Thursday, March 31, 2011

Gov. Nixon declares April as 'Missouri Safe Digging Month'

Governor Jay Nixon issued a proclamation declaring April as “Missouri Safe Digging Month.”

The proclamation reminds Missouri homeowners to call or click Missouri One Call System three working days before they dig. No matter how small the job, anyone planning to excavate needs to call 1-800-DIG-RITE or 811 or click on www.mo1call.com before starting an outdoor digging project.

“By having underground lines marked, homeowners are making an important decision that can help keep them and their community safe and connected,” said John Lansford, Executive Director of Missouri One Call System.

Homeowners who call 1-800-DIG-RITE or 811 or click www.mo1call.com are connected to a call center, which notifies the appropriate utility companies of the intent to dig. Professional locators are then sent to the requested digging site to mark the approximate locations of underground lines with flags or spray paint. Once lines have been accurately marked, digging can begin around marked lines.

Striking a single line can cause incur injuries repair costs, fines and inconvenient outages. Even small projects – like installing a mailbox – should begin with a call to Missouri One Call System. Before you dig:

◦Call three working days before digging, regardless of the depth or familiarity with the property.
◦Call on Monday or Tuesday for work planned for an upcoming weekend so there is enough time for lines to be marked.
◦Confirm with your local one call center that all lines have been marked.
◦Learn what the various colors of paint and flags represent at www.mo1call.com.
◦Consider moving the location of your project if it is near utility line markings.
◦If another location is not viable, respect the marks and avoid using mechanized digging equipment near them.
◦Confirm with any contractors that Missouri One Call has been alerted. Do not allow a contractor to begin work if the lines are not marked.
Visit www.mo1call.com for more information about Missouri One Call System and the call-before-you-dig process.

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