April is recognized by Virginia and across the U.S. as National Safe Digging Month (NSDM).
As temperatures rise and spring digging projects begin, it serves as an important reminder to contact Virginia 811 Before You Dig.
Whether you’re a professional excavator, contractor, or homeowner, Virginians play a crucial role in preventing damage to underground utilities. Regardless of the project’s scale, contacting Virginia 811 to request utility line markings before digging helps avoid physical injury, property damage, costly repairs, and service interruptions.
It’s often surprising for homeowners to learn that shallow digging is still digging. Simple projects like landscaping, fencing, or installing a mailbox can be dangerous and disruptive without knowing the locations of underground utility lines such as electric, communications, natural gas, water, and sewer lines. So knowing what’s below, no matter how deep you’re digging, is critical to safety.
Virginia 811 is conveniently accessible 24/7 online at VA811.com. Submitting an online locate request is quick and free of charge. You can also reach Virginia 811 by dialing 8-1-1. Once a locate request is submitted, utility companies are notified, and their locators are dispatched to mark the approximate locations of public underground lines with spray paint or flags, using specific colors to indicate the types of utilities marked.
Kick off the digging season safely. Contact Virginia 811 before you dig and dig with CARE.
Professionals
National Safe Digging Month marks the start of another busy digging season and reminds us of our shared responsibility to reduce damages to vital infrastructure by committing to safe digging practices and raising awareness of Virginia 811 services.
Help us spread the word, raise awareness, and promote the 811 Dig with CARE message across all your marketing and media channels. Working together, we can effectively elevate understanding about the importance of safe digging best practices.
Collaborate with Virginia 811 for April National Safe Digging Month!
Here are some ways to get involved:
Virginia 811 Fence Contractor Outreach Campaign
Safety Starts Before the Fence Goes Up
Goal: Educate fence contractors on safe digging practices.
Key Takeaways:
- Fence contractors remain a priority for Virginia 811 education.
- Proactive outreach reduces damages and improves safety.
- Aligns with National Safe Digging Month’s awareness efforts.
Locator Safety & Appreciation Week Facebook Sweepstakes
April 21 – 25, 2025
In celebration of Locator Safety & Appreciation Week (April 21 – 25, 2025), Virginia 811 is launching a Facebook sweepstakes challenge to honor these hardworking individuals. Daily challenges are designed to be quick to answer and quickly completed during a typical workday for a chance to win some great prizes. We aim to show appreciation without stress and bring fun to the week. It’s our way of saying thank you for your hard work and dedication.
Contest Participation Made Easy:
- Visit VA811’s Facebook page every day next week at facebook.com/VA811/.
- LIKE the day’s Locator Safety & Appreciation Sweepstakes Challenge post.
- Respond to the question in the comments section.
Other Contest Details:
- The first challenge will be posted on Monday, April 21, at 7:00 AM.
- Daily winners will be announced the following day at 7:00 AM.
- One participant will be chosen as the winner each day starting from Tuesday, April 22, until Friday, April 25.
- Each day’s challenge winner will receive one of four randomly selected prizes.
- Winners will be notified via Facebook Messenger and asked to provide their mailing address and the name of the organization they work for.
Let’s make this week a celebration of the fantastic job locators perform every day.
Please help us spread the word and be on the lookout for Virginia 811’s first challenge question post on Monday, April 21st.
The Virginia 811 Damage Prevention Ambassador Award
Celebrating Individuals Who Embody The Mission Of Safety And Education
The Virginia 811 Damage Prevention Ambassador Award is intended to recognize and celebrate individuals who actively engage in initiatives that reduce the risk of utility damage during excavation projects, go above and beyond in promoting safe excavation practices, and foster a culture of safety and education within their community.
By honoring these ambassadors, Virginia 811 not only highlights their outstanding efforts but also sets a standard for others to follow. Honoring these individuals is a testament to the belief that individual actions can have a profound impact on overall safety and well-being of the community.