Dig 811

[Texas_Signmaker]

Is it really necessary to call Dig 811 when doing site signs? I ALWAYS call in a dig request and avoid the lines that are marked... but many times... MANY TIMES there are signs installed over utilities. I installed an 8'x8' on Thursday and noticed the "old" realtors sign's posts were installed directly over 3 phase... ya know those scary red flags over the red paint paired in 3's! I usually dig 30"-36" deep, Is that not deep enough to worry about the lines or do people just not care?

 

[ams]

In the State of Virginia it's state law to call and have it marked before installation.

 

[Drip Dry]

A number of years ago we dug a simple post and panel sign.
About a foot down, yep, you guessed it, we hit the gas line.
Gas about 20 ft in the air.
Fire, police and utilities all wanting to know who the jerk was that didn't get it marked out.

Cost me a bundle with lost gas, fines, and payroll for them to fix it ( which took most of the day)
Almost put us out of business.
The only good thing was that they helped us install the sign

Now I don't put a step stake in the ground without getting it marked out

 

[Texas_Signmaker]

A number of years ago we dug a simple post and panel sign.
About a foot down, yep, you guessed it, we hit the gas line.
Gas about 20 ft in the air.
Fire, police and utilities all wanting to know who the jerk was that didn't get it marked out.

Cost me a bundle with lost gas, fines, and payroll for them to fix it ( which took most of the day)
Almost put us out of business.
The only good thing was that they helped us install the sign

Now I don't put a step stake in the ground without getting it marked out

Dang!

I have an install of a simply site sign on Wednesday and the gas company told me I'll be in the area of a high-pressure line and wants to be there while I'm installing. No objections here!!

 

[asd]

we always call too, it might delay my sign installation, but better be safe than sorry.

 

[BIG EASY DOES IT]

I don't understand why you would question it. It's a FREE service that could potentially save you thousands and thousands of dollars. Just call and give them the address.

 

[Texas_Signmaker]

If I hit a line that they didn't mark... is it my fault?

 

[Kottwitz-Graphics]

If I hit a line that they didn't mark... is it my fault?

Nope. If a line is not marked, your not responsible, if you called.

And yes, I call every time I dig. I heard about a sign guy that didn't call, hit a fiber optic line, and the cost to repair was over $100 grand...I'm not willing to risk that...

 

[ams]

If I hit a line that they didn't mark... is it my fault?

No, but they have marked lines incorrectly. I've uncovered two utilities and I was a foot away from them. They aren't perfectly accurate. If you find a utility that isn't marked, take photos and save for future reference. Private utilities will not be marked. So watch out for those, usually it's like a sprinkler line. First offense here I believe is $10,000

 

[Texas_Signmaker]

Yeah I hit a spinkler line before and had a small 3 foot geiser. Embarrassing standing next to that thing so I moved my truck out of the way so I wasn't advertising myself there. I have a disclosure in my invoices stating I'm not responsible for private lines.

 

[chester215]

On the average we install 150 real estate signs a day. We do not call dig safe because we are not required to since we are not using powered equipment.
We hit sprinkler lines or dog fence wires at least once a week. Cable TV lines at least once a year and a gas line around once every 5 years.

Up until now our insurance has covered the damages if we submit them. Since we have the realtor sign or homeowner a damage waiver that they are responsible for underground objects if we are not informed about them before we install the sign.
We do supply marking flags so the homeowner can direct where the sign should go, but so many times it is placed right over the sprinkler line.
At one point the DPUC called asking us to change the color of our flags from red (which is the same color of one of the utility flags) to something else since some lazy marking guy(s) thought that 1 flag on someone's front lawn meant that the property had already been marked. We now use florescent orange flags.
Ultimately we know we are liable but our insurance company has gone after some companies for larger claims.

My brother who has a company doing the same thing in NJ/PA is required to call dig safe for each new sign.
He does a lower volume of business but it is still a pain.

One thing I have learned is that there doesn't seem to be a standard for the depth of cable TV lines.
In many places they are installed with a underground wire puller similar to a sprinkler pipe puller and can be very shallow.

 

[equippaint]

We had a pipeline customer of ours hit a 48" sewer force main with a mini excavator tooth they were working around that served the resort area in Orlando. He told me there were feminine products and rubbers floating in the mess all over the ground. The city would not let them shut it down to repair it because it was at capacity so they had to band it wet. They basically put a big rubber clamp over the hole and tighten it down little by little. I could only imagine the mess spraying out until they got that thing tightened all the way.

 

[rjssigns]

I always call. Even then I won't put anything within 3 meters of buried fiber optic or gas lines. Fiber optic is the worst. All businesses connected can and will sue for lost business, wages and future damages to their business. It happened to a guy not far from me. Absolute ugliness ensued.