What comes to mind when you hear the word “dangerous?”
Whatever you think of, it’s probably not “digging a hole for a new rose bush!”
It might not sound like it, but that new veggie patch you’re planting in your backyard could lead to:
- Trips
- Striking a power line
- Bursting a pipe
- Fines and costs that could have been avoided
Luckily for you, each of these outcomes are easy to avoid… provided that you take the proper precautions and plan properly, that is.
While not quite as extensive as the type of excavation that goes on during a construction or renovation project, digging up parts of your garden still requires a degree of planning and preparation.
And it all starts by getting your hands on a copy of your Dial Before You Dig report.
How to stay safe when digging
We’ve talked about excavation safety before - however, that was regarding excavations for construction or renovation projects.
Specifically, we covered things like:
- Physical barriers and fencing requirements
- When to shore up surrounding land with braces, retaining walls or soil mounds
- Choosing the right excavation method for your parcel of land
- PPE, warning signs and safety barriers for excavation workers
However renovations and construction projects aren’t the only situations where you might have to dig.
With spring weather upon us, many are motivated to do something with our front or backyards:
- Taking up gardening
- Replacing your letterbox
- Planting a tree
- Installing your own fish pond
- Setting up pet fencing
Each of these requires a certain amount of digging. While not as much as, say, installing a new decking, you’re still going to take certain precautions in order to stay safe while digging.
Look after your body
Digging is hard work - if you aren’t prepared for the physicality of it, you could run the risk of a serious injury.
Before you dig down, start by stretching your muscles out and going through a quick warm-up routine. Be sure to keep water close by throughout the day as well. It’s tough work, so take a break when you need it!
Use the right tools for the job
While your trusty shovel might get the job done in most cases, it’s not always appropriate.
Be sure to think about your project, as well as the type of digging you’re going to have to do as part of it.
And we aren’t just talking about deciding between a shovel and a trowel, either - it’s much easier to remove tree roots with a reciprocating saw, and digging bars are safer to use against large rocks than a shovel.
Check the weather
The forecast should be the first thing you look at when digging at home (well, the second - your DBYD report should be the first).
The right weather conditions can make your job so much easier, in more ways than one. For starters, you won’t need to get sopping wet or experience a sunburn while you’re out.
Moreover however, it also reduces your risk of:
- Sliding in mud
- Accidental cave-ins
- Falling over
In short, poor weather ups the chances of an accident while you’re at work.
Cover up between work sessions
You won’t always be able to get all of your digging done in a single session - maybe the weather has turned, the sun’s gone down or you need to attend to something inside.
When this happens, it’s important that you take measures to protect your family members while your work is still uncovered.
In addition to giving your family members a heads-up and warning them about what you’re doing, consider:
- Covering the hole up with some some loose planks
- Taping the area off
- Putting up some cones or witches hats
It’s also a good idea to bring pets inside, especially if you’re digging deeper down. Not only could poor Fido get stuck if they stumble in, but they’ll also bring heaps of mud and dirt with them!
Don’t be afraid to call a professional
“How hard could it be? All you need is a shovel and a couple of hours.”
Here’s the problem with that type of thinking: yes, it’s true that the act of digging is relatively straightforward.
That’s not the issue - no, the problem lies with the details:
- What if the soil is rocky?
- Do you know how to deal with vines?
- What if there are buried utilities?
If you’re in the middle of digging and you come up against a problem that you either don’t know how to deal with or you simply don’t have the tools for, don’t be afraid to call a pro!
Most importantly, start by getting a Dial Before You Dig report
If you’re planning on doing any digging on your property, you need a Dial Before You Dig report, no ifs, ands, or buts.
Dial Before You Dig is Australia’s national referral service created to help builders, homeowners, and developers stay safe when excavating, while simultaneously protecting vital utilities from damage.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re planting a rose bush, setting up a vegetable patch or putting in your own fish pond - if it involves digging, you need to apply for a DBYD report!
How Dial Before You Dig keeps you safe
Many utilities and infrastructure assets like pipes and cables are installed underground.
If you start digging without completing the essential first step of getting your Dial Before You Dig report, you could accidentally hit one of these utilities, flooding your garden, disrupting utilities to your home or even suffering an electrical shock.
This is what Dial Before You Dig is meant to prevent.
When you file a DBYD request, you’re essentially sending off requests to all public utility operators in your area, asking them whether or not they’ve installed any utilities under your parcel of land.
- Whether or not they have underground pipes and cables beneath your property
- How deep they’re buried
- Where they’re located on the property
In addition to protecting you and your home, a DBYD report can also protect you from fines - after all, if you accidentally damage or break a public utility, the cost is on you!
And finally, it protects you from accidentally cutting off the water, gas or power supply to your home or severing your connection to the web.
Hang on, “public utilities?”
Despite what many think, Dial Before You Dig reports don’t cover everything underneath your parcel of land - only public utilities like sewer connections, water mains, telephone lines and underground electrical cables.
Unfortunately, the wiring for your outdoor lighting and the gas supply line to your fixed barbeque aren’t covered, nor does it cover any additions you may have made to your home since moving in.
Making the process of getting a Dial Before You Dig in Victoria easier
Alright, so getting a DBYD report is actually fairly straightforward - after all, the service is free, and it allows you to contact all the relevant utilities providers using only a single form.
The problem is, many projects will require much more than just that.
For example, say you’re building a new car port - in addition to a Dial Before You Dig report, you’ll need a planning permit, as well as a building permit.
It’s situations like this that our property information service was designed to help with.
Our all-in-one system allows you to apply for all the information, documents and permits you need, all from a single drop-down menu and after making a single payment. No need to wait in lines, spend hours on hold or write lengthy email chains anymore!
Get the documents, information and permits you need - start your search now.
Have questions? Give our team a call on (03) 8527 6300 or get in touch online.
The information in this article is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice. As with all things property, we strongly recommend consulting a professional to ensure that all stages of your building project (including the Title search) go smoothly.