Dig Smart, Stay Safe: Utility Line Marking Essentials

If you’ve ever turned on a light, used a faucet or the internet, you’ve relied on the network of infrastructure beneath your feet. Buried utilities (e.g., power lines, water mains, gas pipes, communication cables) keep life running smoothly. But on a worksite, that same network is a minefield if disturbed. One wrong move with a shovel or excavator, and you’re looking at costly damage, environmental harm, or a full-blown emergency.

That’s where utility locating comes into the picture. To dig safely, you must know where the lines are located. It’s not just a step in the process; it’s the guardrail that keeps crews, communities, and critical infrastructure safe. That’s why every project, no matter how small, must start with one simple action: call or click before you dig.

Submitting a locate request is the foundation of safe, legal, and efficient excavation. No digging can happen until every buried utility in the area has been detected, marked, and documented.

A proper locate gives you:

• Clear markings using Canada’s standard colour codes (red for electricity, yellow for gas, blue for potable water, and more) so risks are immediately visible
• Locate sheets (i.e., the official record of what was found, who found it, and when the locate expires)