Casper Area Chamber of Commerce recently issued the following announcement.
April is National Safe Digging Month, and with the arrival of warmer weather, homeowners and construction crews will be anxious to get outside and begin new projects. Black Hills Energy offers the following check list of things to do before digging, in order to get the job off to a safe start.
Whether you’re a homeowner planting a shrub or a contractor using a backhoe, always “Call Before You Dig” at least 2 full business days in advance to have utility lines marked. You can call 811 toll-free, or schedule online at: http://www.onecallofwyoming.com. It’s free, it’s safe and it’s the law.
After you call, utility specialists will respond within two days to mark the approximate location of buried utility lines at your site with color-coded paint or flags – at no charge to you. Yellow, for example, marks gas lines and red marks electric lines.
Spray paint a white line, or place white flags, around your planned excavation site before you call. “White-lining” helps the line locator understand your plans and reduces the chance for project delays if the line locator must return to mark additional areas.
Always carefully hand-dig with a shovel near any utility facilities as opposed to using heavy equipment. Use extreme care around all utility lines. Just a nick can create a weak spot that may develop into a gas leak, cause an electrical or internet outage or result in injury.
Project delays? If you don’t dig within 14 business days of having lines marked, contact Wyoming’s 811 again. At no charge, line locators will gladly return to re-mark the lines as quickly as possible. Underground conditions can change, so never rely on outdated information.
Original source can be found here.
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