Keep Yourself and Others Safe By Dialing 811 To 'Call Before You Dig'

Con Edison reminds contractors and other members of the public to place safety first by calling 811 before breaking ground on a large project like building a road or a modest one like planting a tree.

It’s the law and it helps keep everyone safe.

Calling 811 lets Con Edison and other utilities identify their underground facilities to ensure that the dig does not strike those facilities, which include gas piping, electric cables, steam main and other equipment. The “Call 811 Before You Dig” program sends a technician at no charge to mark out utility-owned lines with stakes, flags, or paint, so that excavators can avoid them.

“It’s fast and easy to call 811 before you dig to identify the location of subsurface facilities and help keep us all safe,” said Peter Corredor, a project specialist in Con Edison’s Construction - Quality Assurance Group. “It’s particularly important in a region like ours where the underground environment is such a thick maze of facilities that are dangerous if struck by excavating equipment.”

When Con Edison responds to an 811 call, its personnel mark the approximate location of the company’s gas, electric and steam facilities with colored paint or small flags. Each type of utility has its own unique color. Pipeline markers also show the name and phone number of the pipeline operator, in case of an emergency.

Staying away from Con Edison’s underground equipment can prevent damage that can cause a dangerous gas leak or damage to the electric and steam system. Even the slightest scratch, scrape, dent, or gouge can create an unsafe situation for workers and anyone nearby.

Con Edison works all 12 months of the year to keep its systems safe and reliable.

• Last year, Con Edison crews responded to more than 98 percent of gas odor calls in under 30 minutes. 
• The company has also installed natural gas detectors in more than 70 percent of the buildings connected to the gas system. Those devices send alerts about potential gas leaks. 
• Con Edison has an aggressive gas main replacement program, which helps prevent leaks and safety issues, and reduces the emission of methane, a greenhouse gas.
• Con Edison urges anyone who suspects a gas odor to leave the area and get others to evacuate too. Once out of the area, call 1-800-75-CONED or 911.

Excavators working with gas piping should take precautions:

• Do not purge the contents of a gas line into a confined space. Any purging should be done by venting the contents to the outside atmosphere away from potential ignition sources.
• Always use gas detection equipment (combustible gas detector) during purging operations or when otherwise working on or around gas piping systems.
• Do not rely on your sense of smell alone to detect the presence of natural gas.
• Consult the National Fuel Gas Code (NFPA, Chapter 8) and all applicable laws and regulations for additional purging requirements.
• When installing gas appliances or equipment, follow the manufacturer’s instruction manual in accordance with national, state, or local codes.

Con Edison is issuing the reminder because spring brings construction work, as contractors and homeowners install underground swimming pools, fencing, decks, patios and other road and sidewalk improvements. Even small projects like planting a flower bed or bush or putting up a mailbox require a call.

Excavators who damage underground facilities because they did not follow the 811 regulations face hefty fines and repair costs. Worse yet, they can create unnecessary service interruptions and potentially endanger the public.

If you hit gas infrastructure, call 911 and Con Edison at 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633). April is National Safe Digging Month, a time when utilities, government agencies and other parties step up their campaigns to educate the public about the importance of calling 811. The call and service are free, and it’s the law.

Con Edison is a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc. [NYSE: ED], one of the nation's largest investor-owned energy companies, with approximately $15 billion in annual revenues and $71 billion in assets. The utility provides electric, gas and steam service to more than three million customers in New York City and Westchester County, New York.