April is NJ Underground Damage Prevention Month

Every digging project, even when someone plants a tree, requires a call to 811.

Officials are using April, Underground Damage Prevention Month, to remind New Jersey residents of the dangers of digging without taking the proper steps.

The goal of the 811 national dialing code is making sure people avoid hitting underground gas and electric lines. Contact can cause injury and outages.

According to Public Service Electric & Gas Company, calling 811 will eventually result in utility representatives visiting one's project location and marking underground lines with flags, paint or both.

"The call must be made whether you are hiring a professional or planning to do the job yourself," PSE&G said in a press release. "Striking a single line can cause outages and result in repair costs and fines."