Safe Digging Month Encourages Ohioans to Call 811

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- April is National Safe Digging Month, focusing on the importance of digging properly to avoid gas lines.

The 811 hotline has trained utility workers who come out to properties to mark lines that are underground.

When calling the free number, call at least 48 hours before digging or starting a project.

Erica Chronaberry, Columbia Gas Communications Specialist says even if homeowners use contractors, double check and make sure they have called 811.

“We urge the homeowner to talk to that contractor and let them know they need to call 811 and they can not start their project until those lines are marked,” she said.

Homeowners can be seriously hurt if they accidentally hit a pipe while digging underground improperly. 

April is the official month because homeowners tend to have more outdoor projects as the weather warms up.

“Before they start planting those gardens or putting up that shed in their backyard or putting up their fence that they’ve been planning on doing, they need to have their underground utility lines marked,” Chronaberry told us.

“A professional locator will come out to their property and they’re gonna locate all underground utility lines and they’re gonna mark those lines with either paint or flags.”

Once lines are marked, home owners are asked to not place projects near those lines, so they do not interfere with future gas maintenance.

For more information or to have your property marked, you can visit columbiagasohio.come/811.