The Common Ground Alliance has identified best practices for safe digging. Listed here, in short form, are the suggested steps to avoid damages to underground facilities. This also is available in full form. Project preparation
1. One-call facility location request
2. White lining (pre-marking)
3. Locate reference number
4. Pre-excavation meeting
5. Facility relocations
6. Separate location requests
7. One-call access (24 hours a day)
8. Positive response On-site preparation/ground breaking
9. Facility owner/operator failure to respond
10. Locate verification
11. Documentation
12. Work site review with company personnel
13. One-call reference number at site
14. Contact names and numbers
15. Facility avoidance Ongoing Excavation
16. Federal and state regulations
17. Marking preservation
18. Excavation observer
19. Excavation tolerance zone
20. Excavation within the tolerance zone
21. Mismarked facilities
22. Exposed facility protection
23. Locate request updates
24. Facility damage notification
25. Notification of emergency personnel
26. Emergency excavation
27. Backfilling Project completion
28. As-built documentation 
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