National Safe Digging Month, commonly referred to as NSDM, is celebrated each year during the month of April. During the month, the industry focuses activities and campaigns on promoting safe digging to professional excavators, homeowners, and DIYers nationwide.
So are many others. According to a homeowner study in 2019, 74% of Texans do not know that EVERY DIG COUNTS and IT’S THE LAW to contact 811 to notify utility owners before digging. The paint and flags on the ground indicate someone is planning to dig or needs to know the location of the underground utility lines in the area for planning purposes.
When most people hear the word “dig” or the phrase “call before you dig”, they think about major construction with heavy equipment, however when anyone, professional or DIYer, is doing a project that involves digging, a request for underground utility line markings must be made.
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According to the FarmSafe811 website, farming accidents involving pipelines and utilities occur nearly 3 times every day.
According to the RanchSafe811 website, ranching accidents involving pipelines and utilities occur nearly 3 times every day.
Fast, Easy & Free. It’s the Law.
Dial 811 or make a request online two-business days before any digging project.
Wait the two-business days for the utility companies to mark the work area.
Confirm that all affected utility companies have responded. Responses can be verified by comparing markings with utilities listed on the 811 ticket. Learn what each colored marking means. Positive Response for excavators.
Respect and replace the markings provided by the utility companies. These markings are your guide for the duration of the project.
It is the responsibility of the person digging to avoid damaging marked lines.
