Wilkins Group Advances Safety Leadership at Texas 811 Training
At The Wilkins Group, safety, education, and operational excellence remain at the core of everything we do. Earlier this year, several members of our team attended the Texas 811 Safety Excavation Day and Damage Prevention Council (DPC) training seminar held on April 28, 2026. The event provided valuable opportunities for contractors, utility professionals, and infrastructure leaders to strengthen their knowledge of excavation safety, utility protection, and industry best practices.
As a company deeply involved in underground utility construction, The Wilkins Group understands the importance of ongoing training and collaboration within the telecommunications and infrastructure industries. Events like Texas 811 Safety Excavation Day help reinforce the standards and procedures necessary to protect underground facilities, reduce utility damages, and improve job site safety throughout every phase of construction.
Strengthening Excavation Safety and Industry Collaboration
The seminar focused heavily on excavation safety awareness, proper utility locating procedures, damage prevention strategies, and the responsibilities contractors and utility owners share when working near underground infrastructure. Industry professionals discussed ways to improve communication, strengthen compliance practices, and minimize risks associated with excavation and outside plant construction projects.
For The Wilkins Group team members in attendance, the training served as another opportunity to sharpen skills and stay current on evolving regulations and field procedures. Our crews routinely work on broadband deployment, conduit installation, buried service wire projects, and aerial infrastructure systems across multiple markets. Maintaining a strong focus on excavation safety is critical to ensuring projects are completed efficiently, responsibly, and without disruption to existing utilities.
Texas 811 plays a vital role in protecting communities and infrastructure by helping coordinate communication between excavators and utility providers before digging begins. These efforts are essential to reducing utility strikes, improving public safety, and supporting successful infrastructure development projects statewide.
Recognizing Leadership and Continuing Our Commitment to Safety
One of the most exciting developments surrounding this year’s event was the recent appointment of Trenia McKinzie to the Texas 811 Board of Directors. Trenia’s appointment is a tremendous achievement and reflects her decades of experience within the telecommunications and outside plant construction industries.
Throughout her career at The Wilkins Group, Trenia has consistently demonstrated leadership, professionalism, and dedication to operational excellence. Her involvement with Texas 811 will further strengthen collaboration between contractors, utility owners, and industry leaders while helping promote safer excavation practices across Texas.
At The Wilkins Group, our commitment to safety extends far beyond meeting minimum requirements. Every project we complete reflects our dedication to proactive communication, OSHA safety standards, utility coordination, and damage prevention best practices. Our crews regularly conduct documented safety briefings, maintain compliant traffic control procedures, and work closely with municipalities, transportation agencies, and utility providers to ensure projects remain safe and efficient from start to finish.
Looking Ahead Through Safety, Training, and Innovation
As demand for broadband expansion and telecommunications infrastructure continues to grow, ongoing education and professional development remain essential to maintaining excellence in underground utility construction. Participating in training seminars like Texas 811 Safety Excavation Day allows The Wilkins Group to remain at the forefront of safety, compliance, and innovation within the industry.
We are proud of our team members who participated in this important event and congratulate Trenia McKinzie on her appointment to the Texas 811 Board of Directors. The Wilkins Group remains committed to supporting safe excavation practices and delivering high-quality telecommunications infrastructure services for communities across Texas and beyond.
