Union Gas Supports April as Dig Safe Month

 #KnowWhatsBelow Campaign Highlights ON1Call and ClickBeforeYouDig.com

CHATHAM, ON, April 1, 2015 /CNW/ - Union Gas is reminding customers and contractors to #KnowWhatsBelow and that one simple phone call or click can make digging safe, particularly as spring brings with it a start to the construction season. The purpose of Dig Safe Month is to prevent injuries, property damage and inconvenient outages as a result of sightless and/or imprudent digging.

The Ontario Regional Common Ground Alliance (ORCGA) – of which Union Gas is a proud founding member – has designated April as Dig Safe Month. The campaign is reminding Ontarians that prior to any digging project, safety starts with a call to Ontario One Call (ON1Call) 1-800-400-2255 or on1call.com or ClickBeforeYouDig.com. It's the law! But it's also just common sense. This will ensure underground utilities such as pipelines, telephone, cable, hydro, water and sewer lines are located and marked so it is safe to dig before any project gets underway.

Small projects like planting trees and shrubs or putting in a fence can easily damage the network of underground gas pipes, cables and wires that brings essential services to homes and businesses. If these lines are struck, they can potentially cause serious personal injuries or a public emergency.  In addition, utility damage can disrupt services to entire neighbourhoods and could result in liability for costs associated with repairs. In fact, third party damage to underground utilities costs customers and municipalities tens of millions of dollars each year.

"In 2014, Union Gas responded to close to 1000 incidents involving damage to gas pipelines by customers or contractors digging around our pipelines," said Mike Shannon, vice president of distribution operations for Union Gas. "Call before you dig, wait for locates, respect the marks and dig with care; that's the simple message behind Dig Safe Month."

Union Gas will be flying special Dig Safe flags at all its main offices across the province to help draw attention to Dig Safe Month. For more information about safe digging practices, visit uniongas.com/safety.

About Union Gas
Union Gas Limited is a major Canadian natural gas storage, transmission and distribution company based in Ontario with 100 years of experience and service to customers. The distribution business serves about 1.4 million residential, commercial and industrial customers in more than 400 communities across northern, southwestern and eastern Ontario. Union Gas, named one of Canada's Top 100 Employers  for 2015, is a Spectra Energy (NYSE: SE) company with assets of $6.4 billion and approximately 2,200 employees. For more information, visit uniongas.com or find us on Twitter: twitter.com/uniongas, Facebook: facebook.com/uniongas and YouTube: youtube.com/user/uniongas.

SOURCE Union Gas Limited

Union Gas: Andrea Stass, Manager, External Communications and Media Relations, Ph: 519 436-5490 or 1-800-571-8446 ext. 5005490, Cell: 519 365-1010, [email protected]