Business Details
45 Years
experience
Emergency
services
Call 811 Before Digging in West Virginia
Founded in 1981, our organization has been dedicated to enhancing public safety and preventing underground utility damage across West Virginia. As a free service mandated by state law, we serve homeowners, contractors, and excavators by coordinating with utility companies to mark underground lines before excavation. Our operations comply with the West Virginia Underground Facility Damage Prevention Act, ensuring compliance with federal OSHA regulations and interstate pipeline safety requirements. With 24/7 availability since 1981, we provide critical risk mitigation for excavation projects of all scales. Our team maintains detailed records of all locate requests, offering legal protection for excavators who follow proper procedures.We emphasize public education about excavation safety and legal obligations under state and federal laws. Through continuous improvement of our processes, we maintain accurate utility mapping and rapid response times for locate requests. Our stakeholders include utility companies, government agencies, and private contractors across the state. We enforce strict compliance with 48-hour notification requirements and maintain partnerships with federal and state regulatory bodies. Our service remains a vital link between excavators and utility providers to prevent service disruptions and ensure worker safety.
Services
Utility Line Marking
Locate Requests
Member Coordination
Safety Compliance
Excavation Guidelines
Details
- Year established: 1981
Highlights and features
- We offer 24/7 excavation safety service since 1981
- Our system is mandated by West Virginia state law
- We coordinate with all major utility providers
- We provide legal compliance documentation for excavators
- Our service covers entire West Virginia territory
Services
Utility Line Marking
We coordinate with utility providers to mark underground facilities before excavation projects. This free service ensures safe digging by identifying gas, water, electric, and communication lines. Our system guarantees legal compliance for excavators across West Virginia.
Locate Requests
Our 24/7 system processes locate requests for all excavation types. Homeowners and contractors receive confirmation numbers and documentation for legal protection. We notify all relevant utility members within 48 business hours of requests.
Member Coordination
We maintain a comprehensive network of utility providers and contractors. Our system ensures timely communication between excavators and facility owners. Members receive detailed locate requests with geographic and project-specific information.
Safety Compliance
Our service ensures compliance with state and federal excavation laws. We provide documentation to prove legal adherence and prevent penalties. Contractors receive guidance on OSHA and pipeline safety regulations.
Excavation Guidelines
We provide detailed preparation guidelines for excavation projects. Our resources cover required information formats, marking procedures, and emergency protocols. Contractors receive step-by-step instructions for legal compliance.
People
Richard Swiger
President
Leading our organization with over 20 years of utility safety experience, Richard oversees strategic operations and regulatory compliance. He ensures our service maintains the highest safety standards across West Virginia.
Stephen Thompson
Vice President
With extensive background in damage prevention, Stephen manages member relations and technical operations. He focuses on improving our coordination with utility providers and excavation contractors.
Arden Swecker
Treasurer
Arden oversees financial operations and resource allocation. His expertise ensures sustainable funding for our safety programs while maintaining cost-effective service delivery across the state.
Philip Kingrey
Secretary
Philip manages documentation and legal compliance. He ensures accurate record-keeping of all locate requests and maintains our adherence to state and federal regulations.
Questions
What is West Virginia 811's primary function?
We coordinate utility line marking services to prevent excavation damage. Our system connects excavators with utility providers for safety compliance.
Is this service free for West Virginia residents?
Yes, our locate service is completely free for all homeowners and contractors in West Virginia.
How far in advance must I notify you before digging?
State law requires at least 48 business hours notice before any excavation project begins.
Do you cover all areas of West Virginia?
Our service covers the entire state of West Virginia, including both urban and rural locations.
What information should I have ready when calling?
Prepare project details including location, work type, schedule, and contact information for efficient processing of your locate request.
