20RTK – 23RTK OPERATOR’S MANUAL 8/31/18 Page 19 of 20
CONTACT WITH UNDERGROUND UTILITIES
After LOCATING UNDERGROUND UTILITIES and performing the WORK SITE
ASSESSMENT, accidental dig chain contact with a buried utility might still occur. If it does, stop
digging and call 911 for help.
If you cut a wire or cable, assume that you do not know what kind it is. It may be electrical or any
one of several communication lines: telephone, television, or fiber optic. In any case, do not touch it
or even look at the ends of it. Stop digging and call 911 for help. Do not dig any more until the
appropriate utility company has assessed the situation, taken appropriate action, and informed you
that is safe to proceed.
If you strike a pipe, it could be gas, oil, petroleum, water, or sewer. In any case, stop digging, shut off
the engine, and evacuate the area immediately. Call 911 for help.
Electrical wires or cables: If you think that you may have severed electrical wires, stop digging and
call 911 for help. Keep yourself and other people away from the area.
DANGER
: An electric shock could kill you. Assume that any severed wire or cable is HOT
with voltage and do not touch it!
Gas lines: If you think that you may have struck a gas line, shut off the engine and evacuate the area
immediately. Call 911 for help.
DANGER
: A gas explosion could kill you. Sparks will likely occur from the dig chain
scraping the metal pipe. If gas leaks out an explosion could easily occur.
Fiber optic cables: If you think that you may have severed a fiber optic cable, do not touch or even
look at the ends of it.
WARNING
: Fiber optic cables convey laser light that can injure your eyesight. Call 911 for
help.
