April Is National Safe Digging Month

During National Safe Digging Month in April, we work with our partners to launch a statewide public safety and education campaign to increase awareness about the importance of contacting JULIE before any outdoor projects. The goal of this initiative is to reduce the risk of striking underground utility lines and potentially causing environmental or property damage, costly delays or personal injury.  This is a FREE service.

Avoid Damage Risk While Digging

Nationwide, more than 49.3 million Americans will put themselves, their families and their communities at risk by not contacting their local 811 Center before digging. As Illinois’ FREE notification service to prevent underground utility line damages, JULIE is dedicated to keeping homeowners, landscapers, contractors, farmer community, professional excavators…and the entire community…safe. Underground utility lines are unintentionally damaged at the rate of once per minute. Homeowners and professional excavators who fail to notify JULIE or other state one-call centers before digging cause approximately 40 percent of all damages, making it the top cause of these dangerous and costly incidents. This statistic jumps to 60 percent for landscaping and fence-building projects.

We need your assistance to reach residents in your community. Following is a list of potential opportunities for your community to show support of Illinois Safe Digging Month:

• Post a “JULIE Before You Dig” safety message and link to JULIE on your website.
• Post on social media.
• Submit a Public Service Announcement (PSA) to your local radio or TV station. Click here to download scripts.
• Include an article about the importance of notifying JULIE in your community newsletter.
• Distribute education materials at internal meetings, safety forums, community events or open houses. For a list of free materials and ordering information for an upcoming event, click here.
• Contact a JULIE Damage Prevention Manager to speak at an upcoming safety event or to set up a tabletop display
• Include JULIE’s Billing Inserts (no cost) with your customer’s monthly statements. 
• Promote JULIE and 8-1-1 near high traffic areas, including municipal message boards and signs. Remember Arbor Day and Earth Day are this month.
• Secure a proclamation for Safe Digging Month from the Mayor or Village President.