‘Safety is in your hands. Every dig. Every time’
Birds humming, orange construction cones dotting roadways, allergies at their peak―and digging. Yes, digging.
Spring has arrived in parts of Michigan―ushering in a variety of outdoor projects that involve digging, and the risks that come with it.
Unlike the colorful tulips and other flowers blooming throughout Michigan, underground utility lines aren’t visible.
Striking an underground utility line―whether electric, water, gas, sewer, or communications―can cause serious injury and service disruptions for entire neighborhoods, notes Common Ground Alliance (CGA). Approximately 4,000 damage-prevention professionals who work in the underground utility industry comprise CGA.
"From digging new garden beds to restoring a driveway to planting a tree, no digging project is exempt from the risk of hitting an underground utility."
Erica Fink
Enbridge Liquids Pipelines regional
operations manager, Escanaba area
Findings from a national survey conducted in February on behalf of CGA show how high the stakes can be:
- Approximately 74% of U.S. homeowners―representing an estimated 60 million households―plan to tackle an outdoor project involving digging this spring.
- An estimated 10 million plan to dig without first contacting the designated call-before-you-dig service, according to MISS DIG 811, Michigan’s only utility safety notification system.
“As with our year-round measures that help keep Line 5 in the Straits of Mackinac operating safely, safety preparedness is essential,” said Erica Fink, regional area manager for Enbridge Line 5 in Michigan and a Michigan resident.
“Underground utilities often are shallower than people expect, so the wisest thing to do is to learn where they are before digging.
“MISS DIG 811 is a wonderful resource free to Michigan homeowners. Make the call, no matter how small the project.”
MISS DIG 811 then will notify the applicable utility companies. Using color-coded paint or flags, professional locators visit the site to mark the approximate location of underground utilities.
Safe digging steps for homeowners
Before starting any digging project:
- Contact MISS DIG 811 a few days before digging—regardless of the project size or depth.
- Submit the request early in the week for weekend projects, allowing enough time for utilities to mark the underground lines.
- Confirm with contractors hired to do a job that they have requested utility markings before authorizing them to begin work.
Established by CGA in 2008 and observed every April, National Safe Digging Month promotes awareness and best practices designed to prevent injuries, fatalities, utility disruptions, property damage, and costly repairs.
For additional information, visit the MISS DIG 811 or Common Ground Alliance website.
