National Safe Digging Month Quiz

April is more than just the start of spring and landscaping season; it is National Safe Digging Month. Established by the Common Group Alliance (CGA) in 2008, this month-long initiative serves as a critical reminder to homeowners and professional excavators alike that “the ground is not a blank canvas.”

Beneath the surface lies a complex, 20 -million-mile network of essential utilities—gas, water, electricity, and telecommunications—that keeps our communities running. Striking one of these lines isn’t just a costly inconvenience; it can be fatal. In the U.S. alone, an underground utility line is damaged every few minutes because someone didn’t notify the authorities before breaking ground.

To ensure your next project—whether it’s planting a single tree or installing a full deck—is safe and legal, it is vital to know the protocols. The following quiz is designed to test your knowledge of the 811 system, the universal color codes for utility marking, and the best practices for excavation.

1. What should you do if you accidentally nick or dent a utility line while digging? 

A. Apply duct tape to the damaged area.

B. Stop digging and notify the utility company.

C. Wait until the end of the day to call.

D. Cover it with dirt quickly and move on.

2. How many days in advance should you typically call or notify 811 before starting a digging project? 

A. 2 hours.

B. On the same day.

C. At least 2 to 3 business days.

D. 1 week.

3. In the uniform color code for marking utilities, what does the color RED indicate?

A. Electric Power Lines.

B. Sewage and Drain Lines.

C. Gas or Oil Lines.

D. Potable Water.

4. According to safe digging practices, what is the ‘Tolerance Zone’?

A. A strip of land on either side of the marked utility where hand-digging is required.

B. The area where you can use heavy machinery without checking for lines.

C. The distance you must keep your car parked from a dig site.

D. The time limit you have to finish a project before the paint fades.

5. If you are digging and see YELLOW paint or flags, which utility is buried there? 

A. Temporary Survey Markings

B. Proposed Excavation.

C. Communication Lines

D. Gas, Oil, or Steam.

6. What color is used to mark ‘Proposed Excavation’ boundaires beofre the locators arrive?  

A. Blue

B. White

C. Black

D. Purple

 

Answers

1. B. Stop digging and notify the utility company.
2. C. At least 2 to 3 business days.
3. A. Electric Power Lines.
4. A. A strip of land on either side of the marked utility where hand-digging is required.
5. D. Gas, Oil, or Steam.
6. B. White