Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/1497129
A SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 2023 15 CLICK before the shovel hits the ground A s eager as we all are to get out in the yard and start our spring projects, we should be mindful to start with the first, most important step: "clicking" before we dig. Click Before You Dig MB is the first step to a safe excavation. April is national Dig Safe month. No matter the size of the project, if it involves digging, everyone – homeowners, businesses and contractors alike -- must locate and mark any underground cables and utility pipes. Click Before You Dig MB makes this easy. 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 underground utilities or buried cables and notifies the registered utility owner of your intent to dig. Whether you are putting in a new pool or installing a fence, you must use Click Before You Dig. Once you know what is below, you must follow the utility locates provided to you. "The information shared between the utility owners and excavators is crucial to ensure the project goes as planned," says Rob Morrison, co-chair of MCGA. "Once locates are completed which includes paint, flags and a clearance document, digging instructions are also shared to provide direction on how to proceed safely. That bit of extra time to review all the information and compare against the 'markings on the ground' goes a long way to ensure a safe excavation, Morrison says. "Guessing is not a good way to start any project, especially when digging." Any time you're looking to plan a project that requires an excavation, Click Before You Dig.MB should always be the first step, he stresses. "It just makes sense." Some projects that involve using Click Before You Dig MB include: • Installing a fence • Planting a tree • Putting in a new deck • Any landscape projects involving a shovel The process is kept simple to encourage homeowners to get into the habit of "clicking" before they dig. Jackie Kent, co-chair of the MCGA, describes the process of Click Before You Dig as "quite simple." "Once a request is made, utility owners will visit the site to mark underground cables or pipes in the area of the proposed dig," says Kent, HR Manager at E.F. Moon Construction. "Once marked, they will send you records which will indicate where and what is underground, so you can avoid that location once you start your project." Manitobans are encouraged to learn more about Click Before You Dig Manitoba and how simple it is to request a locate. To arrange a locate, visit Click Before You Dig Manitoba at clickbeforeyoudigmb. com, and find out just how simple this process is! 101 Hayes Road, Thompson, MB R8N 1M3 Phone: 204-677-1560 Fax: 204-778-7836 www.smook.ca l Aggregate Production l Drilling & Blasting l Earth & Rock Excavation l Environmental Clean-up & Soil Remediation l GPS Surveying and Design Capabilities l Mine Construction & Site Restoration l Open Pit Operations l Site Works l Winter Road Construction l Winter Road, Oversized, and Heavy Hauling l Class 1 Truck Drivers l Truck Transport & Heavy Duty Mechanics l Production Supervisor l Mining Superintendent l General Laborers SERVICES WE OFFER: To apply or inquire about current employment opportunities, email: hr@smook.ca EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES: