Governor proclaims April as Safe Digging Month

TOPEKA - Governor Laura Kelly has issued a proclamation declaring April as Kansas Safe Digging Month. The proclamation, in concurrence with National Safe Digging Month, reminds Kansans to call 811 before starting any outdoor digging projects.

The Kansas Corporation Commission, Kansas 811, Kansas utilities and Governor Kelly are encouraging excavators and homeowners to call 811 before they begin digging projects to prevent injuries, property damage, and inconvenient outages. Nationwide, 24 percent of damages reported are caused by the failure of the professional excavator or homeowner to call 811 before digging. In Kansas, the percentage is below the national average at 11% which is attributed to increased public awareness of 811.

In 2025, Kansas 811 averaged 54,000 locate requests per month. Calls are taken 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Locate requests can also be made online at kansas811.com. Excavators and homeowners are required to make a request at least two working days prior to beginning a digging project. Professional locators are sent to the digging site, at no charge to the property owner, to mark the approximate locations of underground lines with flags or spray paint. Once lines have been accurately marked, digging can begin.

Every digging project, no matter how large or small, requires a call to 811. The depth of utility lines varies and there may be multiple lines in a common area. Some utility lines are buried only a few inches below the surface, making them easy to strike during shallow digging projects. Installing a mailbox, landscaping, putting in a fence, and building a deck are all examples of digging projects that necessitate a call to 811.

Learn more about 811 and Safe Digging Month by visiting: 811beforeyoudig.com. More information about Kansas 811 is available at: kansas811.com.

Safe Digging Month Proclamation

Proclamation Photo