The first step to take before starting any excavation work is to

The first step to take before starting any excavation work is to

• A. Contacting the local utility companies
• B. Obtaining the building permit
• C. Notifying neighbors
• D. Reviewing the project plan

Answer: (A)

Identifying and marking buried utilities before any digging is essential. By contacting local utility companies (or calling the 811 one-call system), you alert them to your planned excavation so they can locate and mark underground lines. This dramatically reduces the risk of striking gas, electric, water, or communication cables, which can cause fires, explosions, outages, or serious injuries. After utilities are marked, you can move on to other readiness steps like obtaining any required permits, reviewing the project plan, and coordinating with neighbors as needed. While those steps are important, the very first action is to make contact so utilities can be located and protected before digging begins.