PA One Call promotes National Safe Digging Month in April

WEST MIFFLIN, Pa., April 1, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today Pennsylvania One Call System, Inc. (West Mifflin, PA) and the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) remind homeowners and excavators to dial 8-1-1 while planning an excavation project to avoid underground utilities and potential injury.  Digging without knowing the approximate location of underground utilities can cause serious injuries, service disruptions and repair costs if a line is damaged.

The PA Governor's Office, the PA State Senate and the PA House of Representatives have proclaimed April as "Safe Digging Month" for the twenty third consecutive year.  For the fifth year in a row, CGA's more than1,400 members and governors across the country have also proclaimed April as National Safe Digging Month as a way to bring extra attention to increase the number of people who dial 8-1-1 before beginning an excavation project.

Everyone in Pennsylvania who dials 8-1-1 three business days before digging is connected to PA One Call, The Call-Before-You-Dig communication center for the Commonwealth.  Friendly and helpful Customer Service Representatives take the caller's information and communicate it to local utility companies. A professional locator then visits the excavation site to mark the approximate location of their underground utility lines with color coded spray paint or flags. Once a site has been accurately marked, it is safe to begin digging around the marked areas. To assist them please mark the area you plan to dig with white paint or flags prior to dialing8-1-1. Hand tools or other prudent techniques should be used within 18" of the marked facility.

"If you plan on planting a tree, installing a deck or patio, or digging for a swimming pool, it is best to 'Know What's Below' by dialing 8-1-1 three business days before you excavate," said President and Executive Director Bill Kiger.  "Call on Monday or Tuesday if you plan on digging over the weekend. More than 50,000 underground utility damages in 2012 could have been prevented with one simple phone call."

Safe Digging is No Accident. Help Pennsylvania One Call System and the Common Ground Alliance prevent damage to underground utilities. Dial 8-1-1 three business days before starting an excavation project. If Outside the state; call toll free 1-800-242-1776.

Homeowners, Excavators, and Designers can learn more at www.pa811.org.

For more information, contact Mr. Lucarelli.

About Pennsylvania One Call System, Inc:  PA One Call is the "Call Before You Dig" nonprofit that has served the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for 41 Years.  PA One Call began service to 6 underground facility members in 1972, and today serves almost 3,500 underground facility owner members and more than 100,000 contractors with 705,000 requests for notification and more than 5 million notifications to our member underground facility per year.  For more information, visit PA One Call on the web at www.paonecall.org.

About Common Ground Alliance (CGA):  CGA is a member-driven association of nearly 1,400 individuals, organizations and sponsors in every facet of the underground utility industry. Established in 2000, CGA is committed to saving lives and preventing damage to underground infrastructure by promoting effective damage prevention practices. CGA has established itself as the leading organization in an effort to reduce damages to underground facilities in North America through shared responsibility among all stakeholders. For more information, visit CGA on the web at www.commongroundalliance.com.

SOURCE Pennsylvania One Call System, Inc.