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Safe Digging is Everyone's Responsibility

Updated: Jan 10



Safe Digging is Everyone's Responsibility

Safe Digging

Begins with a Call to Pennsylvania One Call System, Inc. 1-800-242-1776 What You Should Know Before Getting In Too Deep. Safe Digging is Everyone’s Responsibility. Safe digging starts when you call Pennsylvania One Call System (POCS). But that’s not where it ends. In fact, it’s only the first step in an ongoing process that requires everyone’s cooperation, responsiveness and good judgment. The importance of safe digging cannot be emphasized enough. Every day through America, careless digging causes far-reaching consequences, from serious personal injury and environmental damage to costly delays. But by working together as a team, we can keep these unfortunate incidents to a minimum. It is a responsibility that each of us must take personally. This brochure has been specifically designed to help you understand what is necessary to assure safe digging from start to finish. Please read the information carefully. And, if you have any questions, at any time, please call POCS at 1-800-242-1776. Here’s How It Works ……. If you are excavating: · Please mark the specific excavation site with white. · Always call POCS prior to digging, within 3 to 10 working days, the time frame required by the law. The call should only take a few minutes. · If you don’t know the telephone number for another state, call the national referral number, 1-888-258-0808, to get the local One-Call Center’s phone number. · Be ready with all important information: the county, municipality, ward number, street address, extent and type of work, excavator/contact person and phone number. Exact site information is required by law. · Then, wait for the site to be marked! Marking could be paint, flags or stakes. · Respect and protect the facility operator’s marks and lines. Note the color of all markings used and what type of facilities they indicate. · Dig with care! Always hand dig when within 18” on either side of any marked line. · If damage, dislocation, or disturbance of an underground utility line occurs, immediately notify the affected facility, utility or pipeline. · If damage creates an emergency, take immediate steps to safeguard health and property. Call 911 or the Emergency Response phone number in your area. If someone is digging on your property: · Be sure that they have contacted POCS and that the facility owners have marked their underground lines before any work begins.


By not calling, here’s what you could be getting into: · Personal injury, including loss of life; · Damage to environment; · Costly property damage; · Damage to these utility lines: communication (i.e., telephone, long distance communications, cable television, 911 emergency, fire and police communications),electric, gas, pipelines, sewer, traffic signal sand water lines; · Costly delays and expensive repairs; · Legal problems; · Civil penalties. When you are planning to dig. Please do your part! · Mark the specific excavation site with white. · Call POCS. · Wait for the site to be marked. · Confirm utility response. · Respect all markings. · Dig with care. When you call, please have the following information available: ✓ County ✓ Municipality ✓ Ward Number ✓ Work Site – Street Address ✓ Nearest Intersection ✓ PENNDOT Permit Number (if applicable) ✓ Latitude / Longitude ✓ Type of Work ✓ Depth, Method and Extent of Excavation ✓ Working in the Street, Sidewalk, Public Property, Private Property or Other ✓ Owner/Work Being Done For ✓ Proposed Dig Date and Dig Time ✓ Contractor – Name and Address ✓ Caller – Name, Phone Number, Extension, Fax Number and Email Address ✓ Contact Person – Name, Phone Number, Extension and Best Time to Call Accidents can still happen.


In case of damage, contact the facility owner or Pennsylvania One Call System and the 911 services for your area.



Dig Safely. Where Safe Digging Starts.

Pennsylvania One Call System, Inc. - 1-800-242-1776


Call three working days before digging in Pennsylvania. POCS does not locate lines.


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