Review these tips with coworkers at your tailgate or tool box meetings before work begins to help avoid potential hazards when working near overhead and underground utilities.

• Check for overhead power lines, utility poles and support wires before starting every job, and point them out to your coworkers. Take extra care to look for lines that may be masked by foliage or otherwise blocked from view.
• Assume all overhead lines are energized and potentially dangerous, including the service drops that run from utility poles to buildings.
• Never pry against a utility line to remove soil, and never stab at the soil or stomp on the shovel with both feet.
• Clearly mark boundaries to keep workers and equipment at least 10 feet* away from overhead power lines. Higher voltages require a larger safety zone. If you have questions about power line voltages, contact PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.
  

  *Cranes and derricks used in construction must stay at least 20 feet away from lines up to and including 350,000 volts, and 50 feet away from lines greater than 350,000 volts but at or less than 1,000,000 volts, until the operator has taken specific safety measures. Consult the Cal/OSHA regulations at dir.ca.gov/Title8/sb4a15.html for specific safety clearance requirements and encroachment prevention precautions.

• Never pry against a utility line to remove soil, and never stab at the soil or stomp on the shovel with both feet.

Dig Safely
Whenever you hand dig near buried utility lines, take care to prevent damage:

• Notify Underground Service at least two working days (not including the date of notification) before you dig or move earth in any way. USA will notify underground operators to locate and mark buried utilities so you can work safely. Call 811 or use the online ticket entry system at 811express.com. Allow utilities the two full working days to locate and mark lines prior to digging.
• If you don't call and you hit an underground line, you could be hurt or killed. You may also be held liable for damages.
• Always be aware of pipeline markers that indicate the need for extra care around a high-volume natural gas transmission line. These markers show the line's approximate location, but not all pipelines follow a straight path between markers. You are still required to notify USA 811 before you dig or move earth in any way.
• After you are sure underground lines have been marked, respect the marks and dig with care. Hand excavate within 24 inches of each side of marked utilities. Use a rounded shovel with a gentle, prying motion to break away soil as you approach the utility laterally.

Would you like to know more?
Additional digging guidelines, emergency procedures, case studies, instructional videos and training tools can all be found at no charge to you on the PG&E e-SMARTworkers website. Here you can also order free safety materials for contractors and tree workers.

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