Calling 811

Perhaps most people know to call 811 a few days before digging in their front or back yard. So, when operating a tractor, when do you need to make the call?

Because there are many things underground that you may not be aware of, 811 was set up to locate hazards and mark them on any land where you may be using your tractor to power a post hole digger, backhoe, or other excavating or tillage attachment. Things such as water lines, electrical wiring, telephone lines, cable TV lines, and natural gas service pipelines may all be hidden underground. Unfortunately, people might not think about this when preparing to work the land with their tractor. Remember when working the ground, tractors can hit these underground obstructions.

To help you avoid making an excavating or tractor operating mistake, here’s a list of different tractor operations that may require you to call 811 beforehand:

Auguring | post hole digging including tree & shrub planting
Ditch cleaning | waterway construction
Removing trees or stumps
Deep tilling | sub-soiling
Contouring
Terracing
Building fence
Drain tiling
Grading
Ripping
Soil sampling
Clearing or grubbing
Trenching

When you call 811, one or more technicians from the involved utility companies will come out and mark the buried lines with flags or paint. Utility companies recommend not using powered equipment within 24″ of the marked location.

So the next time you want to do any of the preceding activities, it’s best to plan ahead by calling 811. Your safety depends on it.

Connect With Yanmar

If you ever have any questions about safe operation of your Yanmar tractor, don't hesitate to reach out to our expert Customer Experience Team. They have the answers you're looking for and can direct you to a wide range of helpful resources. Connect with us online or give us a call at 678-551-7369.

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