For this year’s National Safe Digging Month, experts in the energy industry are taking the time to highlight safe digging procedures for excavators, utility operators, and anyone involved with Ohio construction. As stated in a recently released reminder from The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), Ohioans should remember that “law requires that anyone planning a digging project call 8-1-1 at least 48 hours and up to 10 days (not including weekends or legal holidays) before digging.”
Make sure you or your contractor calls 8-1-1 at least two days before digging. Calling beforehand and confirming details with the relevant authorities helps to prevent oil or gas lines underground from becoming damaged during a dig and potentially causing injuries, outages, and heavy repair costs. In addition, commercial excavators, utility operators, designers, and developers can incur fines and legal penalties for not following the proper laws and procedures.
For protection and safety, remember to always call before you dig.
To learn more, visit the Ohio Utilities Protection Service’s website at www.oups.org, the Ohio Oil and Gas Producers Underground Protection Service’s website at www.ogpups.org, or call 8-1-1 or (800) 362-2764.