|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Cheryl Ritter,
(954) 389-7328
cheryl.ritter@mail.callsunshine.com
Call
Before You Dig
just got easier with new number, 811
DeBary,
FL – May 1, 2007 – Sunshine State One Call of Florida,
Inc. (SSOCOF) announces the availability of 811, the new
“Call Before You Dig" number that excavators are
required to call two full business days before digging
so that underground utilities can be located and marked,
free of charge.
Knowing
where underground lines are buried before each digging
project helps prevent injury, expense and penalties. In
2004, according to industry data, the Common Ground
Alliance (CGA) estimates there were approximately
680,000 underground line strikes resulting in damages,
including service outages and injuries. Many of these
accidents might have easily been avoided by calling
ahead to have lines marked before digging.
A
national 811 awareness campaign launched May 1, 2007 in
Washington D.C. to increase awareness of 811,
demonstrate its relevance and promote a change to call
before digging. Created by the CGA and issued by the
Federal Communications Commission, 811 will also
eliminate confusion over multiple "Call Before You Dig"
numbers across the country – especially helpful for
those areas within Florida that typically draw
contractors from other states to conduct hurricane
repairs and clean up.
When
dialing 811, Florida callers are connected to SSOCOF.
SSOCOF notifies the appropriate local utilities with
buried lines near your site and those utilities send
crews to mark the approximate location of underground
lines for free.
In
Florida, the law requiring excavators to call 811 before
digging is the Underground Facility Damage Prevention
and Safety Act, Chapter 556, Florida Statutes.
Failure to call can
result in fines from $250 to $5,000.
Sunshine State One Call of Florida is a private,
not-for-profit, corporation created by Florida
Legislature in 1993. Its purpose is to educate
excavators and homeowners on the requirement to call
before digging and provide a free system for excavators
to notify owners of pending excavation near underground
utilities.
A call to (800) 432-4770 will continue connecting you to
SSOCOF for locate tickets.
Useful
Information
Sunshine State One Call
11 Plantation Road
DeBary, FL 32713
Admin: (800) 638-4097
Locates: 811 or (800) 432-4770 |
