Every excavation operation, whether it’s planting a tree or building a new foundation, should begin with one phone call: 811.
Texas811 is a non-profit organization that connects Texans, utilities, and local governments across the state.
Before digging, any landowner or excavator can start the process of marking subterranean utilities.
“Call 811 two to three days before you start digging,” said Chris Stovall, President and CEO of Texas811. “There is so much underneath, and if you digeven on your own propertyyou may come across gas lines, electric lines, phone lines, water lines, sewer lines, and everything else you can think of.”
According to Texas811 Damage Prevention Manager David Ferguson, around 40% of damages to underground gas or hazardous liquid pipelines in 2019 happened because residents did not acquire location services from 811 prior to digging.
“Over 20% were caused by someone who did not employ soft digging, hand tools, or vacuum excavation to verify the location of the subterranean pipeline,” he stated in a recent issue of Texas811 magazine. “It’s scary to think that any of these damages may have resulted in an accident or death.”
Another 20% of damages, according to Ferguson, were caused by locating errors made by the underground pipeline operator’s in-house or contract locator, as well as erroneous underground facility maps, all of which might have been prevented if 811 had been employed.
Companies and contractors aren’t the only ones who make mistakes. Property owners and homeowners can also cause damage to subsurface lines.
With over a million miles of subterranean utilities and pipes crisscrossing Texas, it’s easy to hit one while digging with a shovel.
“You don’t want to hit what’s underground while putting up a fence, swimming pool, or any other do-it-yourself job,” Stovall said. “You don’t want to cut phone wires or your own cable, but it’s a safety hazard if you touch gas or electric.”
When excavating land, Texas811 is a service designed to prevent harm and ensure public safety.
Utilities with subsurface facilities in the region are notified three business days after 811 is contacted to designate lines at the anticipated dig site. The utilities will then send a locator to indicate the location of any subterranean lines using color-coded paint or flags.
These markers must be honored and respected by excavators. Digging within 18 inches of the mark on either side must be done with extreme caution.
According to 811, there is a less than one-percent possibility of hitting subterranean utility wires if these precautions are followed.
There is no charge to call Texas811, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except on state and federal holidays.
Call 811, go to the website, or use the mobile app to request a line marking.
In Texas, who do you call before you dig?
Before digging, phone 811 or go to the website of your state’s 811 center to request that the approximate position of buried utilities be marked with paint or flags so that you don’t dig into an underground utility line by accident.
In Texas, how long is an 811 ticket valid?
“A person who plans to excavate shall contact a notification center not earlier than the 14th day before the excavation is to begin,” says Section 251.151 of the Texas One-Call statute. The so-called “14-Day Rule” was first taken to suggest that a find notice or “ticket” expired after 14 days.
Is the paint used for utility markings permanent?
According to Gary Statz, traffic engineer for the city of Davenport, there are no obligations to remove utility markings. “The persons who paint the sidewalks must keep them visible for at least 10 days. The paint will fade over time “he stated
What is the accuracy of utility markings?
A mark out can be made solely on the basis of records, which may or may not be correct. Even if location technologies are utilized, it is possible that the results will be erroneous or incomplete. Despite their high precision, locating technologies such as ground penetrating radar and line tracing have limitations, and the devices’ readings are susceptible to the interpretation of the operators.
Can I go as far as I can before dialing 811?
This figure comes from the Common Ground Alliance (CGA), and if it sounds disturbingly high to you, it’s because many people are unaware that they must call 811 before digging.
While the ground may not have thawed where you are, April is National Safe Digging Month, and it’s a good reminder to know what you need to do before breaking ground on this year’s projects.
According to data collated by CGA from various industry associations, there are more than 100 billion feet of subsurface utilities in the United States, so you can’t assume your customer’s property is free of them.
There is no limit to how deep a person can go before calling 811. CGA advises that any time you put a shovel in the ground, whether it’s to plant little shrubs or build a fence, you should contact because many utilities are buried just a few inches below the surface.
Even if an area has been designated previously, erosion and root system growth might change the depth or location of buried wires, so call each time you start a job.
Calling 811 is also not an optional chore, as every state has a different statute that requires people to contact before digging. While the amount of time you have to call 811 before digging differs by state, you can find your state’s standards here.
It is a frequent misperception that dialing 811 costs money; nevertheless, dialing 811 is completely free. Utility companies cover the cost to protect you, your staff, and your customers. When you don’t call, hit a utility line, and are held liable for the damage, the true expenses effect your business.
Some utility companies charge not just for the expense of dispatching a staff to repair or replace the damaged property, but also for the loss of service caused by the outage.
In recent years, some states have enacted penalties and fines to aid in the enforcement of the law. Mississippi passed a law in 2016 requiring first-time offenders to complete a compliance training course.
Second-time offenders within a five-year period must complete a training course or face a fine of up to $500 per offense. Malicious activities with the aim to destroy subsurface lines result in a training course and fines of up to $5,000 per event for third-time crimes in a five-year period.
- Two to three days before digging, call 811 or submit an online request to your local one-call center.
- The affected utility companies will be notified by the one-call center. Wait two to three days for the utility operators to react to your request (this varies by state). For each request, an average of seven to eight operators are notified.
- Verify that all of the operators who are affected have responded to your request. The process for confirmation varies by state.
- Dig around the designated locations with care. The majority of state rules prevent machines from being used within 18 to 24 inches of a utility that has been marked. Hand dig or use vacuum excavation if you need to dig closer.
Keep in mind that depending on the state, the locate ticket is only good for a set amount of time, and if you want to continue, you’ll need to call 811 for a re-mark.
Stop working immediately if one of your employees accidentally hits a pipeline. The processes that follow differ depending on the type of utility line hit.
When dealing with natural gas, propane, or petroleum lines, leave the area and contact 911 as well as the facility operator. Don’t do anything that could start a blaze, and make sure everyone is aware of the situation. Keep the public out by cordoning off the area. Stay away from the gas and do not attempt to repair the pipe on your own.
Warning everyone in the area, including emergency responders, that the ground and objects near the point of contact may be energized in the case of electrical wires.
If you have a radio or phone, call the electricity utility operator or the fire department. Otherwise, stay on the excavator and ask someone to call for utility and emergency help.
Those near the excavator or point of contact should keep both feet together and remain still. They must not come into contact with the excavator or the material. Only leave the excavator and the surrounding area after an official from the electric utility has declared it safe. If a fire, explosion, or other hazard requires quick evacuation, jump (not step) from the apparatus and land with both feet. Make sure you’re at least 25 to 30 feet away. Take no ordinary walking steps.
Notify the facility owner of any damaged communications cables, and do not study or stare at broken, severed, or disconnected fibers. Keep a safe distance away and block the area to keep others out.
Contact the pipeline operator after examining the situation and ensuring that nothing appears to be harmed. Minor nicks or dents can lead to major issues in the future.
If a homeowner has consulted you but intends to do it themselves, remind them that calling 811 isn’t just for professionals; anyone planning to dig must dial this number.
Is it permissible for me to dig a hole in my backyard?
How far can you dig in your garden legally? As previously stated, there is no legal minimum or maximum depth to which you can dig holes in your backyard residential property without calling 811 or consulting the local building authority, thus you must call 811 before excavating any type of hole. However, it is generally safe to dig holes on your property that are no more than 300mm deep (12 inches) for practical purposes (putting legal requirements aside), and it is considerably safer and non-risky to dig holes that are no more than 100mm deep (4 inches). It will be perfectly safe as long as you dig within your residential lot and not elsewhere, such as on street paving. In most circumstances, depending on your state’s legislation, digging holes in your street curb and paving will require a permission.
What is the best way to dig around subterranean utilities?
Your power-digging work can start after you’ve called 811, waited the required time, and checked that all buried utility lines on your project site have been discovered and tagged, right?
No, not yet. Before working near an underground utility line, you must first dig around it to expose it and confirm its exact location and depth. The standards for hand-digging differ per state.
- Use hand tools or vacuum technology only within the tolerance zone, which is the width of the indicated utility plus 24 inches on either side of the outside edge in New York.
- Within 18 inches of either side of the indicated location of subsurface utilities in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, power digging is prohibited, and hand digging or other nonintrusive methods are required.
Dig with care
- Use a shovel with a rounded or blunt edge. Pickaxes, mattocks, pry bars, and pointed spades are examples of sharp instruments that can gouge or puncture lines.
- Begin excavating to the side of the utility line that has been designated. As you approach the utility from the side, use a delicate prying motion to break up the soil.
- Proceed with caution. Make no assumptions about the accuracy of the marks or the utility depth.
- To remove soil, never pry against a utility line. Don’t use both feet to puncture the earth or stomp on the shovel.
Protect yourself
Avoid muscle tension by wearing suitable personal protective equipment (PPE). Instead of twisting your torso to move the dirt, turn your entire body by moving your feet. To avoid tiredness, alternate shoveling between your left and right sides and take rests.
Protect utility lines
Support all exposed utility lines with materials that will not damage the conduit or pipe or its coating. Cast-iron pipelines should be handled with caution. When the earth around or near natural gas mains is disturbed in any way, they are prone to harm. When your excavation may encroach on a cast iron natural gas line by crossing or simply running parallel to it, notify National Grid right away.
- Examine exposed lines for damage and notify National Grid of even small scrapes or dents.
- To avoid damage as the soil settles around the reburied lines, remove any pebbles or concrete from the backfill soil.
Report ALL damage
A minor gouge, scrape, or dent in an electric conduit, a gas pipeline, or the coating of a pipeline could result in a catastrophic burst or leak in the future. Furthermore, if the tracer wire fitted with plastic underground natural gas lines breaks or is damaged during your excavation and is not fixed, future excavators and the general public are at risk since the plastic natural gas line cannot be detected.
Even minor damage to a utility line should be reported to National Grid right away so that technicians can assess it and make the required repairs. If you come across or come across an unlabeled line, don’t assume it’s inactive or abandoned. It should always be reported.
What does “clean excavation site” mean?
001: Clear – There is no dispute. Definition: The lines of the members are not in the excavation area. This does NOT mean that the member doesn’t have any line in the area. A member may have lines nearby, but they are clear for that area based on the delineation and location on the ticket.