Promotion And Education

Every year damages caused by excavation equipment result in thousands of interruptions to vital utility services, such as natural gas, telephone, cable television, water and sewer. These damages often have effects beyond the loss of service. Road closures and evacuations frequently occur, disrupting the residents and businesses in our communities. Sometimes, the consequences are even more severe, including destroyed buildings, serious injuries, or even fatalities.

Dig|Safely. New York’s promotion and education efforts are designed to prevent excavation related damages to our expanding underground infrastructure. The basic premise is to create awareness statewide for excavators of New York to provide notice of any intent to excavate by making a toll-free call to our organization, which transmits these notices to its participating members who own and operate critical underground facilities. Upon receipt of the notices underground facility operators mark the location of their facilities so excavators can avoid damaging them.

The one-call communication process is the key to a safe excavation. By providing educational materials on safe digging practices, the one-call processes, State law, and general safety procedures to excavators statewide, we believe a greater awareness for damage prevention and a safer excavator is the result.

If you would like more information on safe digging practices, the one-call processes, New York State law, or would like to schedule a safety presentation, please contact your area Field Representative or call our main office at (315) 437-7394. Be sure to check our events calendar for presentations and meetings in your area.