Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
How soon can I dig once the locate request has been placed?A:
It is very important to wait until the legal start date and time assigned. Beginning work earlier can result in forfeiture of the excavator’s rights and protection under Wisconsin Statute 182.0175. Diggers Hotline operators will issue the earliest legal start date possible, usually three business days after you contact Diggers Hotline.Q:
How long is a locate request valid?A:
A ticket remains valid for the life of your project if work begins within 10 calendar days after the legal start date and time and the work is not interrupted for more than 10 days and the locate marks are still intact. It is the excavator’s responsibility to get the marks refreshed, should they become disturbed.A ticket becomes invalid if the work did not begin within 10 calendar days of the legal start date and time, or the work has been interrupted for more than 10 calendar days, or the locate marks are missing or disturbed in such a way as to cause doubt.
Q:
When should I request a relocate?A:
You may request Diggers Hotline to issue a relocate after an original locate request ticket has been placed and one of the following conditions exists:•Missing or disturbed locate markings.
•Work did not begin within 10 days of the legal start date.
•Work was interrupted for more than 10 days.
The original ticket number is required to obtain a relocate. If the original ticket is invalid, it will take three more business days for the relocate request to be filled. For valid tickets, if a crew is on site, facility owners will try to contact you within one hour to let you know the status of your relocate. The facility owners will then generally relocate within four hours. If the crew is not on site, owners will relocate within 24 hours.
Q:
What about the depth of underground facilities?A:
Utility owners have no control over depth variation caused by human interference, weather, or other circumstances. As a result, utilities will only mark the location, not the depth of buried facilities.Q:
Why must I hand dig within 18 inches of a marked facility?A:
This is important because locating is not an exact science, and, therefore, the actual location of the facility could vary from the position of the marks. Also, state law mandates an 18 inch buffer zone on each side of a marked facility. No mechanized equipment can be used within this buffer zone, only hand digging is allowed.Q:
What’s a Planning Ticket?A:
Planning tickers can be used to find out the location of underground facilities when excavation is not in the immediate future, or excavation is just in the "planning" stage. Members of Diggers Hotline will respond to a planning ticket within 10 days after receipt of the notice by conducting field markings, providing records and takingother appropriate responses.
Q:
If a homeowner hires a contractor to do excavation work, who is responsible for calling Diggers Hotline?A:
According to the state law, the excavator must notify the one-call center, not the homeowner for whom the work is being done.If you are a contractor, it is your legal duty to call Diggers Hotline; it is not the responsibility of your customer.
Q:
What happens to the flags that marked underground facilities once excavation work is completed.A:
Once you are done with the job, be sure to remove the flag markers. It is your responsibility to eliminate the flags, as the utilities or their contract locators will not return to your jobsite to do this.
Next Topic: Determining Who and When to Call