WorldWide Drilling Resource

Celebrating a Decade of Safety Information Provided by Common Ground Alliance Since 2007, 811 has been the national number to call before digging / drilling to avoid unintentionally hitting un- derground utility lines. Unfortunately, an underground utility line is damaged every six minutes because someone de- cided to dig without calling 811. Whether you are a drilling contractor, homeowner, or service provider, making a quick call to 811 a few days be- fore the start of your project will protect your site, employ- ees, and equipment from the dangers of striking an underground utility line. This free call will also help prevent unintended utility service outages, as well as potential fines and re- pair costs. Once the call is made, local utility companies are notified and locator crews will come out to mark the site with paint or flags within a few days. Some utility lines may only be a few inches belowground and others may be a few feet, so it’s important to dig carefully around the marks and not on them. Remember the 811 process: NOTIFY - Notify your local one-call center by calling 811, 2-3 days before work begins. WAIT - Wait 2-3 days (varies by state) for utility operators to respond to your request. On average, between 7-8 utility operators are notified for each request. CONFIRM - Confirm all utility oper- ators have responded to your request and located accurately. State laws vary on the process for confirmation; please check with your local one- call center for more information. Remember, if you see clear evi- dence of a utility, such as an above- ground marker, manhole cover, or utility box, but no marks, please call 811 so the utility can be notified. RESPECT - Respect the marks. The marks are your guide for the duration of your project. If you are unable to maintain the marks during your proj- ect, or the project will continue past your request’s expiration date (varies by state), please call 811 to ask for the site to be marked again. DIG CAREFuLLY - Proceed with caution. State laws generally prohibit the use of mechanized equipment within 18-24 inches of a marked utility, which is called the “tolerance zone”. If you must dig / drill near the marks, hand dig or use vacuum excavation to expose the facility. After exposing the facility, avoid using mechanized equipment with- in the same tolerance zone. Don’t forget to bring the message to your customers, reminding them any digging / drilling project, from installing a fence or mailbox, to planting a tree, bush, or garden, also requires a call to 811. 43 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® OCTOBER 2017