Florida PSC Urges Residents to Call 811 Before You Dig

Spring marks the start of home improvement projects for many Floridians. Whether that includes building a deck in the backyard or planting a tree,  before you get that shovel out, the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) urges you to “call 811 before you dig!”
“April is National Safe Digging Month and since safety is a top PSC priority, we fully support this annual campaign,” said PSC Chairman Julie Brown. “A free call to 811 before any digging project will help avoid injury, damage expense, as well as a possible interruption of electric, internet, or phone service.”
An 811 call, which is the federally designated call-before-you-dig number, notifies affected utility companies to dispatch crews to mark the location of underground utility lines.  Utility markings show those who dig the approximate location of underground lines to help prevent damage to vital utilities.
In Florida, 811 is open for calls from 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday and is managed by the Sunshine State One Call Center, a nonprofit corporation. Residents are urged to call 811 two full business days before beginning their digging project.
For more information on the 811 campaign, supported by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, visit www.call811.com  or access the PSC’s Consumer Tip, 8-1-1 Know What’s Below.
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.