Introduction
Welcome to our comprehensive guide to Virginia One Call Center! As the name suggests, Virginia One Call Center is a centralized communication center that provides a one-stop solution for anyone planning to excavate in Virginia. The service is free, and it allows you to submit excavation requests and get the clearance you need to start your project safely. In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about Virginia One Call Center, including how it works, its benefits, and how you can use it to stay safe.
What is Virginia One Call Center
Virginia One Call Center provides a comprehensive platform designed to protect the underground infrastructure of the state of Virginia. Managed by a non-profit organization, Virginia 811, the call center facilitates communication between excavators, utility owners, and other stakeholders to avoid damage to underground infrastructure, such as buried pipelines, cables, and other facilities.
The center was established in 1976 as part of the national “Call Before You Dig” program, which aims to reduce accidents and prevent damage to underground infrastructure. The system applies to all types of excavation, including construction, drilling, demolition, grading, or anything that involves digging below the surface.
How Does Virginia One Call Center Work?
The Virginia One Call Center is a free service designed to provide a one-stop solution for excavation requests. The system ensures that before digging, excavators must communicate with utilities and other stakeholders to identify any buried infrastructure that may exist within the excavation area.
Excavators are required to submit a request to Virginia One Call Center at least three business days before they plan to start excavation. Once the request is submitted, the center will notify utility owners and other relevant stakeholders to mark the location of their buried lines or facilities within the excavation area.
After the lines have been marked, the excavator must visually inspect the site to ensure that all the utilities have been marked. They can then start digging safely, knowing that they have avoided any potentially hazardous buried lines or facilities.
Why is Virginia One Call Center Important?
The Virginia One Call Center is an essential tool for excavation safety. By using the service, you can avoid damaging underground infrastructure, which can lead to hazardous situations such as gas leaks, power outages, and water main breaks.
Furthermore, you can avoid legal liabilities that may arise from causing damage to someone else’s property. Using the Virginia One Call Center can also save you time and money by preventing delays caused by accidents, damage, or utility interruptions.
The Benefits of Virginia One Call Center
Using Virginia One Call Center has several benefits, including:
| BENEFITS |
|---|
| Easy to use platform |
| Free service |
| Preventing damage to underground infrastructure |
| Ensuring excavation safety |
| Reducing legal liabilities |
| Reducing utility interruptions |
| Saving time and money |
The Virginia One Call Process
Step 1: Submitting a Request
The first step to using Virginia One Call Center is to submit a request. You can submit a request via phone, online, or through the Virginia 811 app. To submit a request:
- Provide your contact information
- Provide the excavation location, description, and any additional information about the project
- Indicate the type of excavation you plan to work on and its expected start date
Once the request is submitted, Virginia One Call Center will notify all the relevant stakeholders, including utility owners and other affected parties.
Step 2: Wait For Notification
After submitting your request, Virginia One Call Center will notify you when all the utility owners and other relevant stakeholders have marked their underground lines or facilities. You must wait until you receive the notification before starting excavation.
The notification timeframe is typically within three business days from the time the request is submitted, but it may vary based on the type of excavation or specific location.
Step 3: Visually Inspect Site
Once you receive the notification that all utility lines or facilities within the excavation area have been marked, you must visually inspect the site to ensure that all the markings have been made.
If any markings are missing or unclear, or if you encounter any unforeseen underground infrastructure that was not previously marked, you must stop excavation and contact Virginia One Call Center immediately.
Step 4: Safe Excavation
After you have inspected the site and ensured that it is safe to start excavation, you can begin digging. However, you must take reasonable care and make sure that you do not damage any of the marked utilities or other underground infrastructure.
It’s crucial to note that the Virginia One Call Center does not provide excavation services or equipment. The excavator is responsible for providing all the necessary equipment and personnel to conduct the excavation safely and efficiently.
The Virginia One Call Center FAQs
1. Is There a Fee to Use Virginia One Call Center?
No, Virginia One Call Center is a free service designed to protect underground infrastructure and promote excavation safety.
2. How Long Does It Take to Get a Notification After Submitting a Request?
The notification timeframe is typically within three business days from the time the request is submitted, but it may vary based on the type of excavation or specific location.
3. What Information Do I Need to Provide When Submitting a Request?
You need to provide your contact information, the excavation location, description, and any additional information about the project, the type of excavation you plan to work on, and its expected start date.
4. Who Needs to Submit a Request to Virginia One Call Center?
Excavators, demolition contractors, construction companies, and anyone else planning to excavate or dig below the surface must submit a request to Virginia One Call Center.
5. What Happens If I Don’t Submit a Request to Virginia One Call Center?
If you don’t submit a request to Virginia One Call Center before starting excavation, you may cause damage to underground infrastructure, which can lead to hazardous situations such as gas leaks, power outages, and water main breaks. You may also face legal liabilities that may arise from causing damage to someone else’s property.
6. Can I Use Virginia One Call Center for Emergency Situations?
Yes, Virginia One Call Center has a dedicated hotline for emergency situations. If you need to excavate urgently due to an emergency, you can call Virginia One Call Center’s hotline, and they will notify the relevant stakeholders immediately.
7. Can Virginia One Call Center Help Me Locate Underground Infrastructure?
No, Virginia One Call Center does not provide excavation services or equipment. The center facilitates communication between excavators, utility owners, and other stakeholders to avoid damage to underground infrastructure, such as buried pipelines, cables, and other facilities.
8. Can I Use Virginia One Call Center for Private Property?
Yes, Virginia One Call Center applies to all types of excavation, including construction, drilling, demolition, grading, or anything that involves digging below the surface, including private property.
9. What Happens If I Cause Damage to an Underground Line or Facility?
If you cause damage to an underground line or facility, you must immediately notify the utility owner and Virginia One Call Center. You may also face legal liabilities, and the cost of the repair may be your responsibility.
10. What If I Have More Than One Dig Location?
If you have more than one dig location, you must submit a separate request for each location.
11. Can I Cancel a Request After It Has Been Submitted?
Yes, you can cancel a request after it has been submitted. However, you must notify Virginia One Call Center as soon as possible, and any costs incurred by the utility owners to mark the underground infrastructure may be your responsibility.
12. What If the Lines or Facilities Are Not Marked Within the Notification Timeframe?
If the lines or facilities are not marked within the notification timeframe, you must contact Virginia One Call Center immediately. They will work with the utility owners and other stakeholders to ensure that the issue is resolved as soon as possible.
13. How Often Do I Need to Contact Virginia One Call Center?
You must contact Virginia One Call Center every time you plan to excavate or dig below the surface, regardless of whether you have used the service before.
Conclusion
Virginia One Call Center is an essential tool for anyone planning to excavate or dig below the surface in Virginia. By using the service, you can avoid damaging underground infrastructure, which can lead to hazardous situations, legal liabilities, and unnecessary costs.
We hope that this comprehensive guide has helped you understand everything you need to know about Virginia One Call Center, including how it works, its benefits, and how you can use it to stay safe.
Remember, safety is a priority, and using Virginia One Call Center is the easiest and most effective way to ensure that your excavation project is completed safely and without any issues.
DISCLAIMER
This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, professional, or medical advice. The information contained in this article is provided “as-is” without warranty of any kind. We encourage you to seek professional advice before taking any action based on the information provided in this article. We disclaim any liability for any damages, losses, or injuries that may arise from the use or reliance on the information provided in this article.