Vancouver – A province-wide survey commissioned by BC 1 Call in February 2021 found that only three-in-10 respondents (28 per cent) correctly identified that BC 1 Call connects British Columbians with their members—organizations that own underground infrastructure across B.C.—who then send maps and information to help them dig safely. April is Safe Digging Awareness Month and historically when more people take on outdoor home improvement projects; now is an important time to remind them to contact BC 1 Call so projects can proceed safely.
Anyone can request a free locate request ticket online 24/7 at bc1c.ca or via phone during regular business hours at 1-800-474-6886. An online request through bc1c.ca allows anyone to input their information more quickly at a time of their convenience.
Opinion Survey
- The online opinion survey was conducted among 800 adult residents of British Columbia by Research Co., from February 23 to February 25, 2021.
- Data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in British Columbia.
- The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is +/- 3.5 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.
BC 1 Call
- A locate request to BC 1 Call must be completed a minimum of three business days before the work begins, to allow members enough time to provide the necessary information to homeowners and contractors.
- Both BC 1 Call’s service and the information sent by members are 100 per cent free of charge.
- When someone requests a locate ticket by clicking or calling BC 1 Call, it triggers a notification to the utility owners to share drawings and information on what’s below the surface in the described dig area.
- Excavators are not clear to dig until all utilities they are told to expect to hear from have responded.
- From inception through to December 31, 2020, BC 1 Call has registered about 40,000 individual homeowners who use its locate service.
Underground Infrastructure & Damage Incidents
- According to the 2019 Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) Report, 55 per cent of all reported damage incidents in B.C. that year involved a failure to request a locate ticket with BC 1 Call. This percentage was calculated based on the total number of reported damages in B.C. and the number of damages caused by a notification issue. The data tables can be found on page 23.
- Common home improvement projects that may cause damage to underground infrastructure:
- Installing posts for fences, mailboxes, realtor signs, welcome signs, etc.
- Building decks, retaining walls, patios, and installing fire pits
- Tree planting and digging a garden
- Anchoring playground equipment
- Installing in-driveway heating systems
- Underground infrastructure includes: pipes and cables used to transport oil and gas (natural gas or propane), water and sewage, electricity, and telecommunication services across BC; all of which are integral to daily living.
- Some underground infrastructure may be less than a foot below the surface, depending on ground levelling work and erosion since installation.
Safe Digging Month
- On April 1, 2021, the Provincial Government declared April Safe Digging Month.
