Call Before You Dig: 6 Key Steps to Prevent Utility Strikes on the Jobsite
As construction activity ramps up with warmer weather, excavation work becomes more frequent across residential jobsites. April’s National Safe Digging Month is a timely reminder for builders, contractors and trade partners to prioritize one of the most critical and often overlooked jobsite safety practices: preventing utility strikes.
Striking an underground utility line, commonly referred to as a “dig in,” can lead to serious injuries, costly project delays, and service disruptions for entire communities. According to the Common Ground Alliance, more than 550 of these incidents occur every day in the United States.
For home builders and remodelers, the good news is that these incidents are highly preventable. Before breaking ground, builders should confirm that all utilities have responded and clearly marked their facilities. From there, following established best practices can help keep crews safe and projects on track.
Six Excavation Safety Practices Every Builder Should Follow
- Always Have a Valid 811 Ticket. Contact 811 a few business days before every dig – no exceptions. Before starting work, double-check that your ticket is valid and includes the correct location, start and end dates, contractor details, and project type.
- Confirm Utility Responses Before Digging. Before breaking ground, review your 811 ticket to ensure all utility companies have responded by marking your site or clearing your ticket. Physically inspect the area for any above-ground signs of unmarked underground utilities before proceeding, such as pedestals, manhole covers or meter boxes.
- Protect Utility Markings. Once utilities are marked, it’s your responsibility to preserve flags, stakes, and paint markings. If weather or site conditions make the markings unclear, request a remark from 811 before continuing work.
- Pothole or Test Dig to Expose Utilities. Utility markings are approximate, and congested underground environments can lead to mismarks. To safely verify utility locations, use hand tools or soft-dig methods (such as vacuum excavation) within the “tolerance zone,” the designated safety margin surrounding marked utilities that demands careful, non-mechanical excavation practices. This is the only way to accurately confirm underground utilities.
- Use Caution with Heavy Equipment. Even after verifying utility locations, exercise extreme caution when operating heavy machinery near buried lines. Backhoes cause the most damage to underground utilities, so operators should designate an “observer” to help prevent dig-ins.
- OSHA’s 3 S’s: Slope it. Shore it. Shield It. Soil is heavy, and trench collapses can be fatal. Always follow trench safety best practices: Slope trench walls at a safe angle or bench them in steps; Shore trench walls with protective supports; and Shield workers using trench boxes. These precautions protect workers inside and around excavations.
Preventing utility strikes is not just about compliance. It is about protecting your workforce, avoiding costly delays, and maintaining trust with homeowners and communities. Incorporating safe digging practices into your standard operating procedures reinforces a culture of safety across all phases of construction.
NAHB encourages our members to take advantage of our free resources to educate crews and reinforce best safety practices:
- Video Toolbox Talks (English and Spanish):
- Safety Toolkits:
- Safety Programs (English and Spanish):
Before starting your next project, take the time to contact 811, verify all markings, and ensure your team understands safe excavation procedures. A simple call can prevent a serious incident.
