April is designated as National Safe Digging Month, and as many Western New  Yorkers head outside to begin their spring projects, National Grid and the City of Buffalo have one simple, life-saving message: Call 811 before you dig. 
           

Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan joined National Grid today at one of the company’s substations where construction work is being completed to remind anyone planning on digging to first call 811 to prevent damage to underground utilities or even injuries or property damage.

“In a city like Buffalo, where so much infrastructure runs below the surface, calling 811 before you dig is essential,” said Mayor Sean Ryan. "Whether you're planting a tree or building a deck, taking that step protects your home, your neighbors, and the services we all rely on every day. I’m proud to join National Grid in sharing this important message.”

Before digging for any size project, a call to 811 is critical to know what is below ground before digging. Dig Safe is a free service, and National Grid remains committed to emphasizing the program’s commitment to safety and avoiding service outages or damage to homes, property, and electricity infrastructure.

"Safe digging plays a critical role in ensuring the safety of our employees, the public, and the communities we proudly serve,” said National Grid Western New York Regional Director Ken Kujawa. “Each year, damages to buried utilities cost the U.S. approximately $30 billion in repairs and other impacts. Calling 811 before you dig is not only the law; it protects you, your family, and your neighbors." 

Backhoes are the number one tool used when buried utilities are damaged, and shovels are second – meaning even small projects can have big impacts. Every digging project, no matter how large or small, warrants a call to 811. It's not only the safe and smart thing to do – it's the law. Failure to call 811 may be punishable by fines, which can be as high as $1,000 for a first offense and $10,000 for subsequent violations. A call to 811 is the best safeguard and the first line of defense for preventing strikes on underground utility lines.

Utility lines must be appropriately marked in each previously marked location to avoid risk but their depth can vary due to factors like erosion, previous digging projects, and uneven surfaces. National Grid works closely with local fire and police departments to encourage residents to call before they dig. Calling 811 can avoid an incident that requires police and fire response.

Digging without knowing the approximate location of underground utilities can result in serious injury or death, inconvenient service disruptions, and costly fines and repairs. Hitting underground gas, electric, communications, water, and sewer lines while digging can have a major impact on homes and businesses.

Anyone can make a free request before digging by calling 811 or visiting http://www.811beforeyoudig.com/ 

As part of National Safe Digging Month, National Grid encourages everyone to take the following steps when planning a digging project this spring:

• Plan ahead. Always contact 811 before digging, regardless of the depth or familiarity with the property. 
• New York law requires you to contact Dig Safe at least 48 business hours in advance of projects requiring excavation.
• Confirm that all lines have been marked.  
• Consider moving the location of your project if it is near utility line markings. 
• If a contractor has been hired, confirm that the contractor has contacted 811.
  Do not allow work to begin if the lines are not marked. 
• Visit www.811beforeyoudig.com for complete information.
• The service is easy to use and free of charge.
  
  

Additional Resources:

• Upstate New York: Call 811 or 1-800-962-7962 | UDigNY.org
• When It Comes to 811, There’s No Kidding Around – National Grid Safety video

About National Grid

National Grid (NYSE: NGG) delivers electricity and natural gas to more than 20 million people across New York and Massachusetts. We’re committed to meeting our customers’ energy needs and supporting economic growth across the regions we serve—providing safe, reliable energy today and building the resilient networks of the future. National Grid Ventures, our commercial business, develops and operates infrastructure that delivers affordable and reliable energy to consumers. National Grid Partners, our corporate investment and innovation arm, invests in and collaborates with technology companies that are transforming the energy sector and accelerating industry-wide innovation.

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