OREANDA-NEWS. August 12, 2016. As today marks National Safe Digging Day, API Ohio would like to remind all Ohioans to call 811 before any digging project to protect Ohio’s vital energy infrastructure.

“Ohio’s vast network of pipelines supplies residents and businesses throughout the state with the energy needed to fuel their daily lives,” said Chris Zeigler, executive director of API Ohio. “In order to keep this infrastructure safe and reliable, it’s important to call 811 before you dig for the safety of you and your neighbor.”

API Ohio encourages homeowners and professional excavators to take the following steps before any digging project:

  • Always call 811 at least 48 hours before digging (some states require a different waiting period), regardless of the depth or familiarity with the property. 
  • Plan ahead. Call on Monday or Tuesday for work planned for an upcoming weekend, providing ample time for the approximate location of lines to be marked. 
  • Confirm with your local One Call Center that all lines have been marked. 
  • Learn what the various colors of paint and flags represent at http://call811.com/before-you-dig/how-811-works
  • Consider moving the location of your project if it is near utility line markings. 
  • If a contractor has been hired, confirm that a call to 811 has been made. Don’t allow work to begin if the lines aren’t marked.

Visit http://www.call811.com for more information.

API Ohio is a division of the American Petroleum Institute. API is the only national trade association representing all facets of the oil and natural gas industry, which supports 9.8 million U.S. jobs and 8 percent of the U.S. economy. API’s more than 650 members include large integrated companies, as well as exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and supply firms. They provide most of the nation’s energy and are backed by a growing grassroots movement of more than 30 million Americans.