Plan Ahead Before You Dig

  • Survey your job site carefully before work begins and anticipate potential safety problems.
  • Call DigAlert at 811 at least two (2) days before starting. For additional information, go to DigAlert.
  • Look for evidence that shows if there are underground power lines in the vicinity of the work such as:
    • Metal or (PVC) plastic conduits coming out of the ground and rising on a power pole.
    • Metal or plastic conduits coming out of the ground and rising on the wall of a building.
    • Metal or (PVC) plastic conduits or electrical cable exiting through cut-outs in the interior wall of a basement or underground parking garage.
    • Above ground metal cabinets on a concrete pad. These house pad-mounted transformers are fed by underground cable. The metal cabinets are locked for safety.
    • Concrete, metal, or composite maintenance hole covers, small plastic cabinets on pedestals, underground vaults, and hand-holes housing electrical conduits and equipment. These could be at the ground surface or could be buried. The lids or covers may be stamped “DWP” or “Electric” (“Power”) or may not have any identification at all.
  • Prevent electrical accidents by assuming that all cables and equipment are energized. Don’t cut into, or dig near them. Don’t open the lids, covers, or doors. If you find something that is damaged, immediately report it to LADWP at 1-800-DIAL-DWP (1-800-342-5397).
  • Note a hazard zone around power lines and stay outside of it.
  • Have lines barricaded or temporarily de-energized, if possible.
  • Consider all overhead lines to be energized power lines, no matter what they look like.
  • Report activities that could damage power poles, such as excavations that might reduce pole stability, to LADWP. Temporary bracing may be necessary. Call 1-800-DIAL-DWP (1-800-342-5397).
  • Hold a brief safety meeting each day before work to remind workers what to look for. Continually warn others about nearby power lines and other electrical hazards.

Before You Dig, Call 811

Underground utility lines could be anywhere, so for your own safety, as well as the safety of your neighborhood, call DigAlert at 811 before you dig. DigAlert is a one-call notification center that serves as a communications link between the person who is digging and the owners of underground utilities. If you call 811 at least two full working days before you plan to start digging, as a FREE service, they will notify all their members that own and maintain underground lines in the area.

The appropriate utility companies will come and only mark the lines they own up to the meters and will not mark any private lines, such as lines going to fire pits, BBQ’s, pool heaters, spas, etc. Each utility company will mark their lines using paint, chalk, flags, or whiskers using a standard color code. If the marks are going adjacent to or through your work area, you are required by law to hand expose the line in conflict 24 inches on either side so that you are aware of its exact location and depth before using any power equipment. For additional information, go to DigAlert.