In damage prevention, we understand exactly why we do what we do. We’ve seen the consequences—injuries, damage, and real loss—when someone breaks ground without checking what’s below.
That’s why April, National Safe Digging Month, matters so much here in Texas. It’s our chance to shine a spotlight on one clear message: Contact us before you dig. From McAllen to Paris and Odessa to everywhere in between, we’re out in communities—meeting people, shaking hands, and making safety personal.
This year, Texas811 secured 24 proclamations from cities across the state, and we were proud to receive a proclamation from the Governor of Texas as well. We’ve brought our message to all kinds of events—horse races, car shows, baseball games, and safety days. If Texans are gathering, we’re showing up.
And this year, we’ve taken a more focused approach. We’re putting our message directly in front of the folks who put their hands in the dirt first—contractors and excavators. Studies say it takes hearing a name seven times before it sticks. Well, we’re making sure Texas811 gets seen and heard more than that this April.
We want to be everywhere a contractor or excavator turns—on the road, in the inbox, on the radio. We want to be top of mind when someone’s working in the yard, opening a package, or reaching for their favorite hat.
Our goal? When someone sees an excavator, we want Texas811 to come to mind, a household name across the state.
As part of this goal, we partnered with the Damage Prevention Council of Texas to bring the safe digging message, best practices, hands-on demonstrations and industry networking to a town near you.
Excavation Safety Days: How the DPC of Texas and Texas811 Work Together Toward a Common Goal
April marks the official start of digging season, and we at the Damage Prevention Council of Texas take excavation safety seriously. In recognition of National Safe Digging Month, the DPC held three excavation safety days and conducted a geofencing campaign blitz in targeted areas of the state. At the DPC of Texas, we aim to provide a communication network and education program that fosters collaboration with facility owners, contractors, and other public entities to minimize the risk of damage, injury, or death.
These educational events allowed attendees to learn about best practices for safe excavation. Industry professionals delivered insightful presentations, while outdoor demonstrations
showcased real-world techniques and equipment. The events also fostered a sense of community, allowing for networking among attendees and showcasing the importance of collaboration in keeping workplaces safe.
Focus on Education and Awareness
The DPC of Texas strongly emphasizes the 'one-call' process, a crucial step that mandates contacting Texas811 before commencing any excavation project. This process, which helps to locate and mark underground utilities, is instrumental in preventing accidental damage and potential injury. The Excavation Safety Days educated attendees about this vital process. Three excavation safety days were held in April. We saw 651 stakeholders at the Austin, Plano, and Humble events. In addition, we hosted 280 first-time attendees across the three events.
A Special Thank You
The Damage Prevention Council of Texas is funded solely by our generous sponsors at events and through Corporate Sponsorship opportunities. We’d like to personally thank the following companies for their support of the Excavation Safety Day – Austin: Texas Gas Service; Excavation Safety Day – Plano: Stag Safety, Atmos Energy, and Midtown Underground Utilities; Excavation Safety Day – Humble: CenterPoint Energy, Pipeview America, and Badger. We’d also like to thank all our annual corporate sponsors for their continued support of our mission. Thank you to everyone who helped make these events a success – from attendees to speakers to volunteers, you all helped make it a great National Safe Digging Month for the DPC of Texas.
National Safe Digging Month and Geofencing: A Targeted Awareness Approach
For April, the DPC of Texas conducted a targeted geofencing campaign in the counties with the highest damages, according to reporting provided by Texas811. These campaigns focused on connecting to 811 before any digging project, regardless of size. The four campaigns garnered over 2 million impressions for 811 awareness in Dallas, Harris, Travis, Tarrant, Smith, Montgomery, Lubbock, Bexar, Fort Bend, and Nueces counties.
Looking Ahead: Continued Commitment to Safe
The DPC of Texas still has more to offer in 2025. For the remainder of the year, we have four excavation safety days: June 12 in Lubbock, August 7 in Midland, August 27 in Bryan, and September 18 in Tyler. Visit www.dpcoftexas.org to learn how you can support these educational events.
If you're involved in excavation work, consider attending a future DPC of Texas Excavation Safety Day. These events offer valuable information and resources to help you protect yourself, your coworkers, the community, and the infrastructure below the ground.
As you work near underground utilities, keep both Texas811 and the Damage Prevention Council of Texas in mind. Whether you are a seasoned professional or new to the world of excavation, we want you to remember that connecting to 811 before you dig is the most important part of any digging project.