WEST
MIFFLIN, Pa., April 2,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- April is a busy time of the
year, notifying 811 for every digging project, every time helps
ensure worker safety and prevents costly utility damage.
Pennsylvania One Call System, Inc. dba Pennsylvania 811 is proud to join a nationwide
effort to raise awareness and promote safety. Safe Digging Month
emphasizes the importance of contacting 811 at least three business
days, no more than 10 business days, in Pennsylvania before any excavation work. It is
never worth risking safety and financial consequences by not
following proper procedures.
"The state law, which has been the law since 1974, requires
anyone excavating with powered equipment to notify 811," said
Bill Kiger, Pennsylvania 811, President/Chief Executive
Officer, "what is under the ground is very difficult to understand.
And you don't know where an underground line is when you're looking
at grass, concrete or asphalt. Underground lines are often 'out of
sight, out of mind,' which can pose a risk to contractors and
homeowners. It's very important that you call 811."
The one call system is a solution that streamlines the
communications between project owners, designers, excavators, and
facility owners. Pennsylvania 811
serves as the central hub for transmitting relevant information
provided by those digging to the member underground facility owners
within the municipality where the excavation is taking place. By
doing so, it ensures that the affected facility owners are notified
before the excavation begins.
"A facility owner provides the approximate position of their
underground lines at the excavation site within eighteen inches
horizontally from the outside edge of a line or facility. Within
the tolerance zone an excavator employs prudent techniques which
may involve hand-dug test holes until the utility line is exposed,
or use of vacuum excavation. If an excavator damages a line with a
spoon, they're not using prudent techniques," Kiger said.
Help Pennsylvania 811 keep
everyone safe during all excavation projects. No matter how large
or small your project is, always contact 811 at least three
business days before you dig! Safety is in your hands. Every dig.
Every time. www.pa1call.org/notify
About Pennsylvania
811
Pennsylvania 811's mission is
to prevent damage to underground facilities. To promote safety,
Pennsylvania 811 provides an
efficient and effective communications network among project
owners, designers, excavators, and facility owners. Since its
inception in 1972, membership has increased from 6 utilities to
over 3,700 underground facility owners and operators in 67
counties. Membership has been mandatory for facility owners that
serve customers or consumers since 1987. The service is available
24 hours a day, every day of the year. Pennsylvania 811 serves all 67 counties and
employs over 80 people.
As the "Keystone of Damage Prevention", excavation notifications
to Pennsylvania 811 continue to
increase year over year. In 2023, Pennsylvania 811 received over a million
excavation notifications, and transmitted approximately 6.7 million
notifications to its member facility owners and operators
throughout Pennsylvania.
Our development goals are for increased participation by all
underground facility owner/operators, project owners, designers and
excavators, and elimination of all legislative exemptions.
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SOURCE Pennsylvania One Call System, Inc.