Pennsylvania One Call System

One Call was created as a sub-committee of the Pittsburgh Public Service Coordinating Committee in 1968. Operations were established in September 1972 and the service covered 6 utilities serving Allegheny County in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The organization incorporated 4/6/1978. In April 1975, Act 287 (1974) went into effect requiring excavators to call before digging, and expanded the service area to 11 counties. At that time, in honor of the 1776 United States Bicentennial, the toll free number 800-242-1776 was added as an additional way to reach the call center, and coverage included the 33 counties of Western Pennsylvania.

Any person who or which performs excavation or demolition work for himself or for another person. Notification for excavation work must be made not less than 3 business days nor more than 10 business days prior to commencing excavation work starting the day the notification is received according to the Pennsylvania Underground Utility Line Protection (UULP) law. PA Act 287 of 1974, as amended by Act 50 of 2017. Excavator Designer Web Access is a web service application developed by Pennsylvania 811 to provide excavators and designers a way to view their notifications and facility owners responses.

Each designer preparing a drawing requiring excavation or demolition work shall place a notification with the Pennsylvania One Call System, which allows the designer to plan the new work around the existing facilities. Pennsylvania Underground Utility Line Protection (UULP) law. PA Act 287 of 1974, as amended by Act 50 of 2017. The information provided by the designer on the notification should cover the entire scope of the plan or development with enough detail to allow the facility owners to provide the approximate locations of their lines in the proposed work area.