In recognition of Safe Digging Month, Ameren is urging customers to call 811, the national call-before-you-dig phone number, before beginning any project that breaks the earth – such as installing fences, mailboxes, signs or even driving small stakes into the ground. Marking utility lines is a free service and it is the law.
Follow these important steps to stay in compliance and avoid serious injury, loss of service and expensive repairs:
Call 811 at least three business days before starting a digging project. Requests can be made 24/7 at no cost, and a “dig ticket” will be created. 811 automatically connects callers to either Missouri 811 or Illinois JULIE (Joint Utility Locating Information for Excavators) organization.
A professional locator will come to the area within three business days to mark natural gas, electric, water, sewer, telephone and cable lines. The approximate location of buried utilities will be marked with paint or flags. Each utility type corresponds to a specific color of paint or flag, and all must be marked before digging.
Once the site has been clearly marked, and the dig ticket reflects a valid start date and time, contractors may proceed with caution. Avoid digging within 18-24 inches on either side of each utility mark, if possible. It’s important to use the appropriate tools to dig with care and follow safe digging practices. Even after facilities are marked, always dig by hand within the tolerance zone, or approximate location, of the marked facilities – 18 inches on either side of the marked line in Illinois; 24 inches in Missouri.
The reminder comes as Ameren has experienced an increase in damage to its underground natural gas and electric facilities.
“By state law, driving stakes into the ground is considered excavation”, said Eric Kozak, vice president of Natural Gas Operations and Distribution for Ameren Illinois. “It is imperative to call 811 so underground facilities can be marked before a stake breaks the surface of the earth.”
Across the United States, underground utility contacts occur at an alarming rate.
“Every six minutes, someone makes contact with an underground utility because they didn’t call 811 before that first shovel broke the earth,” said Pam Harrison, senior director of Natural Gas Operations for Ameren Missouri. “A proactive call to 811 will not only help customers avoid loss of natural gas service and costly repairs, but also prevent serious injury. Calling before you dig is the law, and the 811 service is free.”
If an underground gas facility is struck while digging, there are two courses of action depending on whether natural gas is leaking.
● If the strike results in a rotten egg smell, blowing dirt or bubbling water, then natural gas is likely leaking. Immediately clear the area and call 911, then Ameren Illinois at 800-755-5000, or Ameren Missouri at 800-552-7583, and then 811.
● If there is no noticeable release of natural gas, stop digging immediately and call Ameren. Ameren must arrive on the scene to make repairs to the damaged line before the project can continue.
“Do not, under any circumstances, ignore a facility strike and continue working,” said Jake Dukett, public awareness supervisor for Ameren Illinois. “Too often, people overlook a damaged pipeline and continue working or attempt to fix the damage on their own, but this only creates a more dangerous situation.”
Safe Digging Month is an annual reminder that simple, proactive steps can prevent serious injuries, costly outages and avoidable damage to essential energy infrastructure.
For more information about safe digging practices, visit illinois1call.com, missouri-811.org or ameren.com/safety.
