April marks National Safe Digging Month, and at Barbco, we’re taking this opportunity to emphasize the importance of calling 811 before starting any excavation project—whether you’re working in residential areas or on major utility corridors.

As a manufacturer of advanced trenchless technology and underground construction equipment, we know that true jobsite safety doesn’t begin when the machine starts—it begins with a call and a plan. Our machines are built to cut through the toughest ground conditions, but even the most rugged equipment can’t protect what you can’t see. That’s why every project should start with a call to 811.

Why Call 811?

811 is the national call-before-you-dig number, designed to protect people, infrastructure, and communities. When you call 811 (or submit an online ticket through your local 811 center), utility companies are notified to come out and mark buried utility lines at your dig site.

This service is:

• Free
• Efficient
• Legally required in most states

Yet, according to the Common Ground Alliance (CGA), an underground utility line is damaged every few minutes in the U.S.—many of these incidents occur because no request to 811 was made.

The Risks of Digging Without a Locate

Whether you’re using an auger boring machine, cradle boring system, or directional drill—if you’re breaking ground without knowing what’s underneath, you’re risking:

Explosions and Fires: Contact with gas lines can have devastating, even fatal, consequences.
Electrocution: Hitting an underground electric line puts workers at immediate risk.
Utility Outages: Telecom, water, or sewer line strikes can shut down service to neighborhoods or job sites.
Flooding and Environmental Damage: Broken water mains or sewer systems can cause massive cleanup efforts and long-term damage.

The CGA reported over 190,000 utility damages in 2022, and over a quarter of them were due to failure to contact 811.

Financial and Legal Implications

Beyond safety, there are very real financial and legal stakes involved in failing to call 811:

• Fines and Penalties: States can impose significant fines for non-compliance.
• Repair Costs: You could be liable for the cost of repairing damaged utilities and any associated infrastructure.
• Delays: Utility strikes can cause costly project shutdowns.
• Legal Liability: If injuries or outages occur, legal consequences may follow.

Safe Digging Is Smart Business

At Barbco, we support utility contractors and municipalities across the U.S. by manufacturing rugged, field-ready trenchless solutions. Our machines are engineered to deliver performance, precision, and power—but they are designed to work in concert with safe jobsite practices.

That’s why we continue to emphasize that calling 811 should be a standard part of every job’s planning phase.

Doing so:

• Prevents accidents
• Reduces downtime
• Lowers liability
• Helps protect your reputation and your crew

How the 811 Process Works

1. Submit your locate request via phone or online 2–3 business days before digging.
2. Utility companies are notified and will send technicians to mark utility lines using industry-standard color codes:
   • Red: Electric
   • Yellow: Gas, oil, steam
   • Orange: Communications
   • Blue: Potable water
   • Green: Sewer and drain lines
   • Purple: Reclaimed water, irrigation
3. Respect the marks and use caution—especially when operating near marked utilities. In some cases, hand-digging may be required around sensitive areas.

Our Role at Barbco

We design and build trenchless equipment—from auger boring machines to cutting heads—to deliver the reliability and performance our industry demands. But safety starts before our equipment even arrives on site. Whether you’re working with one of our powerful 36-650 machines or a cradle boring system, it’s essential to ensure the ground you’re cutting into has been properly surveyed and marked.

Calling 811 isn’t just a safety precaution—it’s a vital step in keeping workers safe, infrastructure intact, and projects on track.

Resources

• 811 National Website: www.call811.com
• Common Ground Alliance: www.commongroundalliance.com
• State-specific 811 Info: Call 811 in Your State

Final Reminder: Call Before You Cut

From cutting heads to control systems, every Barbco product is built with operator safety in mind. But safe digging doesn’t begin at the machine—it begins with a phone call. Join us in recognizing National Safe Digging Month by making that call a routine part of your job planning.

Call before you dig. Every job. Every time.

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