Listed in Daily Tasks
In highway maintenance and construction, digging is routine, but it should never be done without first contacting Dig Safe or your local "Call Before You Dig" service. Whether you’re replacing a culvert, installing a new signpost, or trenching for drainage improvements, underground utilities are a constant, invisible risk. Striking a buried gas line, water main, fiber optic cable, or electric conduit is not only expensive, it’s dangerous and potentially fatal.
Here’s why making that call isn’t optional, it’s essential.
It’s the Law
In every U.S. state, it is a legal requirement to contact a utility notification center (commonly known as Dig Safe, 811, or One Call) before any excavation. This applies whether you're digging by hand or with heavy equipment. Failing to do so can result in significant fines and penalties, and more importantly, liability if a utility strike occurs.
Underground Utilities Are Everywhere
Even in rural areas, critical utilities often run under town roads and shoulders. Water mains, sewer laterals, power lines, telephone cables, and natural gas pipes may all be present, even in places that look like open ground. In urban or suburban settings, the density of underground infrastructure is even higher.
The only safe assumption is that utilities are present until proven otherwise by a proper locate request.
Protect Your Crew and the Public
A backhoe bucket doesn’t know the difference between dirt and a gas main. Hitting high-voltage power or a pressurized gas line can result in serious injury or death. And even if a crew walks away unharmed, the incident may put nearby homes or the traveling public in danger.
Calling Dig Safe isn’t just about protecting infrastructure, it’s about protecting people.
4. Prevent Service Disruptions
A simple utility strike can take out internet for hundreds of homes, knock out emergency communications, or stop water service to a neighborhood. These interruptions can cause a cascade of problems, from school closures to emergency response delays. And it will likely be your municipality footing the repair bill, and taking the blame.
5. It’s Fast, Free, and Easy
There is no good excuse for not calling. Most states participate in the national 811 system or operate their own Dig Safe-style service. A single phone call or online request sets the wheels in motion. Utility operators are required to respond, usually within 2–3 business days, and mark their buried lines with paint or flags.
Pro tip: Make sure your crews are trained to interpret those markings correctly, and don’t let anyone dig until all marks are accounted for.
It’s Good Risk Management
Even if you think you know what's underground because "we’ve dug here before," conditions change. New lines may have been installed. Old plans may be inaccurate. Asset management software like Roadwurx can help track your own infrastructure, but you still need utility locates for every dig. It’s a fundamental part of responsible risk management.
Keep a Paper Trail
Always document the Dig Safe ticket number and keep it on file. If something does go wrong, being able to show that you followed proper procedure can protect your department from liability.
Highway departments have enough risks to manage without gambling on what's buried underground. A five-minute phone call can prevent a million-dollar mistake—or worse, a tragedy.
Make it policy: no locate, no digging. Period.
For more guidance on highway department best practices and risk management tools, visit https://roadwurx.com.