Reminder: Call 811 before Digging
Jayna Scott/Operations Technician/Piedmont Natural Gas
“I didn’t know the rules.”
“We need to get the job done fast!”
“We’ve dug here before; do I really need to call 811?”
During my career as a natural gas worker, I’ve heard every explanation for not calling 811 before digging. Sometimes it’s a construction crew rushing through an excavation project, or a homeowner planting a tree in their backyard, unaware of the interstate of utility lines below their feet. Either way, it’s an avoidable mistake.
Every time a natural gas pipeline is damaged, it’s an emergency. Our Piedmont Natural Gas crews will arrive on scene, assess the damage, and get right to work to help keep our communities safe. This typically requires digging through grass, concrete, or asphalt while pressurized natural gas pours from the cut line. Precise technique is required to fix the damage and safely restore service for our customers.
It’s my job to meet with contractors about their excavation projects and one thing I’ve learned is people aren't as cautious as they should be about digging. It is important that our customers know to call 811 at least three business days before digging begins to have underground lines properly identified and marked. Calling 811 is a free service that helps prevent injuries, outages and costly repairs before a landscaping or yard project begins.
Helping our customers and keeping our neighborhoods safe is my passion. For over five years, it’s been an honor to work for Piedmont Natural Gas and serve my community. Safety is our top priority and the only way to dig safely this spring is to plan ahead and call 811 before putting a shovel in the ground.
