Gold Shovel Standard Certification
Gold Shovel Certification Support (DPI Accreditation & Common Ground Alliance)
Many contractors search for Gold Shovel certification because hiring clients continue to ask for proof of it—especially on utility, energy, and infrastructure projects.
While the original Gold Shovel Standard has evolved into DPI Accreditation, the expectation behind it remains the same: documented, enforceable damage prevention practices that reduce underground utility strikes.
Cascade QMS helps contractors achieve DPI Accreditation (formerly Gold Shovel certification) quickly and correctly—while also aligning documentation with third-party compliance systems such as ISNetworld.
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Gold Shovel Standard Certification Help
Cascade QMS specializes in compliance acceleration – helping contractors meet Gold Shovel/DPI expectations without trial and error. Providing full suppport for DPI Accreditation (Gold Shovel certification ) preparation with the following:
- Damage prevention policy development and refinement
- Gap analysis against DPI criteria
- Coordination between DPI expectations and hiring client requirements.
- Customized safety programs required for certification
- Employee training material, including rosters, test and answer key.
Our approach is designed to reduce review cycles, corrective actions, delays in contractor approval and frustation during audits. We also understand that no two companies are the same, and for that reason you will receive personable service with a dedicated account manager.
Who This Service Is For
Our Gold Shovel/DPI Acccreditation support is ideal for contractors involved in:
- Excavation and trenching
- Utility installation and maintenance
- Directional drilling (HDD)
- Civil and infrastructure construction
- Energy, telecom, and municipal projects
During prequalification processes with many companies such as PG&E, Gold Shovel Certification is inquired about. Whether your client says “Gold Shovel”, “DPI”, or “damage prevention certification”, we help you meet their requirements in an expedited fashion, helping you be contract ready!
What Is DPI Accreditation (Formerly Gold Shovel Standard)?
DPI Accreditation is a damage prevention recognition program established by the Common Ground Alliance.
It evaluates whether a contractor has documented, repeatable processes in place to prevent underground utility damage during excavation activities.
DPI Accreditation focuses on areas such as:
- Damage prevention policies and procedures
- Pre-job planning and utility locate processes
- Employee training and qualification
- Incident reporting and corrective actions
- Performance measurement and continuous improvement
In short: it verifies that damage prevention is not accidental—it’s built into how your company operates.
How Gold Shovel / DPI Requirements Intersect with ISNetworld
For many contractors, DPI Accreditation does not stand alone. Hiring clients like Southern California Edison (SCE) often require contractors to:
- Be approved in ISNetworld
- Upload and maintain written damage prevention programs
- Demonstrate compliance during audits and reviews
- Maintain consistent documentation across platforms
This is where many contractors run into trouble. Common issues include:
- DPI-style documentation that doesn’t align with ISNetworld formatting
- Policies that exist but aren’t audit-ready
- Missing proof that programs are implemented, not just written
- Conflicting language between internal procedures and ISNetworld submissions
Cascade QMS bridges this gap with written safety programs and decades of industry knowledge to be the perfect helping hand.
Why Contractors Choose Cascade QMS
Contractors work with Cascade QMS because we:
- Understand how hiring clients actually enforce compliance
- Know how DPI expectations intersect with ISNetworld
- Build documentation that passes review the first time
- Help contractors move quickly without cutting corners
- Cascade QMS is a one stop shop for safety and compliance consulting offering services to help with nearly every aspect of your business.
- With 50+ combined years of expertise, we bring winning solutions to help businesses thrive in all industries.
Experience and dedication really do matter. Call us today to experience it first hand!
Gold Shovel FAQs
Gold Shovel certification is now referred to as DPI Accreditation, but many hiring clients still use the legacy term when requesting proof of damage prevention compliance.
Often, yes. Many utilities and energy companies such as PG&E require both DPI-style damage prevention documentation and active ISNetworld approval.
PG&E commonly expects contractors to demonstrate strong damage prevention practices and may request documentation commonly referred to as Gold Shovel certification, along with ISNetworld compliance.
Absolutely! Sole proprietors and companies of all sizes can become certified. Cascade QMS is well versed in sole proprietorship safety solutions.
Why “Gold Shovel Certification” Still Matters
Although the program has been formally rebranded, many hiring clients, utilities, and project owners still use the term “Gold Shovel certification.”
In practice:
- Contractors are asked for proof of Gold Shovel
- Compliance teams look for DPI Accreditation documentation
- Third-party systems verify supporting programs
For example, utilities like Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and Xcel Energy commonly expect contractors to demonstrate strong damage prevention practices and may request evidence commonly referred to as Gold Shovel certification—alongside ISNetworld approval.
If your documentation doesn’t clearly support both expectations, approvals can stall.