Biffle will feature 811 logo in location on car this Sunday at Bristol
Duluth, GA (March 14, 2012) – Georgia 811 today announced it has partnered with 3M and Greg Biffle, driver of the 3M No. 16 car in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, to promote the national 811 “Call Before You Dig” phone number at the March 18 Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Both Georgia 811 and 3M are members of Common Ground Alliance (CGA), the association dedicated to protecting underground utilities and the people who dig near them.
Biffle, well-known in the racing community for being a “hands on” type of guy who does projects around his house that involve digging, will promote 811 on the hood, deck lid and rear bumper of his No. 16 3M car during the March 18 race at Bristol. The Food City 500 will air live at 12:30 p.m. EDT/9:30 a.m. PDT on Fox.
Unintentionally striking a line can result in inconvenient outages for entire neighborhoods, harm to yourself or your neighbors, and incur repair costs and fines.
Installing a mailbox, building a deck and planting a tree or garden are all examples of digging projects that should only begin a few days after making a free call to 811. Biffle’s reinforcement of the safe digging message is especially timely as the first day of spring approaches – the time of year when most digging projects begin in earnest.
An underground utility line is damaged by digging once every three minutes nationwide, and one-third of these incidents are caused because no phone call was made to 811, according to CGA data.
Notify Georgia 811 at least two (2) business days before excavation begins on public and private property, rights of way and easements. Know what’s below. Call 811 before you dig or log on to www.Georgia811.com.
When homeowners and professional excavators call 811 they are connected to with CSR at Georgia 811 who will take their information and communicate it to the appropriate local utility companies. These utility companies will then dispatch a professional locate technician to the dig site to mark the approximate location of underground utility lines with colored flags or paint.
Once a site has been accurately marked, it is safe to begin digging around the marked areas. According to data collected by CGA, damage occurs less than 1 percent of the time when a one call center is notified before digging begins.
“I always call 811 before my digging projects, and I strongly encourage everyone to make the call to 811 to know what’s below,” said Biffle. “Safety is key for me – and not just on race days. Calling 811 is one more way to keep yourself and those around you safe.”
Shortly after Biffle races the 3M No. 16 Car featuring the 811 message, Georgia 811 will join CGA members across the country in campaigns highlighting 811 in celebration of National Safe Digging Month this April.
About 3M
A recognized leader in research and development, 3M produces thousands of innovative products for dozens of diverse markets. 3M’s core strength is applying its more than 40 distinct technology platforms – often in combination – to a wide array of customer needs. With $23 billion in sales, 3M employs 75,000 people worldwide and has operations in more than 65 countries. For more information, visit www.3M.com. 3M is a trademark of 3M Company.
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