April is National Safe Digging Month, an opportunity to educate about pipeline safety

With the arrival of spring, Americans are looking forward to getting outdoors and enjoying better weather. For many, that will mean gardening and landscaping around the house. But I have an important reminder for all the green thumbs out there: remember to call 811 before doing any digging.

Every year, we see tragic accidents when an underground pipeline or utility line is accidentally damaged.

That's why the U.S. Senate designated April as National Safe Digging Month.

As I wrote in a blog entry last month, America has a vital transportation system that remains virtually invisible to those of us who think only of roadways, airways, transitways, railways, and waterways: the network of 2.3 million miles of pipelines traversing this nation just beneath the surface.

Through the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, DOT works to ensure the safe, reliable, and environmentally sound operation of that pipeline system.

And, while our pipeline network is vital, it is also vulnerable to excavation activities--including regular garden digging--that may not only breach a line but also cause you serious injury or damage the environment.

Excavation damage is the number one cause of serious pipeline incidents. National Safe Digging Month offers a chance to educate Americans about the susceptibility of these pipelines to normal human activity and about the need to CALL 811 BEFORE YOU DIG.

811 is the national hotline number to dial before you dig, so utility crews can let you know where pipelines and utilities run in your vicinity.

PHMSA and our partners have done a good job helping reduce the number of incidents over the past few years, but the damage--100% preventable--from people failing to call 811 before they dig is still too high.

From 2007 to 2009, digging damage caused:

• 27% of all serious hazardous liquids pipeline accidents
• 16% of all serious natural gas transmission pipeline incidents
• 28% of all natural gas distribution pipeline incidents
  
  
  

We can do better. And spreading the word on National Safe Digging Month and 811 will help.

So, please, remember that number and tell your friends, families, and neighbors to call 811 before digging. This month, and every month.

Comments

[Suzanne Pearl]

When thinking about digging hazards I typically only think about professionals like excavators and utility workers. Thanks for reminding all of us, including the average gardener or home improvement warrior, that we all need to be careful and cautious before digging.

[J.D. Maniscalco Colorado811]

In Colorado, as part of our state safe digging month promotions we are running the "Day in the Dark" 30 sec TV spots on the local FOX TV affilates. These spots will air on NASCAR events all month and assist the support efforts of Shell Pipeline and 3M Corporation who are sponsoring 811 cars in NASCAR races.

The honorable Governor Bill Ritter in conjunction with Las Animas County and the City of Glenwood Spring have all proclaimed April Safe Digging Month.

There are thirteen local county Damage Prevention councils that are planning a multitude of activities such as; parades, home shows, media advertising, LCD spot promotions, just to name a few.

[Michael E. Bailey]

811 is a very important number to call before digging. Also call the local gas utility so you can find out if their supply lines are in the area you plan to dig in before you dig. We plan to put a recycled water line system in at the condo complex. But before we start, we are getting a map that shows the location of all underground pipes and conduit lines at the complex and then doing sound tracings to confirm the map. Damage to pipelines from digging could cause a major disaster and every year you hear about someone with a backhoe or ditch digger cut a line and caused an explosion. Best wishes, Michael E. Bailey.

[refurbished network equipment]

I was not aware that April was Safe Digging Month the state of west virginia cold mine safe problem

[Shelby]

I didn't even know there was an 811 to call before digging. It always makes me nervous because you never know if perhaps the marking notices have been removed from the actual dig site. Thanks, I will be sure to use this resource from now on.

[Eko]

Great info, thanks.

[Amos]

it is very important to call 811 before digging.
http://www.myinspectiontags.com

[Hunting Guides]

Thanks for the article, we just had the cable and phone company come out last April and spray paint and flag where our underground lines are.

[Reroofing brisbane]

Great and useful information. If we are responsible citizens then this is our responsibility to call on 811 before digging.