Think Before You Dig: A Groundbreaking Reminder

April is National Safe Digging Month, dedicated to promoting awareness of safe digging practices in all scenarios and locations, from the largest construction sites to your backyard garden project. Texas811 is the largest 811 one-call notification center in the country. They are dedicated to spreading awareness and increasing education to protect infrastructure, foster sustainable growth, and safeguard lives. 

The Permian Basin Regional Planning Commission (PBRPC) is committed to educating everyone on the importance of calling 811 during the planning steps of every digging project, large or small. Call 811 to protect yourself, your community, and the underground infrastructure we depend on for sustainable regional growth.

Call 811 Before You Dig

As the national call-before-you-dig phone number, 811 calls are free, so everyone can have underground infrastructure appropriately marked in their project area. Despite 811 awareness campaigns for many years, people still have a common question: “Do I really need to call 811?”

Yes! Texas law requires homeowners, contractors, construction workers and anyone planning to dig must contact 811 at least two business days (excluding weekends and holidays) before moving any earth. Even if the project only moves a few inches for a garden bed, mailbox, or fence. The best practice is always to call 811. 

Texas811 recommends following this five-step process to ensure your digging project is completed safely and without incident.

1. Dial 811 or start an online ticket in the Texas811 Homeowner Portal at least two business days before starting any digging project. It will notify the relevant utility companies and line locators, who will arrive to mark the location of underground utilities in your work area.
2. Wait two business days for the line locators to respond and mark underground lines in the work area with various color flags and paint. The colors of the lines have distinct meanings and are explained in the Underground Utility Color Code chart. 
3. Confirm that all affected utility companies have responded. You can verify their responses by comparing the ground markings with the utilities listed on your 811 ticket. This information is important for everyone to learn and know what each colored marking means.
4. Respect and preserve the markings provided by the utility companies. These markings guide the project's duration and help prevent accidental damage to underground utilities.
5. Dig carefully, with appropriate techniques and equipment, to minimize the risk of accidents or damage. It is the responsibility of the person digging to avoid damaging any marked lines carefully. 

The term 'excavators' is often misunderstood—many people assume it only refers to large companies that move massive amounts of earth. In reality, an excavator is anyone who disturbs the ground, whether it's a professional crew or a family digging in their own backyard. Regardless of scale, all excavators are responsible for calling 811 before digging and for immediately reporting any damage to underground utilities.

Texas811 is an excellent resource for further understanding an excavator's responsibilities, accessing pre-work checklists and more. Information specifically available for farmers and ranchers is also available at FarmSafe811 and RanchSafe811. Further information can be found in the Texas Excavator Guidebook.

Don’t delay; contact 811 today!