As excavation season begins, Ontario One Call and Landscape Ontario are sounding the alarm on a growing public safety risk—digging without requesting locates. Despite being a legal requirement, recent research reveals that many Ontarians remain unaware of the law and the serious dangers of skipping this critical step.

According to the November 2024 Ontario One Call Awareness Research, 1 in 4 residential digging projects in Ontario results in accidental damage to underground infrastructure. Shockingly, 57% of homeowners don’t realize that a locate is legally required before any digging begins, and only 33% are aware of Ontario One Call’s free locate service. Even among professionals, 1 in 4 contractors admitted they did not request a locate before their last project.

Every year, unmarked digs lead to gas leaks, power outages, water main breaks, road closures, and even explosions—all of which could be prevented by simply requesting a locate. These incidents not only endanger lives but also result in costly repairs, fines, legal liability, and service disruptions affecting entire communities.

To address this growing concern, Ontario One Call has partnered with Landscape Ontario to launch a province-wide awareness campaign: “Click Before You Dig—It’s the Law.” This joint effort includes educational outreach, unified messaging, and public events aimed at homeowners, contractors, and landscaping professionals.

“Digging without a locate puts people, property, and essential services at risk,” said Jim Keech, President and CEO of Ontario One Call. “We’re committed to promoting safety and ensuring every project starts with that first, crucial step—submitting a locate request.”

Locate requests are free and must be submitted at least five business days before digging for single-property projects, and ten business days for larger or multi-property works. Once submitted, Ontario One Call alerts infrastructure owners, who dispatch professionals to mark the locations of underground utilities using flags or paint.

“Even shallow digs—under one foot—or replacing existing features like fences, posts, or trees require a locate,” said Joe Salemi, Executive Director of Landscape Ontario. “Knowing what’s below is essential for keeping job sites safe and ensuring workers return home safely at the end of the day.”

With the spring and summer digging season underway, both organizations urge homeowners and contractors to visit ontarioonecall.ca and always Click Before You Dig.

Check out more news, articles and blogs here