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API: Be safe - know what's below - Call 811 before digging

National Safe Digging Month

WASHINGTON, April 1, 2013 — This April marks the sixth annual National Safe Digging Month, a reminder to all Americans to always call 811 a few days before any digging project.

“Eight-one-one should become as familiar to Americans as 911,” API pipeline director Peter Lidiak said. “April is the traditional start of digging season, and unsafe digging is a leading cause of pipeline damage and injury to the public. We strongly encourage individuals and companies to call 811 before they begin digging. Millions of us live, work or play near or above pipelines and other underground infrastructure. We need to protect it by calling 811.”

API supports National Safe Digging Month and encourages homeowners and professional excavators to take the following steps before any digging project:

  • Always call 811 a few days before digging, regardless of the depth or familiarity with the property
  • Plan ahead.  Call on Monday or Tuesday for work planned for an upcoming weekend, providing ample time for the approximate location of lines to be marked.
  • Confirm with your local one call center that all lines have been marked
  • Learn what the various colors of paint and flags represent at www.call811.com/faqs.
  • Consider moving the location of your project if it is near utility line markings.
  • If a contractor has been hired, confirm that a call to 811 has been made. Don’t allow work to begin if the lines aren’t marked.

Be safe. Call before you dig. Every time you dig.

Visit www.call811.com today to learn more about 811 and safe digging practices.

API is a national trade association that represents all segments of America’s technology-driven oil and natural gas industry. Its more than 550 members – including large integrated companies, exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and supply firms – provide most of the nation’s energy. The industry also supports 9.2 million U.S. jobs and 7.7 percent of the U.S. economy, delivers $85 million a day in revenue to our government, and, since 2000, has invested over $2 trillion in U.S. capital projects to advance all forms of energy, including alternatives.