digging around underground power lines

Nationwide, one out of every three damages to underground utilities is the result of digging without calling 811. We are proud to provide reliable, essential electricity service. Digging Near Underground Lines Customers serviced by underground power lines should be aware of landscaping clearance and other guidelines before working around our equipment. This will result in everyday inconveniences that can affect not only you but also other people in … Underground locator technologies are commercially available to contractors. Planting shrubs or tress too close to these boxes creates a hazard for WH linemen. IF YOU DAMAGE A UTILITY LINE. The tolerance zone is PO Box 729 12467 Mahoning Ave North Jackson, OH 44451 Around here they can be off up to 18" in either direction and still be considered to have been done properly. LADWP Home For more information regarding N.C. 811, please visit www.nc811.org. Once all utilities have marked their buried lines, you should dig carefully around any utility marks and consider relocating projects that are close to buried utilities. Digging Near Underground Lines. Mark the locate area with white paint and then call 811 to dispatch a locate crew. The illustrations below outline the most common circumstances leading to contact with live electricity cables. If you’re digging holes in your backyard, you should always call 811 a few days beforehand to mark all the underground utilities. Click here for information about planting near pad-mounted enclosures. • hand dig, using a round edged spade or shovel. Around power lines Request plans showing where electricity cables are Working near electricity is dangerous, we encourage anyone carrying out work that involves digging to request plans beforehand to avoid underground electricity cables. NOTE: Any digging within 24 inches of location marks must be done by hand. Typical Depths for Underground Utilities. All underground lines/utilities (communication lines, water, fuel, electric lines) shall be located and protected from damage or displacement. NEC 300.5 Underground Wiring. Power lines that are located underground on your yard will be marked, but not any household underground power lines. For digging projects big or small, you need to contact Virginia 811 at least 3 working days before you start digging to avoid hitting an underground utility line. Allow a minimum clearance in any direction of at least 18 feet between overhead power lines and a diving board, deck, platform, slide or observation area. You will find the underground cables in: As an affiliate, I may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. injury and disrupt service to an entire neighborhood. Digging on a spot without knowing beforehand the location of underground utility lines can be risky. Sometimes, you will have to expose those lines by hand to ensure you can find and follow the line. Remember before planting or digging around electric lines or equipment call “Sunshine State” at 811, visit … They are only found in areas where electric service is buried underground. First turn off power to the electrical … If you’re working near power lines, you need to plan ahead. Don't forget that erosion or root structure growth may shift the locations of your utility lines, so remember to call again each time you are planning a digging job. Natural gas safety. 811 Call Before You Dig Report all power line hazards immediately to Duke Energy or local emergency services. One of the main dangers which may arise when digging is that of possible injury from underground power cables. You can avoid harm to yourself, utility outages and repair costs for negligence. Pipeline and right of way permits. Make sure to look up and around for any power lines before starting jobs outside. safely dig around the utility lines. The tolerance zone is the area along each side of each existing utility line that has been marked (see handout). Always dig with care. A: There is a tolerance zone when digging near underground utility lines. Underground Power Equipment. If they’re hit or damaged, it can knock out vital power and communication supplies. Ausgrid Checklist for work near or around underground cables It is the responsibility of the Constructor to ensure that underground pits, ducts and cables are not damaged as a result of construction work. Skip to Search Skip to Login Skip to Footer. In some cases, especially with fibreoptic cables, utilities may require that an inspector is actually on site as excavation begins. The excavator shall exercise due care at all times to protect underground utility lines when exposing these lines by hand digging. Dig carefully. This vacuum excavator has enough power to literally hoover up the ground. Safety & outages. If it were my property I'd either offset the fence line 5' into my property and work cautiously because utility marking can still be missed. If yo... Low voltage cables can be fatal Contact with cables of any voltage, even low voltage, can cause Whether you are planting a tree, building a fence or laying a foundation, contacting a line with a shovel or other digging device can damage power lines–and cause injury or worse. [2] says you must take precautions to avoid danger. Utility facilities could be buried anywhere you plan to dig: under the road, sidewalk, or even in your yard. One free, easy call or online request can keep you safe from injury and expense. for physical covers for overhead lines (shrouding) to physically move our assets (either temporarily or permanently) to share one of our wood poles (e.g. The rules, regulations and procedures involved here were created to prevent the mistakes of the past from happening in the future. Customers serviced by underground power lines should be aware of landscaping clearance and other guidelines before digging near our equipment. Click here for information about planting near pad-mounted enclosures. State laws require that the excavator notify the appropriate State One-Call System before digging. These include water and sewer laterals, power to a detached garage or lamppost, sprinkler / irrigation systems, lines connected to a propane tank or septic system, etc. A pick may be used with care to free large sections of stone. One of the main dangers which may arise when digging is that of possible injury from underground power cables. The illustrations below outline the most common circumstances leading to contact with live electricity cables. • Digging within 5m of any electrical or gas asset (pole, switch, transformer, cables and gas lines) • Digging near important underground power cables. (April 4, 2019) – This April marks National Safe Digging Month and Delmarva Power reminds all customers and contractors to call 811 a few days before digging to learn the approximate location of underground utilities. Unfortunately, privately owned wiring will not be marked, so it’s still possible to strike an electrical cable. Call 811 and request a re-mark. Give yourself one metre on either side of each flag to keep a safe distance away from any underground power line. Minimum safe distances. Underground lines that extend beyond the meter or that are not connected to a meter are typically not installed or owned by a utility company and therefore may not be marked. Digging around lines can cause serious injury or even death, as well as electrical outages. There are rules that state how close you can work around our assets in order to maintain a safe distance, as well as training you may need to have. You may have a green metal box near or in front of your home. PSE&G, New Jersey’s largest utility, reminds customers, contractors and excavators to call 811 to request a mark-out before digging to avoid hitting underground pipelines, conduits, wires and cables. Locate any underground utilities that are present inside the “tolerance zone” by hand digging or utilizing other non-destructive digging measures approved by the Competent Person. Never assume you know what is below. The location of the lines indicate the approximate location of utility lines underground. Pools should never be constructed or placed over underground … When service is interrupted, it is most often due to a tree contacting power lines.