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| Overhead and Underground Safety Practices |
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| Review these tips with coworkers at your tailgate or toolbox meetings before work begins to help avoid potential hazards when working near overhead and underground utility lines. |
Order our FREE worker safety kit on the PG&E
e-SMARTworkers website. |
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| Look Out for Overhead Power Lines |
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Survey your job site every day to find overhead power lines, poles and guy wires, and point them out to coworkers. Be alert for lines that may be masked by foliage or otherwise blocked from view. |
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Consider all overhead power lines to be energized and potentially dangerous, including the service lines that run from utility poles to buildings. |
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Mark a safety boundary to keep workers, tools and equipment a safe distance away—at least 10 feet—from power lines up to 50 kV. Higher voltages require greater distances. For specific requirements, consult PG&E and osha.gov. |
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If you must work closer than regulations allow, contact PG&E at 1-800-743-5000 well in advance so that safety arrangements can be made. |
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Designate a spotter whose only job is to make sure you maintain the mandatory safety clearances between your equipment and overhead power lines. |
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| Dig Safely |
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Notify 811 before you dig or move earth in any way—even for small or shallow jobs. This service will arrange to have underground utility lines marked so that you can dig a safe distance away from them. |
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Dial 811 or use the online ticket-entry system at california811.org, then wait the required time for facility owners to mark their lines. |
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In California, wait at least two working days (not including the date of your request, weekends and legal
holidays). |
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Pre-mark the boundaries of your proposed dig area with white paint, flags and/or stakes before you notify 811. Some 811 centers allow you to pre-mark through electronic white-lining when making your online locate request. |
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Hand dig or use other soft excavation methods within the tolerance zone to carefully expose marked utilities and verify their precise location and depth. In California, the tolerance zone is 24 inches from either indicated outside edge of a marked utility line. |
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Call PG&E immediately to report any contact with an underground natural gas or electric line. If gas is escaping, call 911. |
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| Always contact your state 811 center before digging and for the most current requirements. |
| Would You Like to Know More? |
| Additional utility safety tips, case studies, instructional videos and educational tools can all be found, at no charge to you, on PG&E's e-SMARTworkers website. |
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