Spire reminds customers to ‘Call Before You Dig’

Call 811 before putting a shovel in the ground for spring projects

ST. LOUIS (April 27, 2021) — Spring is in full bloom, and more people are heading outdoors to do projects that involve digging, such as planting a tree, building a deck or installing a mailbox. That’s why Spire and utilities across the country encourage residents during National Safe Digging Month in April to call 811 before digging to help prevent accidents involving utility pipelines.
“If you’re putting a shovel in the ground at any depth, you need to call 811,” said Alan Meyer, Spire manager of damage prevention. “By making a simple call and having a locator mark property for utility lines, it can save time, money and even lives.” According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, if someone calls 811 before they dig, they have a 99% chance of avoiding contact with a utility pipeline, which can lead to injury, death or harm to the environment. Whether a bush is being planted or a foundation is being laid, calling 811 at the beginning of a project can help keep an entire neighborhood stay safe.
That’s why Spire recommends four steps for safe digging:

Dial 811 to request a site be marked. The call and the locating services are free.
Call at least three days before digging. A locator will mark lines that could be impacted by your project.
Spire lines will be marked with yellow flags and/or spray paint.
Be careful when digging around the markers to avoid accidentally damaging buried natural gas or other utility lines.

Meyer said that even when individuals follow rules and regulations closely, accidents can still happen. If a pipeline is ever damaged:

Never try to stop or slow down the flow of natural gas
Move to a safe distance upwind of the damage
Keep others away from the area
Never try to move equipment from the area
Call 911
Call Spire
Call 811, a nationwide toll-free number, to report the damage

“At Spire, safety is our top priority and we encourage customers with questions to contact us,” said Meyer. “We always do whatever we can to help people protect themselves, their communities and the environment.”
For more information about safe digging and excavation, visit spireenergy.com/call-you-dig or contact Spire’s Damage Prevention Department at Alan.Meyer@spireenergy.com.

About Spire
At Spire Inc. (NYSE: SR), we believe energy exists to help make people’s lives better. It’s a simple idea, but one that’s at the heart of our company. Every day we serve 1.7 million homes and businesses making us the fifth largest publicly traded natural gas company in the country. We help families and business owners fuel their daily lives through our gas utilities serving Alabama, Mississippi and Missouri. Our natural gas-related businesses include Spire Marketing, Spire STL Pipeline and Spire Storage. We are committed to transforming our business through growing organically, investing in infrastructure, and advancing through innovation. Learn more at SpireEnergy.com.
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Media Contact:
Jason Merrill
314-365-7125
Jason.Merrill@SpireEnergy.com