Home, Business, Industry, Institution and Public Facility by Able Group Inc. |
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Dig Safety is something not many people consider when they want to install a fence, plant a tree or anything else that involves
going into the ground. Most home owners don't think twice about digging into their backyards, and most of the time
it causes pipe emergencies, such as leakage.
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First and foremost,
you should contact your
"One-Call Center."
There are a few things you can do to not only prevent pipe leakage, but detect
when there is a leak, and what to do in case leakage occurs.
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Have you dialed your
"811 One-Call Center" yet?
A professional should inspect the ground thoroughly to prevent damages.
www.paonecall.org
will examine the site. They will indicate the pipes with certain markers, depending on the pipe. However, the signs aren't
that specific. It doesn't indicate the exact location, depth, or pipeline pressure.
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Unfortunately, accidents do happen so
it's good to be prepared just in case. For instance, if you see any sort of fluid on the ground, dead vegetation
in one area, and/or mud bubbling up you most likely hit a pipe causing it to leak. Another sign is burning eyes,
or throat, or a hissing sound. An obvious sign is odor. Some oils and gases have a smell, but some do not.
So if you observe the other signs and don't smell anything, it doesn't mean there is not a leak.
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Most important of all is what, and what not, to do if there is damage.
First, you should rid of anything that might ignite the gas. The obvious would be matches, firearms, and electric switches.
However, you must be careful of static electricity, metal to metal contact, and communication devices (e.g. cell phones.)
It is best to vacate the premises and contact your local pipeline company right away. Do not try to make contact
with the liquid, or attempt to operate the gas valves.
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- The tolerance zone protects buried utilities.
The tolerance zone is the width of an underground utility plus a specified tolerance distance on both sides of that utility.
Do not use power-digging equipment within this zone. The zone provides a margin of error in case the locator marks are slightly off.
It also provides a buffer zone to prevent damage resulting from nearby excavation.
- The tolerance zone also protects you.
If you do not respect the tolerance zone, you risk contacting buried utilities. You also risk damaging them indirectly by removing
supporting soil, which could cause the utility to bend or break. You could be injured or killed, and your company could
be liable for any damages that occur.
To avoid damaging buried utilities, do not power dig within the tolerance zone. Hand dig or use vacuum technology instead. |
*Information provided by "Dig Safety"
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National One-Call Referral Number
www.call811.com
Ask us anything about pipe leakage, gas and oil damage, marking of the pipes,
signs of underground pipe leakage, precautions of underground digging. Call before you dig, 811.
The Utilities Protection Center will forward your construction location to the appropriate utility
to determine if any underground water, sewer, natural gas or electric lines are located in the area in which you wish to dig. Severed
lines result in costly repairs, property damage, potential environmental incidents and, in the case of electricity and natural gas,
serious injuries or loss of life.
Another important point: if you damage an underground line and haven't called the Utilities Protection Center and had
the location of underground lines verified by your local utility, YOU are liable for any damages incurred and the
cost of the repair, which can become very costly.
We are your local information service for: trenching, pipe leakage, gas, oil, underground pipes,
safe digging, ground work, ground digging, pipe breakage, pipelines, gas detectors, gas odors, underground pipelines,
pipe damage, gas leakage indications, Delaware County, Philadelphia, PA. |
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Dig Safely by Able Group Inc. When you dig- "Dig Safety" - National One-Call Referral Number.