Latest news with #NationalSafeDiggingMonth
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Yahoo
Prevent accidents and fines: Call 811 for safe digging
(KSNF & KODE) — Three simple numbers are what officials with Spire want residents to keep in mind right now. 811 is the number to call if you're planning to dig on or around your property. Joplin man pleads guilty to child sex crime, requests lighter sentence Joplin's old Freeman Hospital set for demolition; How much will it cost? Jasper County officials discuss Joplin road district finances Racist flyers hit Miami neighborhoods KSN's Jessica Schaer welcomes baby Colter on Good Friday This month is National Safe Digging Month, and one call can help prevent accidents involving utility infrastructure. Accidents that can result in a hit to your wallet—be it fines or property damages. It's also about keeping homeowners safe. You put a shovel in the ground, maybe you put it in the electric line, maybe you put it in the gas line. Gas leaks then and then it has-maybe it ignites somewhere, and that's a big risk. And that's what we never want to happen…listen, any time you put a shovel in the ground you need to call 811 and get locates for your property,' said Mike Fornelli, Spire Regional Mgr. – SW territory. Mike Fornelli says this is something folks need to remember throughout the are advised to call 811 a few days before they plan to start a project. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Atmos Energy encourages safety awareness during National Safe Digging Month
Since 2008, April has been designated National Safe Digging Month, and in an effort to reduce excavation damage, Atmos Energy joins the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) to encourage homeowners, contractors, and any professional excavator to keep communities safe by calling 811 before any digging project. Did you know more than 50 percent of outside natural gas leaks are caused by digging or construction that disturbs natural gas pipelines? Pipelines carry natural gas around the clock to more than 189 million Americans and 5.8 million businesses, yet we seldom notice these energy superhighways because they are underground. Even minor damage, such as a nick, scrape, or dent in a pipeline or its coating, can weaken the pipeline and lead to a future leak. The 'Call 811' national service is free, safe, and required by law. Plan ahead Contact 811 a few days before digging. Confirm that all lines have been marked. Consider moving the location of your project if it is near utility line markings. If a contractor has been hired, confirm that the contractor has contacted 811. Don't allow work to begin if the lines are not marked. Please visit for complete information. Take the Atmos Energy Call 811 Pledge Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Utility company urges residents to 'call before you dig'
Columbia Gas of Maryland is reminding residents to contact 811 before any digging projects. According to a community announcement, April is National Safe Digging Month, which highlights the importance of safety when starting outdoor projects. Homeowners and contractors are urged to call 811 or go to at least three business days prior to digging to have underground utilities marked. A recent national survey indicated that more than 27 million homeowners planning do-it-yourself digging projects will not contact 811. This negligence can lead to damaging underground utilities, risking safety and causing service disruptions for neighbors and essential services. Striking a utility line can result in costly repairs, inconvenient outages, fines and even injuries. When homeowners and contractors contact 811, they are connected to the Miss Utility system. This system notifies utility companies to mark the approximate locations of underground utility lines with colored flags or spray paint. Each color indicates the type of utility present and where digging should be avoided. The flags can be removed once the project is completed. Columbia Gas has outlined key steps for homeowners to follow before starting any digging project. First, they should contact 811 by calling or going to at least three business days before the project begins, regardless of the size or depth of the work. Planning ahead is crucial; submitting a free 811 request early in the week is recommended for weekend projects to allow sufficient time for marking. Homeowners should confirm that all utility lines are marked before starting work. If necessary, homeowners should adjust their project plans to avoid marked utility lines. It is also essential to verify that any hired contractors have contacted 811 and requested utility markings before commencing work. Columbia Gas emphasizes that spreading awareness and encouraging responsible digging practices can help keep communities safe and prevent unnecessary disruptions. For more information about 811 and safe digging practices, go to or This story was created by Janis Reeser, jreeser@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at or share your thoughts at with our News Automation and AI team. Master Gardeners plan plant sale for April 19 This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Columbia Gas reminds customers to contact 811 before digging
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UGI urges everyone to call 811 before digging
Apr. 3—WILKES-BARRE — Chris Brown, UGI Utilities Vice President of Operations, on Thursday said UGI wants every dig on every project to be a safe one. "Whether it is a small project or a major one, the same rule applies — call 811," Brown said. "It is an extra step to take before your shovel hits the ground, but it is an important one that could be a life saver." Brown said one phone call can be a life saver the next time you dig and calling 811 can prevent costly damage, serious injury, even death. April is "National Safe Digging Month" because it is a time when many people start outdoor projects. Brown said at least three business days before a shovel hits the ground, call 811 or go to to submit a request for your underground utilities to be located and marked. UGI says having the facility owners mark your utility lines with paint or flags can help you or a contractor avoid unintentionally hitting underground lines. Common underground utility lines include gas, water, sewer, electric, phone, and cable television. According to a survey by Common Ground Alliance, a non-profit organization committed to safety and damage prevention, 27 million U.S. homeowners plan to dig this year without contacting 811. UGI says not doing this one step is putting the digger and the community at risk of danger and loss of utility services. Brown said making the call is the law — both homeowners and contractors are required by Pennsylvania law to call 811 at least three business days before any digging or excavation. According to UGI: —No matter how small or simple a project is, if a homeowner is doing the work, they should make the call. —If a contractor is doing the work, they call 811. —The request is free for homeowners and a small annual fee for contractors. —Be prepared when calling 811 and have the location of the work ready, along with the type of work, details on how the work will be done, and the expected duration of the project. UGI also said this is a good time to remind homeowners and contractors to be mindful of the dangers above when working around electric and other above-ground facilities. Contact of any kind to power lines can be deadly. Visit — — or for more information about safe digging practices and excavation safety. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Atmos Energy encourages everyone to practice National Safe Digging Month
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — As April is National Safe Digging Month, the local Atmos Energy is encouraging everyone to practice safety awareness before they dig. According to Atmos Energy, more than 50% of outside natural gas leaks are caused by digging or construction distorting natural gas pipelines. Even minor nicks, scrapes or dents in pipelines or their coating can lead to a future leak. Pam Hughes Pak, Atmos Energy's Manager of Public Affairs, said that with the arrival of spring, people want to work on home landscaping, but they need to be careful. 'If your backyard beautification project requires heavy equipment or power tools, before grabbing the shovel, make sure all underground utility lines have been located and marked,' Hughes Pak said. 'Digging without knowing the approximate location of underground utilities can result in disruptions to critical services, serious injuries, and costly repairs to underground utility lines.' Atmos Energy and the Common Ground Alliance encourage anyone who is starting a digging project to call 811 ahead of breaking ground. The 'Call 811' national service is free, safe, and required by law. Everyone who calls will be connected to a local notification center, which will communicate with local utility companies. Professional locators will visit the site to mark the approximate locations of any underground utility lines. For more information, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
