TORONTO — Ontario One Call is partnering with celebrity contractor and HGTV personality Kate Campbell to raise awareness of the importance of determining the location of utilities before embarking on digging projects.
Ontario One Call director of education Ian Simpson stated in a release, “Homeowner projects that involved digging were up 20 per cent last year due to people spending more time at home, and we need them to be safe.”
The Ontario One Call message during April, Dig Safe month, is “Call or Click Before You Dig, for any size project.”
Campbell runs her own renovation company and has worked on many HGTV shows such as Holmes On Homes, Holmes Inspection, Decked Out, Home to Win and Custom Built.
“I’m really excited to be working with Ontario One Call,” said Campbell. “Working in the renovation industry for my entire career, I’ve always been committed to safety on the jobsite, and that includes the importance of requesting locates for any digging project.”
According to the DIRT Report, published by the Ontario Regional Common Ground Alliance, there were over 4,500 reported instances of damage to underground cables or pipes in 2020, and 39 per cent were caused because a locate was not requested.
A locate request can be made online or by calling Ontario One Call a minimum of five days before digging. Ontario One Call then notifies utilities and buried infrastructure owners who will send representatives to identify hazards below the ground.
“Call or Click Before You Dig isn’t just for professionals or large projects. It’s for anyone who is planning to dig for any reason. Even if you are planting a single tree, you could hit a utility line and get seriously injured,” said Simpson.
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