TOPEKA - Governor Laura Kelly has issued a proclamation declaring April as Kansas Safe Digging Month. The proclamation, in concurrence with National Safe Digging Month, reminds Kansans to call 811 before starting any outdoor digging projects.

The Kansas Corporation Commission, Kansas 811, Kansas utilities and Governor Kelly are encouraging excavators and homeowners to call 811 before they begin digging projects to prevent injuries, property damage, and inconvenient outages. Nationwide, 25 percent of damages reported are caused by the failure of the professional excavator or homeowner to call 811 before digging according to the Common Ground Alliance's most recent damage information reporting tool (DIRT).

Dialing 811 connects callers to Kansas 811, which notifies the appropriate utility companies of the intent to dig. Calls are taken 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Locate requests can also be made online at www.kansas811.com. Excavators and homeowners are required to make a request at least two working days prior to beginning a digging project. Professional locators are sent to the digging site to mark the approximate locations of underground lines with flags or spray paint. Once lines have been accurately marked, digging can begin.

Every digging project, no matter how large or small, requires a call to 811. There is no charge to have utility lines marked. The depth of utility lines vary and there may be multiple lines in a common area. Some utility lines are buried only a few inches below the surface, making them easy to strike during shallow digging projects. Installing a mailbox, landscaping, putting in a fence, and building a deck are all examples of digging projects that necessitate a call to 811.

Learn more about 811 and Safe Digging Month by visiting: www.call811.com. More information about Kansas 811 is available at: www.kansas811.com.

Proclamation Photo

Safe Digging Month Proclamation