Explorer Pipeline Offers Safe Digging Tips for Late Summer Projects to Protect Underground Utilities
HOUSTON – August marks National Safe Digging Month, and Explorer Pipeline is reminding homeowners, landowners and farmers across Texas that every digging project – no matter how small – begins with a free call to 811.
In Texas, the scale of digging activity is significant. The state’s 811 call center received more than 4.6 million locate request tickets in 2024, the most recent year of available data. That marks a 7.25% increase from 2023, highlighting the growing volume of projects and the importance of contacting 811 before breaking ground.
Fall in Texas means fence repairs, landscaping upgrades, tree planting and winterizing. Buried utilities and pipelines pose a serious safety risk for any digging or excavation project.
“National 811 Day on August 11 is a reminder that one simple phone call can prevent a dangerous and expensive mistake,” said Mark Hurley, President & CEO of Explorer Pipeline. “No matter how big or small your project is, contacting 811 before you dig is free, easy, and one of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself, your neighbors, and the critical infrastructure our communities depend on.”
Many homeowners assume they only need to call before large excavation projects. However, utilities can be buried just inches below the surface. Every digging project, regardless of depth, requires contacting 811 at least three business days in advance.
Across the United States, damages to buried utilities, including water mains, natural gas lines, pipelines, and telecommunications cables cost approximately $30 billion annually in repairs, lost service, and broader societal impacts. Not contacting 811 before digging is the #1 cause of utility damage to buried utilities every year. While backhoes are the number one piece of equipment involved, shovels rank second. Even small projects like installing a mailbox, planting shrubs, or repairing a fence can have major consequences if a buried line is struck.
Explorer Pipeline’s Safe Digging Tips
Explorer Pipeline encourages anyone planning an outdoor project to follow these important safety steps:
Contact 811 before you dig. Dial 811 or submit a request online at least three business days before starting your project. It’s free and required by Oklahoma law.
Wait for utility lines to be marked. Professional locators will identify the approximate location of underground utilities using color-coded paint or flags.
Respect the marks. Dig carefully around marked utilities and use hand tools within the designated tolerance zone, generally 18 to 24 inches on either side of a pipeline. Leave all utility markings in place until your project is complete.
Never damage or disturb a pipeline. Even a minor scrape to a pipeline’s protective coating can create future safety concerns. If you nick, scrape, or expose a pipeline, stop work immediately and contact Explorer Pipeline so it can be inspected.
Know the signs of a pipeline emergency. If you smell an unusual odor, see a vapor cloud, or hear hissing, whistling, or roaring sounds around a pipeline leave the area immediately and call 911 and if it’s an Explorer Pipeline call the 24-hour emergency number at (888) 876-0036.
How It Works
Calling 811 is free and required by Texas law. When homeowners or contractors dial 8-1-1, the appropriate utility companies are notified of their intent to dig. Professional locators are then dispatched to the site, typically arriving within two business days to mark the approximate location of underground lines using flags, paint, or both.
Visit expl.com/Safety/Call-Before-You-Dig or www.call811.com for more information about 811 and safe digging practices.
#KnowWhatsBelow #Call811 #SafeDiggingMonth
