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National Safe Digging Month Raises Awareness about Dangers in Massachusetts and Elsewhere

As spring is upon us, many construction projects have begun and are in full swing. In light of the season, April has been marked as National Safe Digging Month, an event coordinated by the Common Ground Alliance.

The month-long event was created to raise awareness and increase the emphasis on safe digging across the nation. Diggers, for both construction and residential purposes, are urged to call 811 before digging into the ground to check for possible gas or electrical lines. By making this one simple call to locate potential dangers under the ground, work accidents in Massachusetts and elsewhere in the United States can be prevented.

Our Boston workers compensation attorneys urge you to join the awareness efforts. Calling 811 before you dig will not only help you to prevent potential injury, but it can also help you to prevent property damage and inconvenient power outages.

So how does 811 work? All you have to do it dial 8-1-1 a few days before you’ve planned to start digging. Once you’ve informed the operator about where you’ll be digging and what type of work you’ll be doing, they’ll send a locator out to the site to mark the approximate location of pipes, cables and underground wires so you’ll know what’s below and will be able to dig safely.

The United States Department of Transportation claims these accidents are 100 percent preventable with the proper use of this service. They remind everyone, contractors, neighbors, landscapers — EVERYONE — to take the initiative to plan your dig with mapping provided by 811.

The “811 Before You Dig” program offers you these campaign tools to help you spread the word about National Safe Digging Month. Many of these campaign materials can be customized with your own business logo.

For even more detailed information or a complete list of the Massachusetts digging laws visit the Dig Safe System, Inc. website.

If you have been injured at work in the Boston area, contact Massachusetts Workers’ Compensation Attorney Jeffrey S. Glassman for a free and confidential appointment to discuss your rights. Call 877-617-5333.

More Blog Entries:

Unsecure loads common cause of Boston trucking accidents, work injury, Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, February 25, 2011

Obeying “Move Over” law this holiday will reduce risk of Boston car accidents, work accidents, Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, December 17, 2010

Massachusetts Hopes New System will Decrease Risks of Boston Work Zone Accidents, Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, April 6, 2011

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