Letter to the editor: April is National Safe Digging Month
Dear editor,
On April 4, 2017, the Wisconsin legislature recognized the importance of calling or clicking prior to excavation by declaring April 2017 “Safe Digging Month in Wisconsin.” Every six minutes an underground utility line is damaged in the U.S. because someone excavated without first having the underground lines located. The risk of injury or death is real. It is also preventable.
For everyone’s safety, always have underground utilities located by calling 811, the national “Call Before You Dig” telephone number, prior to every excavation.
In Wisconsin, homeowners and contractors can either call 811 or contact the state’s One-Call Center at 800-242-8511 or diggershotline.com. Wisconsin requires utility locates to be requested at least three working days before excavation begins.
As the Vesper area supervisor for Enbridge, I am responsible for the safety of hundreds of miles of pipelines in Wisconsin. I know first-hand the importance of safe digging practices. Whether planting a tree or installing a fence, knowing where underground utilities are located before you start digging will save time, money, and even lives. It is easy, it is free, and it is the law.
Mike Pahnke
Plover
Leave a reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.