F OR SAFETY SAK E
APRIL IS NATIONAL ‘SAFE DIGGING’ MONTH A utility line is damaged by digging once every 3 minutes nationwide. One-third of these incidents are caused by failure of the professional excavator to locate such lines prior to beginning their digging project. Because April marks the start of spring digging season, and is also National Safe Digging Month, we’d like to take this opportunity to remind you that it is your obligation to promote safe digging practices within your company and to call the Ohio Utilities Protection Services (O.U.P.S.) at 811 before any digging or excavation project. WHY SHOULD YOU CALL BEFORE YOU DIG? Calling 811 before you dig can prevent utility outages, property damage, personal injury and even death. Calling 811 before you dig is important for safety reason, but it’s also the law. By law, everyone must call OUPS at 811 to get utilities marked before they dig.
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ORC Sec. 3781.28. (A) Except as otherwise provided in divisions (C), (DJ, (E), and (F) of this section, at least forty-eight hours but not more than ten working days before commencing excavation, the excavator shall notify a protection service of the location of the excavation site and the date on which excavation is planned to commence. continued on page 18
16 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association
