Splash into Summer Outdoor Projects Safely
Sunshine 811 Offers Eight Tips to Help You Dig Safe for the Summer
“Summer is a very active time for Florida residents to get through their outdoor project to-do list. They’re investing in projects to upgrade and personalize their homes so it’s important to remember safety is first, and that’s where Sunshine 811 comes in.”
As summer kicks off, Floridians are diving into their home projects. Whether you are installing a new fence, building a deck, refreshing landscaping or putting in a new pool, Sunshine 811’s got you covered with safe digging tips.
Before you start digging to plant new trees or build a fence, the law requires you to contact 811. When you contact 811 (via phone or online at DigSafeFlorida.com – clicking on “Create a Ticket”), the organization sends your information to its member utilities who then mark or clear the lines so you can dig safely.
According to Schaefer, many homeowners don’t realize that contacting 811 before they dig is a law in Florida. In fact, a nationwide survey by the Common Ground Alliance shows that 46% of homeowners plan to dig without notifying 811 in the next year putting themselves and their communities at risk. Sunshine 811 wants to help educate homeowners about the process and other important things to know.
The organization offers eight tips and reminders to help homeowners dig safe for the summer:
1. Doing a DIY project? Contact 811 at least two business days before your project starts so underground lines can be marked. If you’re hiring a contractor, make sure that they contact 811.
2. Follow the essential six steps to safe digging: (1) Plan your project. (2) Contact 811. (3) Wait for utility lines to be marked. (4) Verify positive responses from utilities. (5) Respect the marks – don’t remove them. (6) Dig with care.
3. Know the difference between public and private lines. Private lines on your property are not marked by utility companies and are your responsibility. Learn what and where they are, such as water, sewer, irrigation, electrical lines to sheds, lighting and pool pumps, and gas lines to grills.
4. Ensure you have the right tools for the right project. In addition to the timeless shovel, your project may require some other must-haves such as a spade, digging bar, graft, pickaxe and post hole digger. Use caution as some of these hand tools cause the most damage to underground lines.
5. Installing a pool? After a soil test, underground internet, electricity and gas lines need to be marked.
6. If you are removing bamboo and plan to dig up roots or use a stump grinder, make sure you contact 811 first. Those roots may have grown into the utility lines.
7. Use extra caution when installing a new fence or mailbox and landscaping, as they are the biggest contributors to underground utility damage. Roots can also be entangled with lines, and lines can also be very shallow.
8. Contact your utility immediately if you contact or damage a utility line.
For more information, visit Sunshine 811’s online Learning Center.
About Sunshine 811
Celebrating more than 30 years of work to make Florida the safest place to dig, Sunshine 811 is the state’s go-to resource for education and training on safe digging processes. It’s also the organization the law requires you to call before starting any digging project. Sunshine 811 maintains a toll-free number and a 24/7 online system to notify its member utility companies of pending excavation projects so buried utility lines can be located and marked to protect the underground infrastructure.
It’s estimated that a utility line is damaged 85 times every day in Florida. Sunshine 811’s efforts are all about ensuring public safety and preventing underground utility damage. With Florida’s continued ranking as one of the top states in the country for construction activity and related jobs, safe digging in Florida and Sunshine 811’s role has never been more important.