Dig Safe

Call Dig Safe™ at 1-888-DIG-SAFE

What is Dig Safe™?

Both Federal and State Laws require excavators to notify appropriate utility companies prior to conducting excavating activities within 100 feet of an underground utility facility. Notifying member utilities individually would be time consuming, but calling Dig Safe™ simplifies the process.

The Vermont Dig Safe™ Law was revised on July 2, 2001. It is now a requirement to Premark proposed excavation areas before calling Dig Safe™. Premark is defined as identifying the general scope of excavating activities using white paint, stakes or other suitable white markings, in a manner that will enable the operators of the underground utility facilities to know the boundaries of the proposed excavation activities. Premarking is not required if the excavation will be continuous and will exceed 500 feet in length or the boundaries of the proposed excavation area can be described in such a way that the operators of underground facilities can precisely identify those boundaries.

Dig Safe™ is a system, required by these laws and funded by member companies, which allows excavators to notify the appropriate utilities with one telephone call. Dig Safe™ offers a nationwide, toll-free number, 1-888-DIG-SAFE for this notification before digging, trenching, blasting, demolishing, boring, backfilling, grading, landscaping, or other earth moving operations.

This system was created to promote public safety, avoid costly damage to underground facilities, and reduce cost and time of notification.

When a call arrives at the Dig Safe™ Center, an operator will ask for the information indicated on the "Preparing to Call" check list shown below. This information will be entered into a computer system which then notifies the member companies maintaining underground plant in the area of excavation. Any underground facilities will be marked or staked by the member companies. The excavator will be given a Dig Safe™ number to acknowledge their call.

The Dig Safe™ Center records all incoming and outgoing messages and operates Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Off-hour coverage is provided for emergencies only.

Dig Safe™ should not be called for locating and marking underground facilities for project engineering and design, such as preliminary engineering surveys. Damage to underground facilities should be reported to the owner of such facilities.

Preparing to Call Check List

Before placing a toll free call to Dig Safe™ at 1-888-DIG-SAFE, be prepared to provide the operator with the following information:

• Contractor ID Number
• State
• Municipality
• Location
• Intersecting Street
• Type of work
• Extent of work
• Name of caller
• Title
• Phone Number
• Best time to call back
• Company
• Excavator doing work
• Area premarked
• Remarks

Excavation request on the Internet at: www.digsafe.com

You can send your excavation requests to Dig Safe™ directly through the Internet at www.digsafe.com. Please note that your Internet requests will require an additional 24 hours for processing. Emergency requests cannot be accepted through the Internet.

Vermont State Law Requirements
Statute 30 VSA, Chapter 86)

• Who is required to provide notification? All those conducting excavating activities within 100 feet of an underground utility facility.
• What excavation areas require notification? Public ways, rights of way, and easements.
• Who is required to participate in the system? Gas, electric, telephone, and cable television.
• What are the notification time requirements? 48 hours minimum, 30 days maximum, and ASAP for emergencies.
• What is the response time for utilities? 48 hours.
• How long is the remark notification time? 48 hours.
• What are the violation penalties? Up to $1000.
• Is premarking required? Yes.