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| Four Steps for Safe Demolition |
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| Everyone’s resources have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. You can help prevent locate delays by pre-marking your proposed dig area in white, and notifying 811 of your planned excavation with as much lead time as is possible: up to 10 days in Pennsylvania. To learn more about Duquesne Light Company’s response to COVID-19, click here. |
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| NEVER risk lives and property by attempting to demolish a structure that is still connected to electric service. |
Order our complimentary worker safety training kit on the Duquesne Light's
e-SMARTworkers website. |
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| Before starting any demolition, deconstruction or significant renovation projects, including building elevation or additions, take these four steps to ensure that your job proceeds as safely as possible: |
| 1. Call Duquesne Light Company at 412-393-7100 |
| Do NOT begin the job until Duquesne Light Company has shut off the electric service, disconnected the electric service drop and removed electric meters. For service disconnects, call 412-393-7100. |
| 2. Notify 811 Before You Dig |
| If the job involves digging or moving earth in any way–such as removing footings, foundations or tree stumps–be sure to call 811 at least two business days before you begin (excluding the date you notify 811, weekends and legal holidays). This service will arrange for underground power lines and other utilities to be located and marked so that you can dig a safe distance away from them. Remember, notifying 811 is required by law in Pennsylvania. Additional notifications and onsite meetings may also be required for demolition projects in your state. |
| After utility service has been disconnected, safe digging practices continue to be critical. Even minor damage to underground electric power lines can result in dangerous problems, such as fire and loss of life and property, when power is restored. |
| 3. Conduct a Visual Site Survey |
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| Before work begins, conduct a visual inspection of the structure and the surrounding property: |
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Confirm all utility disconnects. If utility disconnects are required, double check to make sure the electric meters and drop wire have been removed from the structure. |
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Look for power lines, poles, guy wires and pad-mounted equipment remaining on or near the job site. Assume all power lines are energized, and mark a safety boundary to keep people, tools and vehicles at least 10 feet away from them. |
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| 4. Review Your Emergency Plan Before Work Begins |
| Make sure everyone at the job site knows what to do in case of an unforeseen electric utility contact. This is especially important for partial demolition jobs, where electric service may continue to be supplied to a portion of the property. |
| Would You Like to Know More? |
Additional utility personnel safety tips, case studies, instructional videos and training tools can all be found, at no charge to you, on Duquesne Light Company's
e-SMARTworkers website. |
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