Common Ground Alliance Releases Survey Results for National Safe Digging Month

In anticipation of this year’s National Safe Digging Month in April, the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) has announced results from a new national survey, with information on digging safety.

The survey says that 74% of American homeowners “plan to tackle an outdoor project involving digging in the next 12 months,” the CGA says. That translates to an estimated 60 million households set to break ground this year, but an estimated 10 million homeowners plan to skip contacting 811 beforehand.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy has warned against not contacting 811, stating that safe and reliable utilities like 811 are “the backbone of American energy and economic strength.”

“The Department of Transportation is committed to educating homeowners and professional contractors alike about the importance of contacting 811 before every excavation project,” Duffy says, “because preventing damage starts before the first shovel hits the ground.”

Striking any sort of underground utility line can cause not only disruptions for entire neighborhoods, but severe injuries to anyone in the immediate area. Utilities are often shallowing than DIY diggers expect, and those repair bills can easily outpace the savings created by foregoing traditional contractor hiring.

Staying safe when breaking ground

The CGA has urged DIY workers to call 811 before they dig, whether or not they’re doing so during National Safe Digging Month. Doing so can keep homeowners, families, and communities safe, says Paul Roberti, administrator of the Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).

“Third party damage continues to be a major threat to America’s vast pipeline network,” Roberti says. “Pipelines are the safest way to transport energy, and damage prevention is essential to keeping it that way. PHMSA asks the public to join us in keeping their communities safe by contacting 811 before every digging project. Calling before you dig is the simplest way for Americans to protect themselves, their neighbors and our critical energy infrastructure.”

The CGA is made up of nearly 4,000 damage prevention professionals spanning all facets of the underground utility and contracting industry. Since its founding in 2000, the association has worked to save lives and prevent damage to the underground infrastructure of North America.

The survey, which contacted over 600 American homeowners earlier this year, is proof positive of the importance of National Safe Digging Month, association representatives say.

“CGA’s survey results highlight why National Safe Digging Month is such an important reminder to those 60 million homeowners who plan to dig this spring. Never assume your project is too shallow,” says CGA president and CEO Sarah K. Magruder Lyle. “The reality is that utility lines can be buried much closer to the surface than people expect, which is why contacting 811 before every project — big or small — is a must. Every dig. Every time.”