When it comes to excavation or digging, it’s always important to be aware of the potential hazards underground. There could be buried utilities like electrical, gas, water, or telecommunications lines that could pose a threat to safety, property, and the environment. To reduce the risk of hitting these underground utility lines, it’s essential to contact your local 811 center before digging.
What is 811?
811 is a three-digit number that serves as a national call-before-you-dig phone line to help prevent accidental damage to underground utilities. By calling 811, you’ll be connected to your local 811 center, which will notify the appropriate utility companies in your area. Those companies will then send out a professional locator to mark the approximate location of their buried lines, pipes, and cables for free.
Why should you know about 811?
Knowing about 811 is crucial because it can prevent serious headaches, safety risks, and financial consequences. Digging without calling 811 first can damage underground utilities, leading to costly repairs, fines, lawsuits, and even injuries or fatalities. Failure to call 811 can also disrupt vital services like electricity, gas, water, internet, and phone, affecting your daily activities and those of your neighbors. Moreover, damaging buried utility lines can harm the environment by causing leaks, spills, or contamination.
Who should call 811?
Any person or company planning to dig, excavate, drill, bore, trench, or demolish should call 811 at least two business days before starting any work. This includes homeowners, contractors, landscapers, farmers, and anyone working on private or public property. Even if you’re doing a small DIY project like planting a tree or installing a fence, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
What information do you need to provide when calling 811?
When you contact your local 811 center, you’ll need to provide some essential information about your dig site, such as the address, the type of work, and the approximate start date and time. You’ll also need to describe the size and scope of your project, including the depth and width of your excavation. The more precise and accurate information you provide, the better the locators can mark the lines.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, knowing about 811 before you dig can save you time, money, and headaches. By calling 811, you’ll protect yourself, your property, and the environment from the risks associated with hitting underground utilities. So, remember to call 811 before you dig to ensure a safe and successful project.
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