Aug. 11 Reminder: Call 811 Before Digging

By Lee Bedell

Advice from a natural gas worker:  On 811 Day, remember that safe digging starts with a call to 811 

“I didn’t know.”

That’s what I heard time and time again over my 36-year career as a Piedmont Natural Gas worker and fire chief after arriving on scene at a cut natural gas line.  Sometimes it was a homeowner.  Other times, a contractor. Almost every time, they were working on a project and hit a line by mistake, saying they didn’t know to call 811 before beginning to dig. 

One homeowner didn’t call 811 before digging in his front yard while installing a new water line when he accidently hit a ¾ inch natural gas line with his trencher, sparking a fireball that caused a life-threatening emergency.  Luckily, that homeowner escaped with his life but was left with a very expensive lesson he’ll never forget. 

Unfortunately, a do-it-yourself home improvement project turns into an emergency thousands of times a year.  Already in 2022, Piedmont Natural Gas and Duke Energy reported damage to underground natural gas and electric lines nearly 5,000 times.  

August 11 is a day dedicated to preventing these types of accidents by calling 811 – a free and easy service that prevents injuries, outages, costly repairs by identifying underground utility lines before a landscaping or yard project.  Anyone preparing for a digging project of any kind should call 811 at least three business days before digging begins. When you dial the number, a crew will come to your home, business, or project area to mark underground lines with stakes, flags, or paint. 

I was a natural gas worker for over 36 years.  Every day I woke up proud to serve my community and help my fellow neighbors. On this 811 Day, I challenge all of you to help keep our homes, families, and neighborhoods safe by calling 811 every time we pick up a shovel for a project.  Calling 811 at least three days before digging keeps everyone safer.

Lee Bedell is a retired Piedmont Natural Gas worker and Wentworth Fire Chief in Greensboro, N.C.