April is safe digging month, reminding residents and contractors to be aware of underground gas lines before starting any excavation work. FortisBC reports a decrease in damage to buried gas lines in 2023, attributed to more people using BC 1 Call before digging. Knowing the location of gas lines helps reduce personal injury, prevent service disruptions, and avoid costly repairs. However, nearly 70 percent of damaged lines were due to individuals not contacting BC 1 Call, while the remaining 30 percent either did not use the information correctly or failed to dig by hand first.
In the previous year, there were 844 instances of damage to underground gas lines, with Metro Vancouver experiencing the highest percentage of line strikes at 38.7 percent. The Southern Interior (Thompson-Okanagan) followed at 21.6 percent, and Vancouver Island at 15.6 percent. The cities with the highest number of gas-line strikes were Surrey, Vancouver, Kelowna, Burnaby, and North Vancouver. FortisBC acknowledges the efforts made by British Columbians to educate and implement safe digging practices, resulting in a 10 percent decrease in damage incidents since 2020.
FortisBC praises the work done to educate and mandate safe digging practices, emphasizing that 90 percent of gas-line damage is preventable. BC 1 Call received over 229,000 requests in 2023, with 83 percent coming through its online platform. Contractors accounted for 66 percent of requests, followed by member employees at 25 percent and homeowners at 9 percent. Contacting BC 1 Call before digging is not just a regulatory requirement but a crucial step in safeguarding lives, according to Suzana Prpic of WorkSafeBC. Hitting utility lines underground poses significant risks to workers and threatens community infrastructure, but it is entirely preventable.
BC 1 Call president and CEO Chris Hyland notes an increase in call numbers each year, indicating that many contractors, landscapers, and homeowners are still unaware of safe digging practices. The service is free and available both by phone (1-800-474-6886) and online. This information was originally reported by Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. It is crucial to remember the importance of contacting BC 1 Call before any excavation work to avoid damaging underground gas lines, reducing the risk of injury, service disruptions, and costly repairs. By following safe digging practices, individuals can contribute to a safer environment and protect public safety.
