Aug. 11 is almost here, and Columbia Gas of Maryland hopes that the 8/11 date on the calendar will serve as a natural reminder for homeowners and contractors to call 811 or visit MissUtility.net at least two full business days before any digging project to have underground utility lines marked.
Contacting 811 is free, and it’s the law. Striking a single line can cause costly repairs, inconvenient outages, steep fines and even injuries.
When contacting 811, homeowners and contractors are connected to Miss Utility, which notifies the appropriate utility companies to mark the approximate location of underground utilities lines with either flags or a special spray paint.
Every digging project, no matter how big or small, requires contacting 811 at least two full business days in advance to allow underground utilities time to mark their utility lines before digging begins. Examples of projects to contact 811 include everything from installing a fence, deck or mailbox to planting a tree, bushes or new garden.
Utility lines need to be properly marked because even when digging only a few inches or digging in a previously marked location, the risk of striking an underground utility line still exists. The depth of utility lines can also vary for several reasons, such as erosion, previous digging projects and uneven surfaces.
Along with recognizing National Safe Digging Day, Columbia Gas of Maryland is celebrating 8/11 Day with their very own Digger Dog’s birthday. Digger Dog is a smart, fun safety mascot, who can be found educating everyone on contacting 811, safe digging, and other natural gas safety messages. When you see Digger, you know safety is the topic – no bones about it.
"Digger Dog is a fantastic safety ambassador," said Columbia Gas Vice President Gas Operations Brian McCaul. “On August 11 and throughout the year, we want to spread the word that contacting 811 before digging allows us to mark our gas lines and prevent a potentially dangerous situation. Digger Dog allows us the opportunity to spread safety messaging in an educational and fun way.”
Visit MissUtility.net or ColumbiaGasMD.com/811 for more information
about 811 and safe digging practices.
