Excavator News - April 2023

Excavator News – April 2023

How Indiana 811 is Celebrating National Safe Digging Month

Do Your Part. Show Us The Marks. White Line For 811.
This National Safe Digging Month (NSDM), Indiana 811 is focusing our efforts on educating homeowners and professionals on an important topic, white lining. White lining is a key step for homeowners and professionals looking to complete any project that requires digging. It’s as simple as using white paint or flags to mark your intended dig site prior to contacting 811, which saves time and money. After the intended dig site has been marked, you can submit your online ticket at Indiana811.org and utility locators will know precisely where your project will be taking place, making the 811 process more efficient for all parties involved.

We are proud to present our new digital billboard campaign, which promotes the importance of white lining for a streamlined 811 process. The billboards will debut in April during National Safe Digging Month across high-traffic areas of Indiana, so be sure to keep an eye out and get your white spray paint ready for all your spring digging projects!

You can also see our white lining message featured through artwork in several rural publications, as well as on social media, so be sure to follow Indiana 811’s Facebook and Twitter accounts to learn more about white lining and how you can contribute to making the 811 system function more efficiently.

Indiana 811 Shares Safe Digging Message With Baseball Fans
Indiana 811 will once again partner with the Indianapolis Indians baseball team this National Safe Digging Month to promote the 811 Before You Dig message. Indiana 811’s educational video series will be featured between innings, in which our beloved mascot Holey Moley and the Indians’ mascot Rowdie will educate baseball fans in a fun and engaging way about the 811 process, including white lining and its significance. The Indians will also launch their annual Home Lawn Makeover Sweepstakes, which runs through the end of June and will award one lucky winner with a lawn makeover, courtesy of the Indians ground crew and sponsored by Indiana 811!

Indiana 811 at the 2023 CGA Conference & Expo

Indiana 811 is looking forward to being a part of the 2023 CGA Conference & Expo by sponsoring a very special event! CGA Expo 2023 will take place April 17-21 at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Fla. This year’s event will offer attendees a large number of sessions, a sold-out 50,000 square foot exhibit hall, networking with everyone in damage prevention and more. We will support this year’s conference through the “Animal Attraction” sponsorship, which supports a local Orlando animal shelter so attendees can meet potential puppies available for adoption on the show floor. We hope to see you in Orlando in just a few weeks!

Indiana 811’s Positive Response System – Important Updates

Indiana 811’s Positive Response system allows Member Utilities or their Contract Locator to communicate the status of their tickets to the requesting party. The process increases efficiency and reduces the need for additional notices.

*Please keep in mind that the Member Utilities or their Contract Locator may not participate in this system.

What are the codes used in Indiana 811’s Positive Response system?
Two new Design Notice Positive Response codes have been added. The current codes along with their descriptions can be found here. When an Excavator accesses the Responses through Exactix, they will be able to view the response along with the description and comment, if provided.

Will I be notified when Positive Response information is entered into Indiana 811’s system?
An email will be sent to the address listed on the ticket using the rules below:

Immediately after all Members respond OR
When the responses are due which is determined by the working day notice required by law
If additional responses are entered after the original positive response email was sent, another email will be sent each time a response is entered

If the Member participates, the status information they provide will be included in the email. If they do not participate or have not entered a response at the time the email is sent, Has Not Responded will be listed.

For instructions and more information, please visit:

New Exactix Features Now Available!

There is a new process to update your locate requests. Please follow the prompts when selecting an Extension or Remark.

An Extension is submitted when the markings from the previous ticket are still visible in the dig area, but the digging will not be completed by the 20-day expiration date. The prior locate remains valid until expired.
A Remark is submitted if the markings have been disturbed, damaged, or are no longer visible. Excavation or demolition may not continue until each affected member provides an updated response for the proposed location.

When reviewing ticket submissions from the dashboard, the Status has been changed from Complete to Released.

Released indicates the request has been sent to the affected member utilities. Released does not indicate utility response.
Incomplete indicates required information is still needed in order to send the request to the affected member utilities.

Automated emails will be sent to the address listed on the ticket communicating the Members’ status if they use Indiana 811’s Positive Response system. This process increases efficiency and reduces the need for additional notices. For more information, please visit:

Similar Tickets
When online users create a ticket, Exactix will check to see if there is another ticket created within the past 20 days that matches the dig site description. If any are found, the pop-up will show some of the ticket information with a link to view each matched ticket. This is to help reduce duplicate requests for the same company.

The Damage Prevention Councils of Indiana

Indiana Damage Prevention Councils (DPCs) bring together underground facility owners, operators, government agencies, excavators, industry associations and service providers to improve safety and reduce damages to underground utilities. Damage Prevention Councils also have a voice on legislation for excavation and related processes. For more information on the DPCs, including upcoming meetings, contact information for personnel and more, visit the Indiana 811 website. Upcoming DPC meetings for the month of April can be found below:

Northern Chapter:

April 26, 2023
Virtual meeting at 1:00 p.m.