Elizabethtown Gas Reminds Residents of Earth Day Safety

From Elizabeth Town Gas: Planning any Earth Day outdoor projects, such as planting a tree or a flowerbed? Elizabethtown Gas wants to remind homeowners and contractors to take the necessary step of calling 8-1-1 before digging to ensure safety.

Earth Day is April 22. April also is National Safe Digging Month. Elizabethtown Gas is providing the following safe digging guidelines:

• Call 8-1-1 Before You Dig: When starting an outdoor project involving digging, customers are advised to make contacting 8-1-1 or 1-800-272-1000 part of their plans. Calls to the free locating service can be made up to 10 days in advance. The requests to have utility operators mark underground facilities, including natural gas, water, cable, telephone and electric lines, can be made 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Allow the Required Time for Marking: Before doing any digging, customers are urged to call 8-1-1 and wait the required time to have underground utility lines marked. The approximate location of underground utility lines will be marked with color-coded spray paint, flags or stakes that correspond to the utility. The color used for natural gas is yellow.
• Respect the Marks: Once the lines are marked, use the appropriate digging methods, which may include hand tools, and dig no closer than 24 inches from the marked utility lines.
• Excavate Carefully: Make sure the marks remain visible during the project. If the lines are damaged or removed, customers are encouraged to call 8-1-1 to have lines re-marked. If a natural gas line is damaged accidentally or the distinct odor of gas is present, call 9-1-1 or the Elizabethtown Gas 24-hour emergency phone line at 1-800-492-4009 from a safe location. Do not operate any machinery or any equipment that might cause a spark.

For information about natural gas safety, visit www.elizabethtowngas.com/safety.

Image Courtesy of Elizabethtown Gas