COVID-19 heightens the need for safe digging practices
As the United States grapples with containing the COVID-19 pandemic and with a growing number of people under stay-at-home orders, utilities are reminding customers who may want to start outdoor projects to call before they dig, lest critical infrastructure be put at risk.
April is National Safe Digging Month, and the last thing customers need in the midst of a viral crisis would be the severing of underground utility lines through unauthorized or uninformed digging.
“Whether it’s a small project, such as planting shrubs, or a commercial building project, customers should call 811 at least two working days before digging,” Ashley Babcock, director of Damage Prevention and Public Awareness for the multi-state utility CenterPoint Energy, said. “By calling 811 to have the underground utility lines in their area marked, homeowners and professionals are abiding by an important law put in place meant to help keep them and their communities safe.”
Utilities note that 811 call centers are still running more or less normally. While in many locations, Call 811 has moved call center operations to remote work as a means of slowing the spread of COVID-19, the services they provide are still available.
While some might not think a call necessary, even the smallest jobs could result in big headaches if not properly planned for.
As the federally designated pre-dig call operation 811 notes, there are millions of miles of buried utilities beneath the ground that are vital to everything from water supplies to electricity, natural gas and communications. Calls are free, and the alternative could be a nasty surprise ranging from injury to diggers, damage to property or even utility service outages for an entire neighborhood, not to mention possible fines and repair costs.
“Call 811 from anywhere in the country a few days prior to digging, and your call will be routed to your local one-call center,” 811 notes on its website. “Tell the operator where you’re planning to dig. Your affected local utility companies will be notified about your intent to dig and will send locators to your dig site to mark the approximate location of buried lines with flags or paint.”
Those calls need to go in a few days before digging. Even after workers mark lines, diggers need to remember to dig around the marks, not on them, as not all utility lines are buried deep down; some can be close to the surface or may have shifted placement due to erosion.
A 2019 survey conducted by the Common Ground Alliance (CGA), an association working to protect underground utility lines and the safety of people who dig near them, showed that more than 40 percent of homeowners who planned to dig for projects as simple as landscaping or deck building would not call 811 beforehand to plan for underground utilities.
The problem persists to this day, though the CGA notes that the U.S. has experienced year-over-year decreases in damages since 2004. A Damage Information Reporting Tool report published in 2019 estimated that 509,000 excavation-related damages were inflicted on underground facilities in 2018, up from 439,000 the year before.
Likewise, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) has warned that on average, six state residents are killed and another 24 seriously injured each year as a result of accidental contact with power lines. Homeowners are just as at risk as roofers, crane operators and other construction workers.
“Spring is a time of year for increased interest in home improvement projects, but safety needs to be at the forefront of any work you may be considering – to help protect yourself and your family, and to avoid further strains on the resources of utilities and first responders,” Pennsylvania PUC Commissioner Andrew Place said. “Also, a sharp increase in teleworking and more homebound activities raises additional concerns about home electric safety.”
Those going stir crazy from social distancing might see an outdoor project as a way to get their minds on something more positive, but the results of improper planning could be anything but. To date, CGA notes that an underground utility line is damaged once every six minutes throughout the United States.
“As many Americans find themselves at home because of COVID-19, some may feel inclined to work outdoors and engage in home projects,” Brandon Presley, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners president, said. “We urge anyone involved in home or business activities outdoors to exercise extreme caution. Not only can costly damage occur after hitting underground gas, electric, communications, water and sewer lines, such accidents can also pose serious health risks. Hospitals, first responders and utility personnel are currently overburdened and cannot afford additional strains on their resources.”
Presley added that, “NARUC urges everyone to practice safe distancing while working outside and to dial 811 before commencing any project that involves digging to avoid physical injuries and property damage. This is another safety measure to help flatten the curve.”
