Call 811: underground utilities

Key points

1. 1No digging starts until 811 has been called and the locate ticket is confirmed. Ask the foreman to see the ticket number and the date the marks are good for.
2. 2Learn the paint colors: red is electric, yellow is gas or oil, orange is communications, blue is water, green is sewer, and white is where we plan to dig.
3. 3Near any mark, switch to hand digging or vacuum excavation to expose the line. Dig carefully and keep the machine back until you can see the utility.
4. 4Once a line is exposed, support it and protect it so it does not sag or get hit while we keep working.
5. 5If marks are faded, missing, or washed out, stop and tell the foreman so we can get them redone. Never guess where a line is.
6. 6If you smell gas, hit a line, or see damage, stop the equipment, get everyone away, and do not try to fix it. Call 911 and the utility right away.
7. 7Even a small nick in a coating or cable must be reported. Damage you cover up can fail later and hurt someone.

Talk it over

• Where on this site are the marked lines, and which ones are closest to where we are digging today?
• Have you ever found a line that was not marked or was in the wrong spot? What did you do?
• If we hit a gas line right now, who calls, where do we go, and how do we shut down the equipment?

Also in the other language: Llama al 811: servicios subterráneos

Official sources

• 29 CFR 1926.651 — Excavations — specific requirementsecfr.gov

More toolbox talks

• Hard hats
• Fire prevention on the job
• Aerial lifts