It's officially spring -- time to start thinking about this year's outdoor projects, some may require more planning than others.
"If you're going to do some landscaping work, planting trees, new decks -- anything like that, we want to make sure that if you're planning to do some digging, whether it's six inches or six feet, we want you to call 811 before you dig," said Dig Safely New York Executive Director Kevin Hopper.
Call 811 is a nationwide service that helps promote safety before digging in your yard for a project.
"Basically we just ask that you plan your dig so that you call two days ahead of time, not counting the day of your call, so that the utilities have time to mark," said Hopper.
If there are power or utility lines where you are planning your project, that doesn't necessarily mean you can't complete the project.
"We want to make sure that if there is an underground utility line that is in the area of your work, that you safely expose that using hand tools, using a gentle prying motion. If you're using a shovel, don't use a short pointed object. Something along those lines to make sure that you safely identify where that is before you come in with a pry bar, any mechanized equipment, those kinds of things that could puncture or damage that underground utility," said Hopper.
Having a pool or something bigger put in by a contractor? While it is their responsibility to call, homeowners are encouraged to make sure they are doing just that.
"If I'm the homeowner, I want to make sure that that is done so that my underground infrastructure is safe and stays where it belongs, underground safely," said Hopper.
Bottom line, it's better to be safe than to put your well being in jeopardy.