Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/1479704
C M Y K 13 W hether you're building a fence, planting trees or ex- cavating for that new deck, contacting Click Before you Dig MB early in planning is essential. Click Before You Dig MB is a free service brought to you by the Manitoba Common Ground Alliance (MCGA) and its members. This service looks for buried cables or underground utilities and notifies the utility owners who have registered with Click Before You Dig MB of your intent to dig. Accidently breaking through a gas line, for example, poses real risk to yourself, your home and family and the public. As well, damaging an underground utility can cause disruption of an essential service to you and your neighbors' homes. Click Before You Dig MB aims to reduce underground utility damages and unnecessary consequences. The process is simple. Rob Morrison, co-chair of the MCGA, states that utilities will mark the ground with paint and/or flags and provide written guidance as to how to safely excavate around the underground utilities. Not all facility owners are a member of Click Before You Dig MB or a one-call center, but the one-call center will provide you with the names of its members. Make sure to contact any relevant non- participating facility owners, which could include government agencies, railways or First Nations. It is your responsibility to call or click before you dig and follow the locates provided to you. Morrison can't stress enough the importance of calling or "clicking" before you dig. "It's the first step to a safe excavation. You wouldn't hammer a nail with your eyes closed; this is no different – you shouldn't dig without knowing what's below." Getting a line locate clearance from the utility owners is legislatively required in Manitoba. Homeowners are often uncertain about the location of their underground services, as they may have been in place for many years prior to ownership. "This service is not only for the professional contractors with large equipment but for everyone, including those weekend projects," Morrison adds. Our message is simple; always ensure you have utility locates prior to doing any sort of yard excavation. Visit www.ClickBeforeYouDig.com or simply contact your one-call center to find out which utilities you need to contact and arrange a locate. Let's all practice safe digging and keep everyone safe this season! Shop For Your Work Zone Online! Visit store.atstraffic.ca today! Brandon Winnipeg 431.244.4611 204.233.1600 Sales_MB@atstraffic.ca Use Promo Code "FallMBHeavy15" To Receive 15% OFF Your Online Order *Offer valid until November 15, 2022 for MHCA members only. Valid one per customer. Our local teams are ready to help design and deploy custom work zone and infrastructure solutions. Traffic Control & Flagging Services Available MH_xx_Sep-24-22_CO_01.indd 13 2022-09-21 3:39 PM