I was at a flea market over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Besides the usual used tools, velvet paintings of Elvis and other such treasures, one gentleman was selling a box of tiny parts. When I enquired, he said they used to be a clock. Some assembly required, apparently. That got me thinking about the […]
KEEPING YOUR COOL IN TEXAS HEAT
All of us at Texas811 hope you’re having a great Memorial Day holiday. Of course, all good things must come to an end, and that means back to work tomorrow. If you’re one of the many people who make your living outdoors through excavation, contracting, or other related work, keep an eye on the sky. […]
THE DOMINO EFFECT
Ever watch a row of dominos topple? Domino one falls into domino two, domino two falls into domino three, and so on. Falling dominos are fun and kind of mesmerizing to watch – unless you’re in the business world. A May 2 explosion and fire at a Michigan parts factory turned into a domino cascade […]
THE TOLERANCE ZONE
“The Tolerance Zone.” It might sound like The Twilight Zone, a classic TV series hosted by Rod Serling, or The Phantom Zone, an interdimensional prison seen in Superman comic books. Actually, it’s neither. The Tolerance Zone shows up once you’ve made the free call to 811 to get underground utilities flagged in your work area. When […]
DECODING THE COLORS
Spring is well upon us, and flowers are in bloom. Maybe you’re seeing some in your yard, or at a neighbor’s home. They are certainly in abundance at gardening centers! Just like each blossom denotes a different flower – so do the tiny utility marker flags you are also seeing pop up like mushrooms as […]
I CAN’T CALL 811 – OH, YES, YOU CAN!!!!
There’s a word that we don’t like very much at Texas811, and it really bites into our mission of underground damage prevention and workplace safety. It’s the word “can’t.” As in: I can’t call 811, I don’t have time to wait for a utility locator. I can’t call 811, it’s not my job. I can’t […]
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, CALL 811, AND DIG TESS
The clouds finally cleared in Dallas for a day, and sitting out in the backyard at night you could see stars and a shining moon. You can see even more in the night skies if you know where to look, just like in underground damage prevention. A dead give away is the presence of underground […]
The Benefits of Using the Texas811 Portal
For contractors, calling Texas811 before you dig is a great way to keep your business running smoothly. Now, with the Texas811 portal, it’s never been easier. The Texas811 portal is a great resource for any contractor ready to work on their digging project. It’s easy to set up and use on a regular basis. Here […]
Make a splash by adding a home pool
Now that we’re finally on the cusp of summer in typically hot Texas, it may be time to consider adding an outdoor pool at your home. Firsthand experience shows it’s totally possible to swim in Texas from at least mid-April to very early October (and without a wet suit). Pool 101 First, do some investigating […]
Job Site Safety and Contractor Training
At 811, we’re serious about job site safety. We are adamant about decreasing the amount of cut lines and educating our contractors on executing their job safely, as outlined in the OSHA Construction Industry Standards and Training Guidelines. For us, productivity does not trump safety, which is why we take these guidelines so seriously. First and foremost, we inspect […]