What must you do before digging?

What must you do before digging?

• A. Dig carefully and hope for the best.
• B. Call 811 & order a mark out.
• C. Check the weather forecast.
• D. Notify a supervisor after digging.

Answer: (B)

Always locate underground utilities before you dig. The best action is to call 811 and order a mark out, so utility companies can mark buried lines at the site. This pre-dig marking helps prevent striking gas, electric, water, or telecom lines, which can cause gas leaks, fires, outages, injuries, and costly repairs. 811 is a free, nationwide service that coordinates these markings with the appropriate operators. Checking the weather or notifying a supervisor after digging does not protect you from hitting lines, and digging without marks is an unsafe risk. So making the call to 811 and getting a mark out before you start is the safety-critical step.

Always locate underground utilities before you dig. The best action is to call 811 and order a mark out, so utility companies can mark buried lines at the site. This pre-dig marking helps prevent striking gas, electric, water, or telecom lines, which can cause gas leaks, fires, outages, injuries, and costly repairs. 811 is a free, nationwide service that coordinates these markings with the appropriate operators. Checking the weather or notifying a supervisor after digging does not protect you from hitting lines, and digging without marks is an unsafe risk. So making the call to 811 and getting a mark out before you start is the safety-critical step.