As more people continue to work from home, and summer weather encourages do-it-yourselfers to work on outdoor improvement projects, it’s more critical than ever to remember to call 811 and to dig safely.
In observance of National 811 Day on August 11, Dominion Energy South Carolina underscored the importance of calling 811 to have natural gas and electric underground utility lines marked before beginning projects that involve digging. This will help to ensure communities remain safe and connected.
“Families depend on essential services such as natural gas and electricity to fuel their lives as they work, learn and play at home now more than ever,” said Felicia Howard, vice president of gas operations for Dominion Energy South Carolina. “Many people could be inconvenienced by losing service if someone strikes a natural gas or underground electric line. Even more important, it creates a safety issue for the person doing the digging and those around them. Reminding people to call 811 works. As we’ve worked to raise awareness of the importance of calling before you dig, we’ve seen a marked decrease in excavation-related damages to our system.”
In the interest of public safety, utilities provide the call to 811 and locate service for free. As outlined in state law, anyone who plans to dig should call 811 three full business days before the start of their project to request the location of buried utilities be marked. Homeowners and contractors can also submit a locate request online or through the SC811 app.
SC811 will gather information about the project and communicate it to local utility companies. Professional locators will then visit the dig site to mark underground electric and natural gas lines with spray paint, flags or both. Once utilities are marked, it is safe to begin digging around the marked areas.
Visit dominionenergy.com/safety/call-before-you-dig for more information about the call-before-you-dig process and other natural gas safety tips.
