Dig Safety4 min read
The North Texas Before-You-Dig Checklist
A practical, step-by-step checklist for contractors and homeowners planning any excavation in Parker County and the surrounding area.
Whether you are setting fence posts, trenching for irrigation, or breaking ground on a new build, a few steps up front prevent utility strikes, project delays, and serious injury. Use this checklist before every dig.
Before the project
- Call 811 at least a few business days ahead for public locates
- Schedule a private locate for lines past the meter
- Gather any as-builts, site plans, or septic permits you have
- Note the locations of wells, tanks, and outbuildings
On the day of the dig
- Confirm all marks are fresh and clearly visible
- Respect the tolerance zone around every marked line
- Hand-dig or vacuum-excavate near marked utilities
- Stop and re-verify if you encounter an unexpected line
When in doubt, locate
The cost of a private locate is a fraction of the cost of a struck gas line, a severed fiber trunk, or an injury. On rural North Texas properties with lots of private infrastructure, a professional locate is cheap insurance for your crew and your schedule.