Everyone who digs is considered an excavator, and subject to the requirements. Many of the utilities to service our homes and businesses are now installed underground. Water, sewer, natural gas, power, telephone, cable TV, and fiber optic lines, as well as petroleum pipelines and slough lines, can be easily cut by digging equipment. You do have a legal and financial responsibility for damage to ut
ility lines, so let’s work together and keep things safe. The 2016 Idaho Legislature created the Idaho Damage Prevention Board for the purposes of:
• Creating stakeholder-driven education and enforcement addressing the prevention of damage to underground facilities;
• Collecting, storing, analyzing and disseminating data related to underground facility damage
• Protecting the public health and safety from great personal harm including death, property damage and interruption of vital services caused by damage to existing underground facilities. The role of the Damage Prevention Board is to promote safe excavation practices to all parties involved in moving the earth in and around underground utility facilities. By statute, the Idaho Damage Prevention Board may provide educational tools available to the excavating community to better accommodate safe practices and compliance with Idaho Code, Title 55, Chapter 22, Sections 55-2201 – 55-2212. The Idaho Damage Prevention Board will also investigate, determine violations and enforce compliance of said code. The com-plaint process will allow all stakeholders an opportunity to present a violation to the Board to ensure compliance of Idaho Code. Just calling 811 first, waiting the required time for facility owners to mark their facilities, respect the marks once down, then digging with care to avoid the utility lines will ensure everyone will go home at night and vital services continue.
