Columbia Gas Issues Safety Alert on DIY Projects
In today’s depressed economy many homeowners are doing their own repair and improvement projects, and paying the price in property damage and more visits to the emergency room.
Columbia Gas Damage Prevention Leader Scott Tustin says that incidents involving home owners damaging gas pipelines have already increased three times over last year.
Tustin says before you take on the do-it-yourself projects make sure you understand and take all the necessary safety precautions. Before you build or repair a deck, fence or mail box, or plant trees or do any excavation in your yard you need to call 811 two business days before the work begins.
Call Before You Dig
Dialing 811 will automatically direct callers to the Ohio Utilities Protection Service, which will alert utilities and underground facility owners like Columbia Gas. The facility owners will identify and mark their lines in your yard.
Calling 811 can prevent underground utility damages, harm to property or individuals, gas service disruption, and avoid potential fines and repair costs. Tustin also reminds home owners that state law requires them to call 811 before they dig.
Here are some simple tips to avoid damage to underground utility facilities:
1. Determine your project area and clearly mark it.
2. Call 811 before you dig.
3. Provide the name and contact information of the person digging.
4. Allow time for the companies to identify and mark the location of their underground lines.
Columbia Gas says know what’s below. Call 811 before you dig. It’s for your protection, and it’s the law.
Columbia Gas of Ohio, with headquarters in Columbus, is one of the nine energy distribution companies of NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI). Serving approximately 1.4 million customers in 60 of Ohio’s 88 counties, it is the largest natural gas utility in the state. NiSource distribution companies serve approximately 3.8 million gas and electric customers primarily in seven states.