved communication, oversight, and education
What You’ll Learn
This track focuses on regulatory awareness, industry challenges, and practical strategies for improving pipeline safety, including:
State and federal regulatory requirements specific to pipeline operations
Common challenges and root causes of pipeline damages
Effective communication and coordination with excavators and locators
Risk management strategies and incident prevention approaches
Industry trends, lessons learned, and emerging focus areas
Why Attend
Attendees will leave with the insights and strategies needed to improve compliance, safety, and operational performance, including:
Greater clarity on regulatory requirements and compliance expectations
A clearer understanding of the role of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and how state agencies support pipeline safety
Improved ability to anticipate and prevent high-risk incidents
Stronger relationships with stakeholders across the damage prevention ecosystem
Practical, actionable strategies to reduce risk and enhance operational performance
Specific session information coming soon!
Professional Development Education Track
Who Should Attend
This track is designed for leaders and professionals who support excavation operations from the office and the field, including:
Supervisors, managers, and team leads
Operations and safety leaders
Office staff supporting field operations
Executives and emerging leaders in the damage prevention industry
Learning Objectives
Participants will gain the tools and insights needed to lead more effectively and strengthen organizational performance. Key objectives include:
Strengthening leadership and building a strong, safety-focused culture
Improving communication between field and office teams
Equipping leaders with tools to reduce damages through better processes, data, and people management
Addressing workforce challenges, including retention, engagement, and development
What You’ll Learn
This track focuses on practical strategies and real-world applications to improve leadership and operational outcomes, including:
Leadership strategies for building and sustaining a strong safety culture
Identifying and addressing communication breakdowns across teams
Using data and insights to improve performance and reduce damages
Workforce development strategies, including retention and skills building
Real-world challenges faced by organizations across the industry
Why Attend
Attendees will leave with actionable insights and strategies to strengthen their teams and organization, including:
Practical leadership tools that can be implemented immediately
Improved team performance and alignment across departments
Enhanced decision-making using data and operational insights
Strategies to address workforce challenges and improve retention
Specific session information coming soon!
Make This a Can’t‑Miss Annual Event!
Don’t forget to mark your calendars and plan ahead—The Colorado 811 Damage Prevention Summit & Expo is an annual event that brings together professionals from across the damage prevention industry. Join your peers every fall to celebrate the end of a successful dig season and discuss improvements for the upcoming year.
Beginning in 2027, there will be a $50 registration fee.
✔ Fall 2027 - More information coming soon!
✔ Fall 2028 - More information coming soon!
