Consider this a refresher course, a reminder about using Diggers Hotline. Below are a few topics that have come up a few times in the recent past and are good for review:

Have the ticket in the field:

It’s always a good idea for the crew to have a copy of the ticket in the field. You can make sure that the marking directions called in match your

needs in the worksite. If a relocate is needed, you will have the ticket number handy. And, in a worst-case scenario, if you damage a facility, you will have information handy that will be needed to investigate the incident.

In every instance, the party doing the digging needs to call Diggers Hotline for their own ticket.

This includes a company working for a general contractor on a large project. The subcontractor is not legally covered by the general contractor’s ticket.

This also includes a company working for a homeowner. Don’t have the homeowner call in the locate; it’s the contractor’s responsibility.

If you damage a buried facility, you’ll definitely need your own ticket number. Take that extra step to ensure your liability is reduced by calling in your own ticket.

You only need to call Diggers Hotline one time to keep a ticket valid, as long as two conditions are met:

1) Work has started within ten calendar days after the start date and time.

2) There has not been a stoppage of work of 10 days or more.

As long as those two conditions are met, a ticket will remain valid. Some states require contractors to call in every 10 days to keep a ticket valid. It is important to note that Wisconsin does not require this. In fact, calling in a ticket every 10 days puts unnecessary pressure on state facility owners and their contract locators.

If marks need refreshing, contractors still need to call for either a 24-hour relocate or a crew on-site relocate. Also, if work has stopped for 10 days or more, a call to Diggers Hotline is required.