April is safe digging month, and FortisBC is reminding residents and contractors to dial or click BC 1 Call before digging to prevent damage to underground gas lines. Damage to buried gas lines decreased in 2023, with 70 per cent of damaged lines being caused by people who did not contact BC 1 Call. Of the remaining 30 per cent, most did not use the provided information correctly or did not dig by hand first. Knowing the location of underground gas lines reduces the risk of personal injury, avoids interrupting essential services, and prevents costly repairs.
In 2023, there were 844 instances of damage to underground gas lines reported by FortisBC. Metro Vancouver had the highest percentage of line strikes at 38.7 per cent, followed by the Southern Interior (Thompson-Okanagan) at 21.6 per cent. Vancouver Island was third at 15.6 per cent. The cities with the highest gas-line strikes were Surrey, Vancouver, Kelowna, Burnaby, and North Vancouver. Tanya Kowalenko of FortisBC noted that it is promising to see a decrease in damage incidents by about 10 per cent year over year since 2020, with 90 per cent of gas-line damage being preventable.
BC 1 Call received more than 229,000 requests in 2023, with 83 per cent coming from its online platform. Contractors accounted for 66 per cent of the requests, followed by member employees at 25 per cent and homeowners at 9 per cent. Contacting BC 1 Call before digging is not only a regulatory requirement but also a critical step in safeguarding lives. Hitting utility lines underground poses significant risks to workers’ well-being, threatens community infrastructure, and jeopardizes public safety. BC 1 Call is free and available both by phone (1-800-474-6886) and online. President and CEO Chris Hyland emphasizes the importance of spreading awareness about safe digging practices to reduce incidents of damage.
FortisBC commends British Columbians for their efforts in educating and mandating safe digging practices. The company highlights the importance of preventing gas-line damage and preventing disruptions to essential services. It is crucial for contractors, landscapers, and homeowners to be aware of safe digging practices and to contact BC 1 Call before undertaking any digging activities. Suzana Prpic of WorkSafeBC emphasizes that hitting utility lines underground is 100 per cent preventable, and taking proactive steps to ensure safety is essential for protecting workers and the community. Despite an increase in call numbers, there is still a lack of awareness among some groups about safe digging practices, leading to continued incidents of damage.
