A live-action drill to emphasize the need to call 811 before digging was held in Mesquite Tuesday morning.
Over 100 first responders, utility, oil & gas, municipal and other personnel from as far away as Waxahachie attended the event held at the TEEX-OSHA Training Institute Education Center in Mesquite.
The drill is one of dozens of similar free events being held around the state this year and is conducted by Texas811, the state’s non-profit 811 call center and Enertech, a Kansas-based company specializing in public awareness, damage prevention and integrity management programs for natural gas distribution, transmission, gathering and hazardous liquid pipeline companies.
The right way to dig was illustrated by showing how the free call to 811 results in having underground utility lines located within 48 hours at no cost.
The wrong way showed an excavator digging without knowing what was underground, resulting in a gas line rupture. For demonstration purposes, a previously buried line was filled with field marking lime and pressurized through a compressor to give a vivid picture of a line strike.
In today’s Mock Line Strike training scenario, hazardous fumes overcame one man, and a rescue was done by Mesquite fire 
fighters.
“It’s critically important that people know and call 811 before doing any digging,” said John Sparks, Director of Damage Prevention with Texas811. “The 811 call is free, as is the locating. In Texas, if you’re planning to dig 16 inches deep or more, you’re required by law to call for a locate. However, some lines are buried just inches below the surface. Our stance at Texas811 is that no matter how deep you plan to dig, make the call to 811. It’s a free service to everyone.”
811 is not just for professional excavators, Sparks said. “811 is for every Texan who’s going to be breaking ground in the state, from homeowner to farmer to rancher to builder.”
The 811 number is answered 24/7/365. Last year, Texas811 took over three million locate requests. 811 is a national number, like 911. Wherever you are in the nation, calling 811 puts you in touch with the nearest one-call center.
“A call to 811 reduces the chances of an underground line strike incident to less than one percent,” said Sparks. “That’s so important when you realize that the Railroad Commission of Texas recorded over 9,000 hits on oil and gas lines in the state in 2017.”
Texas811 can be reached at www.texas811.org.
Article and photos by Scott Finley.