Why call 811 before you dig? Experts say you could save lives

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — August 11th is 811 day, prompting reminders on why it is important to call the 811 hotline before starting to dig.

In the United States, anyone who is conducting excavation work is required by law to contact 811 before digging, in order to avoid hitting a utility line or causing any outages or injuries.

“If a project, big or small, involves breaking ground and moving dirt, contacting 811 to have utility lines located is required by state law for the safety of the public and our employees,” said Judd Cook, the Vice President and General Manager of Enbridge Gas Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho.

Enbridge Gas further notes that, while yellow markers indicate the presence of gas pipelines in area, they do not specify exact locations. Additionally, smaller gas lines may not be marked at all, and erosion and utility work can change the location of buried lines. The organization says it is important to contact 811 before digging in any case.

Contractors and other individuals can call 811, visit bluestakes.org, or use the UTAH811 app on their phone. Through these resources, they can ask utilities to mark any lines in the area they plan to dig and ensure they do not cause power or gas outages or life-threatening injuries.

What happens when a gas line is struck?

Enbridge Gas says that when a gas line is struck, emergency services have to respond and isolate the area. Often, this leads to evacuations and traffic disruptions.

“Locally in 2025, up to 30 percent of damages occurred because no one contacted 811. Underground utilities and fiber optic companies lead the list of most damages to our facilities,” Cook said, “Last year nationwide, more than half of annual reported damages were caused by professional contractors and often due to a skipped call to 811.”

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) says that when a gas line is struck, hazardous gases or liquids may be released, leading to a hazardous environment. In 1998, an explosion following a gas leak killed four individuals, injured 11 people, and destroyed six buildings.

Earlier this month, in Clearfield, a six-inch natural gas line was struck. As a result, evacuations were enforced within a four-block radius of the leak.

According to Enbridge Gas, failure to call 811 before digging may put you at fault for any injuries, damage, or costs caused by puncturing or striking a gas line.

If you strike a gas line, while digging, OSHA says you should immediately contact 911 and inform emergency services. Additionally, you should immediately cease all excavation or construction work in the area.