Utility Locate & Dig Safety (811): the full procedure
Confirm every dig is cleared by 811 and follow safe-dig practice around marked lines.
- Applies to: Owner, lead installer, all crew
- Frequency: Before and during every dig
- Scope: Covers our safe-dig discipline on site. The locate service, required wait times, marking colors, and tolerance zones DEFER entirely to the 811 utility-locate service; excavation safety DEFERS to OSHA and the business safety plan. Digging without a completed locate is forbidden.
What you need
- 811 ticket/confirmation
- White marking paint
- Hand tools for careful digging near marks
- Locate-color reference
- Job safety checklist
The procedure, step by step
- Verify a valid, current locate ticket exists — Before any crew member digs, confirm the 811 ticket is on file, the wait period has elapsed, and the ticket is still within its valid window.
- Confirm all marks are present on site — Walk the site and confirm color-coded utility marks are present and match the expected utilities. If anything is missing, stop and re-contact the locate service.
- Brief the crew on marked lines — Point out every marked line to the whole crew and identify the tolerance zone around each mark where machine digging is not allowed.
- Hand-dig within the tolerance zone — Within the locate service's tolerance zone of any mark, dig carefully by hand or with approved soft-dig methods only — no auger or machine.
- Stop work if an unmarked line is found — If any unexpected line, pipe, or cable is uncovered, stop digging immediately and contact the owner and the locate service before continuing.
- Respect re-mark and expiration rules — If the ticket expires or marks are destroyed before the dig is done, request a re-mark before resuming. Timing and re-marks DEFER to the 811 service.
- Log dig completion — Note in the job file when digging was completed under the valid ticket, so the record is complete.
Quality check before you finish
- Valid, in-window 811 ticket confirmed before digging
- All utility marks present and matched on site
- Crew briefed on every marked line and tolerance zone
- Hand-dig only within tolerance zones — no machine
- Work stopped and reported on any unmarked line found
- Re-mark requested if ticket expired before completion
- Dig completion logged in the job file
This is a free, source-anchored standard operating procedure (SOP) you can print and hand to staff. It documents the work sequence for a Fencing & Decks business — not safety or regulatory rulings, which defer to the cited authorities, the applicable code, and your own health-and-safety plan. Open the tool above to print it, toggle ink-saver, or (with a free ToolFluency Business account) edit it to match your own workflow.
Sources
- Call811 (Common Ground Alliance) (call811.com)
- OSHA (osha.gov)
- International Code Council / IRC (iccsafe.org)
About Free 811 Dig Safety SOP for Crews
Free printable utility locate and dig safety SOP — verify the 811 ticket, confirm marks, hand-dig tolerance zones, and stop on unmarked lines.
How to use
- Read the full procedure top to bottom before the work — the SOP runs in order and each step builds on the last.
- Toggle Ink-saver (black & white) for a cheaper mono print for the binder; leave it off for the full-color version.
- Click Print SOP to print or save as PDF. Print one per crew, laminate it for the binder, or attach it to the job in your scheduling system.
- Train new hires on it and have staff sign off. Found something out of date? Use the feedback link — flagged SOPs are re-researched against the source list.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use an auger right up to a marked line?
No. Within the tolerance zone around any utility mark you must dig by hand or use approved soft-dig methods — never a machine. The exact tolerance distance and rules defer to the 811 utility-locate service for your area.
What if I hit an unmarked line?
Stop digging immediately, secure the area, and contact the owner and the 811 locate service before doing anything else. Excavation hazards and emergency response defer to OSHA and the business safety plan.
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