Click or Call Before You Dig
Are you planning to dig? Did you know gas lines can be buried as little as a few centimetres below the surface? Digging without knowing the location of underground utilities can be dangerous and costly. Don’t risk it!
Contact BC 1 Call by clicking or calling 1-800-474-6886 to request location information for buried utilities like gas lines. The locate service is free, easy, and helps keep you and your community safe.
Whether you are digging as a homeowner in your yard, or as a contractor on the job site, there are steps you can take to dig safely and avoid serious consequences.
“99% of line hits and digging-related incidents are preventable”
Safe Digging Rules
Before digging, please click the link below to ensure you are following safe digging practices.
Information for Homeowners
If you are planning to do any digging in your yard or property, you must click or call BC 1 Call to locate buried gas and utility lines. Whether you are digging fence post holes, building a deck, or even just digging a new garden bed, locating buried gas lines will help keep you safe. Click below to learn more.
Information for Contractors
If your project or operations require any digging or excavation, you must click or call BC 1 Call to locate buried gas and utility lines. Whether you are landscaping, building a foundation, clearing the ground, or doing full-scale excavation, locating buried gas lines will help keep you, your team, and your clients safe. Click below to learn more.
Working Near a Right-of-Way
Are you working within 30 metres of a Pipeline Right-Of-Way? Click or call BC 1 Call and coordinate with PNG to get mandatory written permission. Operating heavy equipment near or driving heavy loads over a high-pressure natural gas pipeline is a high-risk activity. If you plan to cross or disturb the ground in close proximity to a PNG right-of-way, it is mandatory that you get written permission from PNG. Click below to learn more.
Road Closure
Consequences of Hitting a Gas Line
Calling BC 1 Call may be free but hitting a buried gas line is not. Ignoring safe digging steps or rushing to get a dig job done can have serious, costly, and life-threatening consequences for you, your business, and your community.
Hitting a buried gas line can result in:
- Serious personal injury or death
- Equipment and property damage
- Loss of construction time and lengthy project delays
- Loss of natural gas service and other essential services in the community
- Loss of professional reputation
- Possible cost recovery by PNG for repair expenses
Damage Prevention is a Shared Responsibility
Preventing damage to pipelines requires communication and cooperation between PNG and you, as a homeowner or contractor. Each of us can take actions to keep everyone safe.
Your Responsibilities:
- Click or call BC 1 Call to locate buried gas lines before digging.
- Expose buried gas lines by hand to confirm their location.
- Ensure you have the necessary permitting and licenses.
- Report any damage, leaks, or other concerns immediately to PNG’s 24-hour emergency line or call 911.
PNG’s Responsibilities:
- Providing information and guidelines for safe digging around pipelines.
- Participating as active members in safety programs like BC 1 Call and the Canadian Common Ground Alliance (CCGA).
- Providing clearance to dig, including performing physical (in-person) line locates if required.
Put Safety First
At PNG, the safety of our employees and the public is our top priority. We are committed to providing safe and reliable service to our customers, which includes preventing damage to pipelines.
These are a few examples of how PNG promotes safety:
- Raising awareness and public education about natural gas safety.
- Conducting regular safety checks of our pipelines.
- Maintaining a 24-hour emergency line at 1-800-663-1173.