About This Book
The State of Mississippi's Regulation of Excavation, established under Mississippi Code Title 77, Chapter 13, governs safe digging practices near underground utility lines. The regulation's primary objective is to prevent injuries, fatalities, property damage, and utility service disruptions through mandatory advance notice requirements, site pre-marking procedures, and utility locating protocols administered by Mississippi 811.
Excavator Responsibilities
Excavators are required to fulfill several key obligations before and during any digging activity:
- Advance Notice: Excavators must contact the one-call system well in advance of any digging to generate a locate request ticket.
- Site Pre-Marking: Prior to utility operators marking underground lines, excavators must clearly identify proposed digging boundaries using white paint, flags, or stakes.
- Safe Digging Practices: Excavators must maintain appropriate clearance from marked lines and use non-invasive methods, such as hand digging or vacuum excavation, when working in close proximity to utility markings.
- Damage Reporting: Any contact, gouge, or nick to a utility line must be reported immediately to the relevant utility owner. If a hazardous line is compromised, emergency services must be contacted without delay.
Utility Operator Responsibilities
Upon receiving a valid notice, utility operators are responsible for investigating and marking the approximate location of underground facilities using standardized color codes. Operators must also communicate through the notification system whether lines have been marked or whether no conflict exists in the proposed excavation area.
Exemptions and Enforcement
In situations involving an imminent threat to life, health, or property, excavators may proceed immediately without adhering to standard advance notice windows. However, prompt notification and heightened caution are still required under these emergency circumstances.
Oversight of the regulation falls under the Underground Facility Damage Prevention Board, which is responsible for enforcing excavation safety laws, investigating violations, and administering applicable penalties throughout the state.
Practice Tests Using This Book
This book is required or recommended for 1 licensing exam. We've written 55 practice questions directly from this material, each one citing the chapter and section it comes from.