Louisiana declares April Safe Digging Month to protect infrastructure

BATON ROUGE, La. (WNTZ) — Gov. Jeff Landry has officially proclaimed April as “Safe Digging Month” in Louisiana, joining a national campaign to raise awareness about the importance of safe excavation practices and the protection of the state’s extensive underground infrastructure.

The initiative urges residents, contractors, and municipalities to call 811 or visit louisiana811.com before starting any digging or demolition project. Louisiana 811 provides free notifications to member utility and pipeline operators, who then mark the location of underground lines to prevent accidental damage.

“This simple step can help avoid costly service interruptions, injuries, or worse,” said officials with Louisiana 811. “Whether you’re planting a garden or breaking ground on a new project, calling 811 is the law — and it’s free.”

State law mandates that anyone planning to excavate or demolish — including homeowners and professionals — must notify Louisiana 811 at least two full working days before beginning any work. Failing to do so can result in fines and liability for damage to underground infrastructure.

As part of Safe Digging Month, Louisiana 811 is working with media outlets statewide to air public service announcements encouraging Louisianans to “Call or Click 811 Before You Dig.”

The process is straightforward:

• Call or click 811 at least two full workdays before digging.
• Wait for underground utilities to be marked.
• Respect the marks.
• Dig carefully around marked areas.

For more information, visit www.louisiana811.com.