Georgia 811 is using August 11, often rendered as 8-11 or 8/11, as a timely reminder to always contact 811 before starting any digging project.
Whether you’re installing a mailbox or breaking ground on a major construction project, contacting 811 helps prevent accidents, outages and costly repairs by having underground utilities clearly marked.
“On Aug. 11 — and every day — we remind homeowners and contractors to use 811 before they dig,” said Meghan Rafinski, President and CEO at Georgia 811. “This simple step protects you, your property and your entire community. It’s free, it’s fast and it can prevent a life-changing mistake.”
Every few minutes, an underground utility line is damaged because someone digs without calling 811. Hitting a buried line can lead to serious consequences — from disrupting essential services to causing severe injury.
Rafinski says Georgia 811 makes it easy for homeowners and DIYers with eRequest. eRequest form, a simple questionnaire about your digging project, is available at the Georgia 811 website. A Georgia 811 employee will review your information and create a dig ticket that is then sent out to affected utility members. Follow the rest of the safe digging steps to stay safe and avoid unnecessary risks.
Diggers are advised to contact 811 a few days in advance, no matter the size of their project or how well they know the property. Other safety tips include:
■ Plan ahead. Make your request early in the week for weekend projects.
■ Wait for utility lines to be marked and confirm that utilities have responded to your request before starting any digging.
■ Respect the marks and dig with care.
■ Double check that your contractor has contacted 811 if you’ve hired one. Never allow unmarked digging to begin.
An eRequest can be submitted online at https://erequest.ga8ll.co 111/ To learn more about safe digging or to submit a request, visit www.Georgia8ll.com.
https://erequest.ga8ll.co http://www.Georgia8ll.com
