In Observance of National Safe Digging Month, CGA Urges Professional Excavators to Contact 811 Before Every Dig

In observance of April as National Safe Digging Month, Common Ground Alliance reminds professional excavators, landscapers, contractors and anyone else who breaks ground to contact 811 before they dig.

According to CGA’s annual Damage Information Reporting Tool Report, more than half of annual reported damages (55.3%) were caused by professional contractors. The most common root cause of these damages was “no notification made to the 811 center,” meaning the damages could have been avoided if excavators contacted 811 to have utility lines marked prior to breaking ground.

This trend has been consistent year-over-year and reflects deeper challenges in the efficiency of the 811 system. CGA’s Next Practices Initiative has highlighted the need for the 811 system to be more reliable for all stakeholders, as well as the importance of excavators continuing to use 811 consistently and effectively. To help drive this change, CGA recently announced a new tagline for 811: “SAFETY IS IN YOUR HANDS. EVERY DIG. EVERY TIME,” which serves to emphasize the importance of consistent use of 811 before every digging project.