912 Operator’s Manual
12/4/14
Page
12
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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.
