Insight: Texas Gas Service discusses importance of safe digging

AUSTIN (KXAN) — As the month of April highlights Safe Digging Month, the Texas Gas Service wants to remind everyone of Texas 811– a free service that can help people dig safely.

Safeena Walji, spokesperson for the Texas Gas Service, interviewed with KXAN’s Will DuPree to talk about the importance of safe digging.

Earlier on Thursday, workers evacuated from a building under construction in northeast Austin after a four-inch gas line was hit near Parmer Lane and Dessau Road., according to the Austin Fire Department. This is a constant reminder that no matter how big or small the project, safety is always top of mind.

Read a transcription of the discussion below or watch the interview in the video player above.

DuPree: We should also note that April is Safe Digging Month. And what’s the message as you hope to, for people at home to take away from them?

Walji: Yeah, April is Safe Digging Month. It’s a great reminder, as the weather’s warming up about the Texas 811 service. It’s actually completely free to create a ticket online or call them and you know, 48 hours excluding weekends and holidays. Before you want to start your project, call them and they will mark wherever there’s facilities underground, color coded like yellow is natural gas, etc. And that way you know where you can dig safely.

DuPree: Absolutely, because that is the most important thing it could save someone’s life in a way. How often are people or projects hitting gas lines when they’re digging underneath the ground?

Walji: That’s a good question. Last year in Texas, 47% of the damages to underground facilities happened because someone didn’t contact 811. So, it’s a big problem.

DuPree: And again, that is just as simple as calling that number.

Walji: Yep. And it’s free.

DuPree: Yeah, even better, right? As a part of Safe Digging Month, you also are doing a tree giveaway. Tell us about that and how people can enter.

Walji: Definitely. We are giving away 50 trees this year for Safe Digging Month. It’s super easy take our pledge at beadigherotexas.com . Commit to digging safely and you’re automatically entered to be one of the 50 tree recipients. And that’s it. It’s super easy. And you can actually pick what tree you want this year. We have a couple of options to choose from that are friendly to this region.

DuPree: I was about to say you all did this very same thing last year, right?

Walji: We always have a campaign going for safe digging month and this year with the Arbor Day Foundation, people will actually get to choose what tree they want. And in the portal it’s actually cool they can see where on their property would maximize like energy savings and have the biggest environmental benefit.

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