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What does DIG SAFELY mean?
DiG SAFELY is a nationally recognized safety program developed by an industry wiee group of experts from all
stakeholder groups including excavators and utility operators. The purpose is to increase excavation safety and
reduce dangerous and expensive damage to vital underground utilities. The Office of Pipeline Safety of the US
Department of Transportation introduced it. The DIG SAFELY message is at the heart of the Texas One-Call law.
The message ts:
CALL BEFORE YOU DIG (see #2 below)
ALWAYS WAIT THE REQUIRED TIME (see #3 below)
RESPECT THE MARKS (see #4 below)
EXCAVATE WITH CARE (see #5 below)
Remember. DIG SAFELY and DIG WITH CARE...
It makes good sense, ifs free and IT'S THE LAW!
Do I have to calf before I dig [r~ Texas?
YES_. The Texas One-Ca:l iaw requ~-es anyone (with a few exceptions such as cemeteries) to call at least 2 workin.(
days (48 hours excluding weekends and holidays) before you dig if you are planning on digging 16 inches or deepe
using mechanical equipment.
How long do I have to wait?
The Texas One-Call law requires anyone (with a few exceptions such as cemeteries) to call at least 2 working days
(48 hours excluding weekends and holidays) before you dig if you are planning on digging 16 inches or deeper usir
mechanical equipment.
What do the different colors used to mark underground utilities mean?
The Texas One-Call law requires excavators and utility operators to use the APWA Color Codes. Clicking on the lit
above can access the Co,or Codes and the American Public Works Association (APWA) link can be found in the
OTHER LINKS section.
Once the lines are marked, am I free to dig away?
_N_Q. The marks only indicate the approximate location of the underground utilities. It is still your responsibility to
EXCAVATE WITH CARE, Be aware of warning signs, marked lines and any other obstacle to safe digging. Also nc
that the Texas One-Call law does NOT require water and sewer operators to be members of the Texas Notification
System. You may need to contact them directly.
When do I need to call again?
That depends on the circumstance_s_. Section 251.151 of the Texas One-Call law states ".., a person who intends t(
excavate shall notify a not/f/cation center not earlier than the 14th day before the excavation is to begin..." Initially ti
was interpreted to mean that a ocate notice or "ticket" expired after 14 days, the so-called "14-Day Rule". Howeve
the Texas Attorney General has issued Opinion No. JC-0234. The summary states:
"An excavator that properly notifies a notification center of a planned excavation under section 251, 151 of the Uti/it
Code no more than fourteen days nor no tess than torty-e¢ght hours betore the excavation rs expected to cemrnen~
fnust n_ot/fz the ,%o_ti_firation_c.e_rztar a~am if the conrm_ ~ncement is_.delayed beyond fourteen days of the or./ginal notic
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)ne-Call Board of Texas
As you can see, no mention is made of a ticket expiring once excavation has commenced. However, ultimately the
excavator is responsible for knowing the condition of the excavation site and when the marks have been wiped out c
moved and need to be refreshed. Therefore, the One-Call Board has directed the Notification Centers to accept any
re-locates requested by excavators and not to discourage such re-locates by advising that they are not required.
7. What is the "14-day Rule"?
See #6 above.
How close can I dig to the marked lines?
It is the excavator's responsibility to avoid damaging marked lines and no specific tolerance or hand-dig zone is
specified in the Texas One-Call law. However, APWA and several industries accepted _B. est Practices set 18"__on
either_side o~f the marked_utility.a_s a rc~_s~nable, tolerance zon~. Within that zone it is recommended that hand
di~gging or other acceptable method be used to locate the exact location of the utility before more extensive
excavation is started.
Do I have to call every 10 days if I am still working on a job?
NO but ultimately the excavator is responsible for knowing the condition of the excavation site and when the marks
need to be refreshed. While not required by the Texas One-Call law it is another way to DIG SAFELY and DIG WIT!
CARE. See also #6 above.
10.
11,
12,
What is "white-lining"?
APWA standard Color Codes required by the Texas One-Call law use white paint to define the limits of a IX~ppsed
excavation. Where practical this is a Best Practice and allows the utility locaters to work quicker and more accuratei
by concentrating on marking underground facilities in the exact excavation site.
How deep must I dig before Ihave to call?The Texas One-Call law requires anyone (with a few exceptions such
as cemeteries) to call at feast 2 working days (48 hours excluding weekends and holidays) before you dig if you are
planning on d gging 16 in__chester dee, s_er using mechanical equipmen_t.
What should I do when I have given proper notice, waited the required time and a utility operator does not
show up to mark?
The Texas One-Call law does not require a second notice but it is a good idea to either contact that utility directly o
call the Notification Center and ask t~at a "Second Notice" be sent. If there is still no response you may proceed bu
/Jse ext!-eme oautio_n until you have located the unmarked line.
13.
What is Positive Response?
Positive Response is _a system that closes the communication Iccp between the excavator and utility operator by
informing the excavator when and if the lines are marked. In Texas we have a modified form of Positive Response
that the utility operator is required by law to notify the excavator only in the event that the utility operator does not
feel that it es necessary to mark their line at the excavation site. In other words, if the Notification Centers tells you
that 10 utilities are being notified of your p~anned excavation, then you should have 10 marks on the ground. If onl~
utilities are marked, the other' 2 should send you a fax or email telling you they don't intend to mark.
14.
What is an Emergency locate?
The Texas One-Call law defines an emergency as "...excavation that is necessary to respond to a situation that
endangers life, Inealth~_o_r prpJzc_rty or a situation in which the public need for uninterrupted service ..,compels
immediate action." Under these circumstances the excavator may begin emergency excavation immediately but
must take reasonable precautions to protect underground facilities. In addition, the excavator should notify a
Notification Center as soon as reasonably possible. Practically speaking, it is best to call before you dig and wait a:
long as possible to allow all underground utilities in the area to be notified and marked. However, the law recogniz~
that each situation is different and must be handled accordingly. In all cases it is the excavators responsibility to us
all possible caution in digging around unmarked lines.
15.
What is a Short Notice locate?
_T_his is an ille~t..a! ticket because the excavation begins before the J'equired 2 working_da_~ys waiting period (see also
above}. Calling for a locate but not allowing adequate time disrupts the system and is a violation of the Texas One
Call law. This could make you subject to a civil penalty in addition to any damage you cause. Aisc note that calling
an illegal "Short Notice" locate an "Emergency" does not automatically make it a legal ticket.
16.
Why does it take so long to get the lines marked?
The Texas Notification System handles over 2 million incoming calls each year and each incoming locate request
could generate up to 10 - 12 notices to utilities. This is a tremendous workload in a very big state. The utility
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companies and their iocator services make every effort to respond to every ticket within the required 2 working days
but sometimes they just get behind. In addition Emergency locates and illegal Short Notice locates take time away
from the scheduled work. If a utility company is routinely rate, you can file a complaint with the appropriate
Regulatory Agency or the One-Call Board of Texas.
http://www.onecalltexas.com/faq.html 5/18/2
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May 18 ZJ3£J5 03:EI3pm From-COb~gAST
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FAX
1565 Chenault St.
Dallas, TX 75228
Administrative Phone: 214-328-2882
Annette Morris, Construction Liaison
Construction Department
Ofc: 214-320-7415
Fax: 214-320-7559
Email: annette_morris2 @cable.comcast.corn
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