Irrigation install in a subdivision.

The problem: You dug before the locate window expired.

Code/Standard: CGA Best Practices 4.0 / State One-Call Laws (e.g., TX Utilities Code §251.151, CA Gov Code §4216.2, FL Stat §556.105).

The Rule: An 811 ticket is not a clearance to dig. It is a request for facility owners to mark their lines. You must wait for the lawful response time (typically 48 hours, excluding weekends/holidays) for all notified utilities to mark or clear the area.

Timeline Failure:

• Tue 7:00 AM: Ticket called in.
• Tue 10:00 AM: Trencher cutting.
• Elapsed: 3 hours.
• Required: ~48 business hours (usually Thu 7:00 AM earliest).

Consequences:

1. Liability: You own 100% of repair costs for any damaged facility (gas, fiber, electric). No "tolerance zone" protection applies because you violated the wait period.
2. Fines: State penalties run $1,000–$10,000+ per violation.
3. Safety: Unmarked gas/electric = death risk.
4. Ticket Expiry: Most tickets expire in 14–21 days. If marks fade, you must call for a refresh (new wait period applies).

Correct Procedure:

1. Call 811 ≥ 48 hrs before digging.
2. Verify all utilities on the ticket list have responded (Positive Response system).
3. Visually confirm paint/flags on site match the ticket scope.
4. Hand-dig/pothole within tolerance zone (18–24" typical) to expose marked lines before mechanized excavation.

Stop work immediately. Backfill if safe. Wait for positive response confirmation and physical marks.

The problem is that the foreman violated the required waiting period after calling 811 before beginning excavation.

Under the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) Best Practices and state-specific one-call laws (which mirror federal guidelines under the Pipeline Safety Act), excavators must wait for the full statutory response time—typically 2 to 3 business days—after submitting a locate request before digging, even if they have a ticket number.

Calling 811 at 7 a.m. Tuesday and starting work at 10 a.m. the same day means excavation began within hours, not days. Utility locates are not instantaneous; technicians need time to:

• Receive the ticket,
• Dispatch crews,
• Physically locate and mark underground facilities (gas, electric, water, telecom, etc.),
• And confirm markings are complete and accurate.

Starting before the locates are done risks striking buried utilities, which can cause:

• Service outages,
• Explosions or fires (gas lines),
• Electrocution,
• Costly repairs,
• Fines and liability for the contractor.

Correct procedure: Wait until the locates are visibly marked in the field (or until the ticket’s expiration time/date, if no marks appear and you’ve confirmed no conflict via the one-call center). Never assume “the ticket’s in” means it’s safe to dig.

Bottom line: This is unsafe, non-compliant, and could result in serious injury, damage, or regulatory penalties. Stop work immediately and wait for proper locates. (Refer to your state’s one-call law—e.g., California Gov’t Code § 4216, Texas Underground Facility Damage Prevention Act—but the 2–3 day wait is nearly universal.)