Safety Tip: Call 811 Before You Dig
On 8-1-1 day, SCE reminds the public to call 811 before starting any digging project.
Summer home improvement season is upon us, and before you jump into any outdoor projects that require digging, remember to call 811 at least two business days in advance.
There are more than 20 million miles of underground utility lines in the United States. Knowing what’s underneath your feet is important, especially when you’re planning to dig.
One free, simple call to 811 can help protect you from potential injuries, property damage or service disruptions involved with inadvertently coming into contact with underground pipelines. Statistically, calling 811 before you dig gives you a 99% chance of avoiding an incident.
Take the following actions to dig with C.A.R.E.:
- CALL 811 at least two business days before you dig.
- The call center will relay your proposed project information to affected utility operators.
- ALLOW the required time for marking.
- Wait 2-3 days for the affected utility operators to respond to your request. Representatives from the utilities will mark the approximate location of a line(s) with flags or paint.
- RESPECT the marks.
- Make sure to dig around the marked lines, leaving at least 18 inches of space on each side of the marked lines.
- EXCAVATE carefully.
- Erosion and roots can shift the location of utility lines, so it is best to use a hand shovel when digging.
