Hitting gas, power or fiber lines is costly and dangerous. Here is how to prevent it.
In this article
Why strikes happen
Utilities are often mismarked, unmarked or deeper or shallower than expected. Operators dig too close to marks. One strike can cause injuries, outages and big costs.
Call 811
Submit locate requests before digging.
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Wait for marks
Don't dig until utilities are marked.
Tolerance zones
Hand dig or use vacuum excavation near marks.
Private lines
811 doesn't locate private utilities. Hire a private locator.
Potholing
Expose utilities before heavy digging nearby.
Document
Photos of marks and tickets protect you.
Training
Train operators and laborers on marks and colors.
Response plan
Know what to do if a line is hit.
An example
A site contractor added private locates to every commercial job and found an unmarked electrical line before excavation.
Know your numbers
Track locate tickets, strikes and near misses.
Common mistakes
Digging before marks, ignoring private lines and no photos.
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Frequently asked questions
What should contractors do before digging?
Call 811 or submit a locate request, wait for marks, respect tolerance zones, locate private lines and verify utilities by careful hand digging or vacuum excavation.