Excavation Safety Brochure

Did You Know?
Laclede Gas should be notified anytime a gas
pipeline is scratched, bumped or disturbed. A
future potential safety hazard may be prevented
if Laclede Gas has the opportunity to inspect at
the time of the occurrence. In most cases, Laclede
will not pursue inspection or repair costs on
disturbances that do not result in a leak.
Special care needs to be exercised when working
around cast iron pipes. Cast iron is a strong but
brittle material that may break if the soil beneath
or in close proximity to it is disturbed or removed.
For assistance when working around cast iron gas
pipes, call (314) 342-0800.
Laclede Gas encourages the use of “hand-dig/
soft- dig” techniques to verify the location of all
marked underground facilities before using power
operated equipment. However, excavators are
required to confirm the horizontal and vertical
position of marked facilities in the vicinity of the
proposed excavation prior to using boring equipment and to monitor the boring device during
operations as it safely passes those facilities.
Resources
Laclede Gas Company
www.LacledeGas.com
Common Ground Alliance
www.commongroundalliance.com
Missouri Common Ground Alliance
www.mocommonground.org
Excavation
Safety
Missouri One Call System
www.mo1call.com
Missouri Public Service Commission
www.psc.mo.gov
What to know before you dig
Office of Pipeline Safety
www.phmsa.dot.gov
United States Infrastructure Corporation
www.usicinc.com
APWA Color Codes
Fluorescent
Pink
Red
Proposed excavation
Temporary survey markings
Electric power lines, cables, conduit and lighting cables
Yellow
Gas, oil, steam, petroleum or gaseous materials
Orange
Communication, alarm or signal lines, cables or conduit
Blue
Potable water
Purple
Reclaimed water, irrigation and slurry lines
Green
Sewers and drain lines
Need additional information?
Contact Laclede Gas Damage Prevention
Department at (314) 658-5552
11/13
White
Pipelines
Four Steps to Dig Safely
Safety Tips
Pipelines play an important role in our lives and
are among the safest and most reliable means of
transporting energy like natural gas and propane.
The “Underground Facility Safety and Damage
Prevention Act” (RSMo319), commonly referred
to as the one-call law, promotes safety by requiring
everyone to call for facility marking prior to digging.
Take the following steps to stay safe:
Occasionally a leak or damage to underground
facilities occurs. Damage to a pipeline can result
in severe injury or death as a result of an ignition,
explosion or asphyxiation.
Since pipelines run below ground, they are often
referred to as “underground facilities.”
Above ground markers are used to
identify the general, not the exact,
location of pipelines. Markers
are placed in prominent areas
and at points where its direction
changes. Emergency contact
information is listed on each
pipeline marker.
As a natural gas and propane
pipeline operator, Laclede Gas
takes many active steps in
monitoring and maintaining a
safe and reliable pipeline system.
These steps include, but are not
limited to, routine monitoring
and patrolling of our pipelines
via aircraft, vehicle, and on foot.
1 Make the call. Call 1-800-DIG-RITE
(1-800-344-7483), or 811 (national one-call
number) to request that your project area be
marked. The call and locating services are free
of charge.
2 Wait the required time. By law, a
call is required no less than three working days
and not more than 10 working days before
digging starts.
3 Respect the marks. Laclede Gas facilities
are marked in yellow paint and/or flags. Never
dig without marks on the ground. If marks are
not clearly visible at the start of your project,
call 1-800-DIG-RITE to have them refreshed.
4 Dig with care. Laclede Gas facilities are
installed to specific standards. However,
circumstances beyond our control may cause
conditions, including depth of cover, to change.
Verify exact pipeline location(s) and depth
prior to the use of boring equipment and
closely monitor use of the device once
operations begin.
If you are ever involved in a leak or damage
situation, quickly follow these steps:
n
emove all ignition sources. Turn off
R
equipment and leave it in place.
n
Immediately go to a safe location and
call for help. Call 1-800-DIG-RITE to report
the damage. Contact Laclede Gas at
(314) 342-0800 to report the situation,
and call 911 for emergency assistance.
n
N
ever attempt to stop a leak. Do not touch,
attempt to repair or conceal a damaged facility.
n
S tay clear of the damaged area and warn
others. Wait until Laclede Gas crews perform
the necessary repairs and make the area safe.

Download Report