- Categories:
- Special Interest
- Tags:
- AwarenessEnvironmentSafety
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every April
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- 🚧
National Safe Digging Month is observed throughout April, emphasizing the critical importance of calling 811 before any excavation. This month-long initiative, established by the Common Ground Alliance, aims to prevent damage to vital underground utility lines. Remember to plan ahead, call 811, and dig safely to protect lives and infrastructure.
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Expected National Safe Digging Month Deals
Throughout National Safe Digging Month, the focus shifts from commercial deals to crucial awareness and educational campaigns. Organizations like the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) and 811 partners collaborate with utility companies such as Dominion Energy and PG&E to host webinars, distribute safety guides, and promote the ‘Call Before You Dig’ message. Hardware retailers like The Home Depot and Lowe’s often feature in-store displays and online resources on safe digging practices, while equipment rental companies like United Rentals highlight proper equipment usage and safety protocols. These initiatives aim to prevent the estimated hundreds of thousands of utility strikes that occur annually, protecting both infrastructure and lives. We will update this page with confirmed live awareness drives as April approaches.
Platform Guide for National Safe Digging Month
Tag National Today (linkedin.com/company/nationaltoday) and use #SafeDiggingMonth. Share industry best practices for contractors and utility professionals.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #SafeDiggingMonth. Post homeowner-focused tips, infographics, and local community events.
X/Twitter
Mention @NatlToday and use #SafeDiggingMonth. Share quick safety reminders, statistics on utility damage, and links to 811 resources.
National Safe Digging Month Hero
Common Ground Alliance (CGA)
History of National Safe Digging Month
National Safe Digging Month was established in 2008 as a strategy to encourage all Common Ground Alliance (C.G.A.) stakeholders to promote the safe digging message in a coordinated manner during a critical month when digging activity begins across the country. The C.G.A. was established in 2000 with the goal of saving lives and reducing damage to America’s subsurface infrastructure by promoting effective damage prevention measures.
For a variety of reasons, humans construct holes, trenches, and other underground structures. We have long been known to have a nearly instinctive desire to dig holes in the ground, which begins in childhood. Later on in our lives, we dig the ground for food and water. Wood-lined water wells have been discovered in the early Neolithic Linear Pottery culture, such as in Kückhoven (5090 B.C.) and Eythra (5200 B.C.) in Schletz, Austria. The first archaeological excavation occurred in the sixth century B.C., when Nabonidus, King of Babylon, unearthed a thousand-year-old temple floor.
During the early Roman period, Julius Caesar’s forces took metal objects, and by the medieval period, Europeans were digging up pots that had partially emerged from erosion and weapons that had appeared on farmlands. Although humans are capable of digging with their bare hands, digging using tools is usually more convenient. The shovel is the most fundamental digging tool. In the Neolithic era and earlier, the shoulder blade of a large animal was frequently used as a primitive shovel. Nowadays, shovels are typically made of metal with a wooden handle.
National Safe Digging Month timeline
A wooden shovel is discovered in the Cheshire copper mines of Alderley Edge.
During the Second Industrial Revolution, the shovel gives way to heavier machinery such as excavators.
The Common Ground Alliance is founded to save lives and reduce underground utility damage.
National Safe Digging Month is established as a strategy to urge all C.G.A. members to dig safely.
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Safe Digging Month
Local businesses, particularly those in landscaping, construction, and home improvement, can actively participate in National Safe Digging Month. Offer free workshops or online guides on safe digging techniques and the 811 process. Hardware stores can create prominent displays for safety equipment and 811 information. Landscaping companies can include ‘Call 811’ reminders on all project quotes and invoices, emphasizing their commitment to safety. Utility providers can use the month to amplify their public service announcements and community outreach.
National Safe Digging Month FAQs
When is National Safe Digging Month?
In 2027, National Safe Digging Month is observed all through April, serving as an annual reminder for homeowners and professionals alike to prioritize safety. It’s a critical period for awareness as outdoor projects begin.
How many utility lines are damaged each year?
Annually, an alarming number of utility strikes occur across the U.S., often resulting from a failure to call 811. These incidents can range from minor service interruptions to severe accidents involving gas lines or electrical conduits, underscoring the continuous need for vigilance.
Who observes National Safe Digging Month?
The observance of National Safe Digging Month extends to anyone who might put a shovel in the ground, from DIY enthusiasts to large construction firms. It’s a collective responsibility to protect the vast network of underground infrastructure that powers our communities.
What is 811 and why is it important?
Calling 811 is crucial because it helps prevent accidental damage to underground utilities, which can cause serious injuries, costly repairs, and service outages. It’s a free service designed to keep communities safe and connected.
How to Observe National Safe Digging Month
Share via your socials
Social media is the fastest way to disseminate information. Spread awareness on the importance of safe digging by using the hashtags #NationalSafeDiggingMonth to spread the information and remind others how vital safe digging is.
Contact 811 before digging
Before you dig, dial 811. It may seem like an inconvenient step to complete before digging, but keep in mind that these rules are in place for a purpose. If you don't call before you dig, you could end up in serious trouble.
Visit the Common Ground Alliance website
Before you commence digging, visit the C.G.A. website for information. On the website, you will find 811 campaigns, digging guidelines, and educational videos to help you get the beat out of your digging activities safely.
5 Interesting Facts About Digging
Pipeline accidents
The most common cause of pipeline accidents is unauthorized digging.
Equivalent to a football field
In the United States, there is over a football field's worth of subsurface utilities per person.
Twenty-million miles of underground utilities
According to the Common Ground Alliance, there are about 20 million miles of underground utilities in the United States.
Eight flags for underground utilities
There are eight distinct flag colors representing underground utilities like electricity, water, and so on.
Underground utility damage occurs every nine minutes
An underground utility wire is broken every nine minutes due to inappropriate digging.
Why National Safe Digging Month is Important
It promotes safety
Thousands of buried facilities are damaged every year as a result of digging activities. Nearly all services are disrupted, and some occurrences result in substantial environmental damage, serious injury, and even death. The holiday serves as a reminder to homeowners and contractors that they must call before beginning any excavation work to ensure their safety.
It protects underground utilities and crucial services
Safe digging is necessary all year to ensure the safety of persons who work or live near subsurface facilities. It also protects crucial services that affect the day-to-day life of people.
It prevents unnecessary costs
When it comes to excavating safely, health and safety must always come first. Improper digging results in underground assets being damaged and requiring repairs. National safe digging month creates avenues to prevent incurring indirect costs and lost business to local businesses.
Social Media Tips for National Safe Digging Month
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