About 74% of U.S. homeowners plan to dig on their property at some point this year. Of those set to engage in projects, more than 49.3 million Americans will put both themselves and their communities at risk by failing to call 811 before digging.
With that fact in mind, AEM joins countless other organizations that support the underground utility industry by celebrating National Safe Digging Month in April and supporting safe digging practices by the general public and professionals nationwide.
“Despite April being recognized as National Safe Digging Month, there’s no overstating the importance of engaging in safe practices and utilizing the 811 system throughout the year,” said AEM Vice President of Construction and Utility Sector John Somers. “The message of safety should always remain top of mind, and we’re committed to supporting our members and the customers they serve in fostering a culture of safety within their own organizations.”
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 or by calling 811 will help everyone who digs maintain essential utility service for their communities, while keeping themselves and their neighbors safe by reducing the likelihood of accidentally digging into buried utility lines.
“AEM encourages anyone that plans to dig, regardless of how shallow the project is, contacts 811 beforehand to have their buried utilities marked so they can safely dig away from buried lines,” said Somers.
The most popular planned projects cited among surveyed homeowners who plan to dig this year include:
- Planting a tree or shrub: 74%
- Building a fence: 28%
- Building a deck or patio: 24%
- Installing a mailbox: 20%
- Something else: 8%
In addition to working on projects themselves, more than 79% of homeowners said they would consider hiring a contractor to complete digging projects on their property. Of those, 82% said it was important to them that the contractor contacts 811 before digging to have underground utilities marked with paint or flags.
“At the end of the day, it's so important to not only do the right thing and make the call to 811, but also use quality tools properly when digging,” said Brian Metcalf, president and CEO of AEM member company Ring-o-Matic and Vice Chair of The Utility Expo 2023. “Digging blind not only puts the individual or group digging at risk of severe injury, but also puts the surrounding community at risk of losing an essential public service or worse. We encourage everyone to support safety digging practices, and we look forward to sharing additional information and insights related to safe digging and damage prevention at The Utility Expo this coming fall.”
As part of National Safe Digging Month, AEM encourages everyone to take the following steps when planning a digging project this spring:
- Always contact 811 a few days before digging, regardless of the depth or familiarity with the property.
- 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 811beforeyoudig.com for complete information.
Everyone who contacts 811 a few days before digging is connected to a local 811 center that will take the caller's information and communicate it to local utility companies. Professional locators will then visit the dig site to mark the approximate location of underground utility lines with spray paint, flags or both. Once a site has been accurately marked, it is safe to begin digging around the marked areas.
AEM Supports Safe Digging
AEM is a proud supporter of Common Ground Alliance (CGA), and the association and its 900-plus members work diligently to promote 811 in a variety of different ways, including:
- AEM Safety Manuals provide information on how to use “Call 811”
- AEM member companies promote “Call 811” on their websites and through advertisement sliders and editorials
- Manufacturers place “Call 811” signage on their equipment
- Manufacturers post “811 Know What’s Below” stickers on their equipment
- References and instructions to “Call 811” are printed in their equipment operator’s manuals
- “Call 811” is mentioned in every safety video that involves breaking ground
- “Call 811” is mentioned in safety toolbox talks
- Attend and present as industry stakeholders at CGA conferences
- Use CGA’s website and marketing materials
“AEM and its members are committed to safety, and the association also assists manufacturers and the off-road equipment industry in fostering safety best practices through our extensive array of safety manuals, videos and related training materials,” said AEM Safety Materials Manager Becca Basten. “We encourage our members to build a culture of safety within their organizations and encourage their customers to do so as well. After all, safety is a value AEM lives by, and it’s something we ask everyone to make a priority all year-round.”
For more information, check out the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) website or contact AEM’s John Somers at jsomers@aem.org. For more information on AEM Safety Materials Program, contact AEM’s Becca Basten at rbasten@aem.org.
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