Summit Natural Gas Encourages Resident Safety During National Safe Digging Month

Always Contact 811 Before Beginning Digging Projects

4/15/2022

At Summit Natural Gas (SNG), the safety of our customers and the communities we serve is our number one priority. In observance of April as National Safe Digging Month, SNG is reminding community members to avoid accidents and utility interruptions by calling 811 to have underground utility lines marked before beginning any outdoor projects.

“This is a fun time of year when people enjoy tackling those outdoor DIY projects,” said Darrin Chism, Director of Operations at SNG. “Because SNG is committed to never compromising the safety of our customers, we’re reminding residents that they must call 811 before they dig. This free and simple precaution will help homeowners prevent service disruptions, serious injuries, and expensive repairs.”

As part of National Safe Digging Month, SNG encourages everyone to take the following steps when planning any digging project:

  • Contact 811 over the phone or online at least two business days before digging.
  • Confirm that all lines have been marked.
  • Consider moving the location of your project if it is near utility line markings.
  • Visit Call811.com for more information.

For your safety, you are required by law to call 811 at least two working days before you plan to dig so your underground utility lines can be marked. Everyone who contacts 811 a few days before digging is connected to a local one call notification center. Then, at no cost, professional locators will the visit the dig site to mark the approximate location of underground utility lines with spray paint, flags, or both. Once an area has been fully marked by all utilities, it is safe to begin digging around those marked areas.

In the event a gas line is struck or ruptured outside of a home or business:

Step 1: Leave immediately on foot! Do not use electric switches, telephones (including cell phones), start or drive a car or anything that could cause a spark. Move in an upwind direction away from the leak or vapor cloud where you can no longer smell gas and maintain a safe distance.

Step 2: Go directly to a safe location and call both 800-927-0787 and 911.

Warn others to stay away from the leak. Abandon any equipment being used in or near the area.