In 2010, there were 53 accidents involving excavation damage to pipelines in the United States. Those accidents led to five deaths and considerable damage.
Unsafe digging is a leading cause of pipeline damage. That’s why the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is reminding Americans that April is National Safe Digging Month.
And, whether you're a professional or a do-it-yourselfer, one of the most important ways to make sure you're digging safely is to call 811...before you dig.
When you dial 811, the nationwide hotline number, utility crews can let you know where pipelines and utilities run in your vicinity. It’s free, and knowing where those lines are protects everyone nearby.
“Failure to call before digging can result in property damage, tragic accidents and even fatalities," said PHSMA Administrator Cynthia Quarterman. "While these types of incidents have decreased over the last ten years, in one out of every three, the people digging had not called 811 first.”
Still think the chances of hitting a line are pretty slim? There are over 2.5 million miles of pipelines in the United States. That’s enough to circle the earth about 100 times. Without calling 811, there’s just no way to know how close you are.
So, please, if you're planning a digging project, let your first step be a call to 811. Before you dig, know what's below.
I never knew about 811 and that you could call an operator to find out if it is safe to dig. I don't plan on digging anything any time soon but I learned something new today.
Posted by: Los Angeles Nissan | March 31, 2011 at 05:27 PM
811 is a great service and hopefully days like this will continue to help raise awareness.
Posted by: june | December 10, 2012 at 03:26 PM