MOSQUITOS, POISON IVY, AND (SHUDDER) SNAKES In last week’s blog, we talked about all the ways you can keep your employees and yourself safe from the summer sun – and while heat protection is always big on anyone’s list, so should protection from insects, vegetation and the unpleasant things often found lurking in rock piles. […]
Baby, It’s Hot Outside
You may have noticed, but just in case you haven’t – it’s HOT outside. As I’m writing this, I took a look at a forecast map for today. Yep. Don’t look for snowfall just yet. Our business requires working outside. You probably rarely, if ever, get called to use a backhoe inside of an air […]
GO FOURTH AND CELEBRATE!
This week we celebrate our nation’s birth and independence. There will be fireworks, picnics, bands, parades and flags. We at Texas811 are celebrating with you – but we’d also like to give you something to think about in a fun way! So, in the spirit of a former late night tv host’s top ten, here […]
TORRENTIAL RAIN VS. LOCATE RODEO – AND RODEO WINS!
The 16th annual International Utility Locate Rodeo is in the books! Despite the best intentions of Mother Nature, the show did go on – just a bit later than intended. Texas811 crew and volunteers had spent several days at Texas Motor Speedway setting up tents, putting out tables and chairs, setting out signs, dropping off […]
TIP YOUR HARD HAT TO THE LOCATORS WHO KEEP YOU SAFE
You may or may not be aware, but this is Locator Safety Awareness Week. It runs from June 18 – June 24, 2017. The men and women who perform the underground utility locates across the United States work hard each and every week, so it’s only right to honor them with their own week. Summer […]
WORKING UP A STORM
We were proud to be part of the 141st State Firefighters’ and Fire Marshals’ Association annual training conference and convention in San Marcos this past weekend. The SFFMA has over 22,000 members and their job is to “Promote, Unify, Represent, and Educate The Fire Service of Texas.” Along with our PipelineResponse and Mock Line Strike […]
FANTASTIC BEASTS, MERCAPTAN, AND RODEOS
Over the weekend I finally watched the movie Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. It’s by Harry Potter author JK Rowling, and as you might expect is full of, well, Fantastic Beasts and other things magical. If you haven’t seen it, and without giving away the plot, it seems that 1926 New York City […]
IT’S A JUMPIN’ JUNE WITH TEXAS811!
The Memorial Day weekend is behind us, and next stop on the calendar holiday hit parade is the Fourth of July – but between now and then we at Texas811 have plenty to keep everyone busy! First and foremost, the International Utility Locate Rodeo is riding into town June 22-24. The actual competition takes place […]
NO PATENT REQUIRED TO DIG SAFELY
On May 22nd, 1906, the Wright brothers were granted U.S. patent number 821,393 for their “Flying-Machine“. The famous first flight had taken place at Kitty Hawk on December 17th, 1903. Unfortunately, if the Wrights were hoping to gain a monopoly on powered flight, the genie of invention was already out of the bottle. Fast forward […]
WHEN THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENS
Do you ever give any thought to what happens when the unthinkable happens? A gas line is ruptured and ignites. Who is stepping into the breach? Your first responders, that’s who. The men and women of your local fire services put their lives on the line to deal with the unthinkable. When a gas line […]