WALTHAM, MA – Serving as a crucial reminder for customers to contact 811 before digging, August 11 marks National 811 Safe Digging Day. To observe the occasion, National Grid is reminding customers and contractors nationwide to call 811 before starting any digging or excavation project (no matter how big or small) to have underground utility lines properly marked. Dig Safe ® is a free service funded solely by its utility members to promote public safety and avoid costly underground utility damage. 

This year, 74% of U.S. homeowners plan to dig on their property. Of those who are planning projects, more than 49.3 million Americans will put themselves and their communities at risk by not contacting 811 before digging. Digging without knowing the approximate location of underground utilities can result in serious injury or death, inconvenient service disruptions, and costly fines and repairs. Hitting underground gas, electric, communications, water, and sewer lines while digging can have a major impact on communities and businesses. Making a free request before digging online at http://www.811beforeyoudig.com/ or by calling 811 will help everyone who digs maintain essential utility service for their communities.

"Safe digging plays a critical role in ensuring the safety of our employees, the public, and local communities that we proudly serve daily. Four in 10 U.S. homeowners who are planning to dig on their property this year will not contact 811 in advance. That's more than 49 million Americans who are putting themselves at serious risk of personal injury and utility service interruptions," said Richard Delaney, Vice President of Pipeline Safety & Gas Compliance at National Grid. "Remember, calling 811 before you dig will help to protect you and your family, as well as your neighbors and the local community." 

Every digging project, no matter how large or small, warrants a call to 811. It's not only the safe and smart thing to do – it's the law! A call to 811 is the best safeguard and the first line of defense to preventing strikes on underground utility lines. The depth of utility lines can vary for several reasons, such as erosion, previous digging projects, and uneven surfaces. Utility lines must be appropriately marked in each previously marked location to avoid risk.

As part of National Safe Digging Month, National Grid encourages everyone to take the following steps when planning a digging project this spring:

• Always contact 811 at least three days (72 hours) before digging, regardless of the depth or familiarity with the property. 
  • In New York, contact to Dig Safe® is required at least two full working days in advance of digging, excluding the date of your request, weekends and legal holidays.
  • In Massachusetts, state law requires you to call Dig Safe® or make an online request at least 72 hours before any excavation starts, excluding weekends and legal holidays. Even small or shallow jobs require this.
• Plan ahead. Make a free 811 request on Monday or Tuesday for work planned for an upcoming weekend, providing ample time for the approximate location of lines to be marked.
• Confirm that all lines have been marked.  
• Consider moving the location of your project if it is near utility line markings. 
• If a contractor has been hired, confirm that the contractor has contacted 811. Don't allow work to begin if the lines aren't marked. 
• Visit www.811beforeyoudig.com for complete information.
• The service is easy to use and free of charge.

State laws mandate that 811 must be contacted at least three days in advance before beginning projects requiring excavation. Failure to call 811 may be punishable by fines, which in some states can be as high as $1,000 for a first offense and $10,000 for subsequent violations. 

National Grid works closely with local fire and police departments; with their strong support, people are calling before they dig. Calling 811 can avoid an incident that requires police and fire response.

 Additional Resources:

• Massachusetts: Call 811 or 1-888-DIG-SAFE (344-7233) | digsafe.com
• Metro New York, Long Island, and the Rockaways: Call 811 or 1-800-272-4480 | newyork-811.com
• Upstate New York: Call 811 or 1-800-962-7962 | UDigNY.org
• When It Comes to 811, There’s No Kidding Around – National Grid Safety video

About National Grid

National Grid (NYSE: NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people through our networks in New York and Massachusetts. National Grid is focused on building a smarter, stronger, cleaner energy future — transforming our networks with more reliable and resilient energy solutions to meet state climate goals and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.