Safety Hub

Dial 8-1-1 or submit your notification remotely with i-dig or e-dig.
When you receive your reference number, wait *2 workings days for utility companies to respond and mark buried utilities with flags or paint.
After waiting *2 working days, you will receive a Positive Response email with the response of each utility company notified about your dig project.
Observe the markings and tolerance zone**, then dig responsibly.

*2 working days does not include weekends, holidays, or the day of the call/notification
**Tolerance zone means the site of the underground utility facility including the width of the underground utility plus eighteen inches on each side of the facility

Excavator Manual & Universal Marking Standards

The OHIO811 Excavator Manual and Universal Marking Standards outline procedures for planning, notifying, marking, and digging near underground utilities.

Excavation Checklist (Locate Work Order)

What information do I need when notifying OHIO811?

Complex Large Projects

Mutually agreed upon coordination between excavators and facility owners/operators so that a marking schedule can be set for the project.

Emergencies

Emergency Notifications can be made to OHIO811 by calling 8-1-1 or 1-800-362-2764. Emergencies cannot be made through i-dig or e-dig.

If You Have Hit a Line…

Walk away immediately.

Take steps to clear the area to protect yourself and your crew.

DO NOT try to repair or stop the leak yourself or use anything that might create a spark, such as a cell phone.

Report all damages to the utility, OHIO811, and, if necessary, to the appropriate emergency response agencies by calling 9-1-1*. ORC 3781.30(A)(6)(7)(8)

*ORC 3781.30(A)(6) & (7) “…if the owner or operator of the [damaged] utility facility is unknown, notification to [OHIO811] satisfies thee excavator’s reporting requirement to the utility…”

Above-Ground Indicators

Before excavating, visually scan for above-ground indicators of underground utilities (e.g., meters, vents, signs, posts, pedestals, or other surface features). If you see these indicators but find no utility markings (paint/flags) or no Positive Response from the utility, contact OHIO811 again and report the observed indicators. Some examples of these visible, surface-level signs include:

Private Lines & Service Lines

Facility owners are required to mark what they own and operate. Unregistered lines, including some service lines and privately owned lines, may not be marked.

Privately owned lines are the responsibility of the property owner. You should contact a private locating company if you believe you have additional lines in your excavation area.

Smart Trenching Starts Here

Trenching is among the most hazardous—yet preventable—activities on a job site. This safety video from OHIO811, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC), and Vernon Nagel, Inc. highlights critical excavation safety practices, OSHA requirements, and the responsibilities of the competent person to help ensure every trenching operation remains safe and compliant.

OHIO811 Liaisons — Connect with OHIO811 in the Field

OHIO811’s Education & Safety Liaisons work with contractors, excavators, locators, and facility owners across the state, traveling to share our safe digging message. Visit our OHIO811 Liaisons page and learn more.