Southwest Gas Recognizes National Safe Digging Month in California
Category: California
CALIFORNIA NEWS RELEASE
April 1, 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Cynthia Messina, (702) 365-2044
Southwest Gas Recognizes National Safe Digging Month
Call Before You Dig to have utility lines marked
Victorville, Calif. – Southwest Gas recognizes April as National Safe Digging Month and reminds the public to "call before you dig." This national outreach campaign focuses on homeowners and contractors with a safety message about the importance of calling 811 at least two-working days before the start of any digging or underground excavation project so utility-owned lines can be properly marked and avoided. The call is free, quick and easy, and helps to ensure individual and public safety.
"Even if you’re just planting a tree or shrub, it’s important to call 811 prior to digging. It’s a safety step everyone should take, every time they plan to dig," said Sharon Rodriguez, Southwest's Director of Customer Relations, Southern California Division. "By doing so, you’ll know where underground utility lines are located and help to ensure you avoid them. The proactive call also helps to prevent injuries and inconvenient outages, and reduce property damage."
For more information on National Safe Digging Month, visit www.call811.com/faqs and remember:
Always call 811 at least two-working days before the start of digging or underground excavation projects.
Consider moving the location of your project if it is near utility line markings.
Respect the marks and hand dig within 24-inches of natural gas pipelines.
If a contractor has been hired, confirm that a call to 811 has been made. Do not allow work to begin if the lines aren't marked.
As part of an on-going commitment to safety, Southwest Gas reminds the public of the following signs of a possible natural gas leak: a hissing noise coming from the ground or an above-ground pipeline, dirt or water blowing into the air, discolored vegetation surrounding a pipeline, standing water continuously bubbling, and/or the smell of rotten eggs, even if the odor is only slight or momentary. In the event a leak is suspected, the company advises individuals to leave the area immediately and call 911 and Southwest Gas at 1-877-860-6020 from a safe location. California residents should have a functioning carbon monoxide alarm as required by Health and Safety Code §17926.
Southwest Gas provides natural gas service to 1,904,000 customers in Arizona, California and Nevada. Visit us at www.swgas.com for more natural gas safety and energy efficiency tips.
