WICHITA, Kan. – SEPT. 23, 2020 – With fall officially here, people are taking advantage of exceptional seasonal weather to wrap up outdoor home-improvement projects. Black Hills Energy is urging everyone who’s thinking of finishing their fence, flowerbed or other digging projects to call 811 at least 48 hours before breaking ground.
“It looks like we’re in a holding pattern with these amazing Kansas fall temperatures. We understandably want to take advantage of it,” said Black Hills Energy General Manager Jerry Watkins. “Unfortunately, the company also expects a few do-it-yourselfers will forget an important safety step as they rush to get work done.”
Black Hills Energy is encouraging the community to be safe now by taking steps to not spoil a wonderful autumn weekend.
1. Call or Click Before You Dig.
Always “Call Before You Dig” at least 48 hours in advance to have utility lines marked. You can call 811 toll-free or schedule service online at www.kansasonecall.com. It’s free, it’s safe and it’s the law.
After you call, utility specialists will respond within two days to mark the approximate location of buried utility lines at your site with color-coded paint or flags – at no charge to you. Yellow, for example, marks gas lines and red marks electric lines.
2. Mark your planned excavation site.
Spray paint a white line around your planned excavation site before you call. “White-lining” helps the line locator understand your plans and reduces the chance for project delays if the line locator has to return to mark additional areas.
3. Respect the marks.
Always carefully hand-dig with a shovel within two feet of any utility facilities as opposed to using heavy equipment. Use extreme care around all utility lines. Just a nick can create a weak spot that may develop into a gas leak, cause an electrical or internet outage or result in injury.
4. Don’t rely on old line locate marks.
Project delays? If you don’t dig within 10 days of having lines marked, contact Kansas 811 again. At no charge, line locators will gladly return to re-mark the lines as quickly as possible. Underground conditions can change, so never rely on outdated information.
“Our people work in the rain, sun and snow. So believe me, we love this weather as much as anyone,” Watkins added. “What we don’t love seeing are simple actions that ruin someone’s day. Using KansasOneCall.com ensures your yard work gets done safely and without a visit from first responders.”
Visit www.call811.com or www.kansasonecall.com for more information about 811 and safe digging practices. If a natural gas line is damaged accidentally or you smell the distinctive rotten-egg odor associated with natural gas, leave the area and then call 911 or the Black Hills Energy 24-hour emergency phone line at 800-890-5554. Do not operate any machinery or equipment that might cause a spark or create an open flame.