In an effort to remind residents to dial 8-1-1 before digging, Aug. 11 has been designated National Call Before You Dig awareness day. To celebrate, Vectren Energy Delivery (Vectren) will also be handing out educational materials and 811 bracelets to fans at Saturday’s Evansville Otters game at Bosse Field. A Vectren representative will throw out the first pitch.
Not only does it ensure the safety of all involved, but it is the law to inform local utility companies regarding the intent to dig at least two full days prior by calling the national 811 free service. After telling the 811 operator where the digging will take place and the type of work involved, the approximate location of buried lines, pipes and cables will be marked.
In 2017, Vectren responded to nearly 1,000 damages to underground lines and pipes throughout its territory. Striking a single line can cause injury, repair costs, fines and inconvenient outages. Installing a mailbox, building a deck, planting a tree and laying a patio are all examples of digging projects that need a call to 811 before starting.
“Nationally, every nine minutes, someone strikes a buried utility line while digging,†said Brad Ellsworth, president of Vectren Energy Delivery of Indiana-South. “Calling 811 is easy, free and can ultimately save a life. By providing our customers information on natural gas safety, we can keep one another safe while improving that statistic.â€
The depth of utility lines can vary for a number of reasons, such as erosion, previous digging projects, and uneven surfaces. Utility lines need to be properly marked because even when digging only a few inches, the risk of striking an underground utility line still exists.
