White lining is an effective way of communicating an intended dig site. No matter if the project is large or small, white-lining eliminates assumptions on all affected parties, reduces project delays, which saves everyone time and money. IUPPS is a strong advocate for white lining all digging projects, Safe digging is no accident!

White Lining:
CGA Best Practice Statement: When the excavation site can not be clearly and
adequately identified on the locate ticket, the excavator designates the route and/or area to be excavated using white pre-marking prior to the arrival of the locator.

Practice Description: The route of the excavation is marked with white paint, flags, stakes, or a combination of these to outline the dig site prior to notifying the one-call and before the locator arrives on the job. Pre-marking allows the excavators to accurately communicate to facility owners/operators or their locator where excavation is to occur. The 1997 safety study “Protecting Public Safety Through Excavation Damage Prevention” by the NTSB reached the conclusion
that pre-marking is a practice that helps prevent excavation damage.Maine was one of the first states to have mandatory pre-marking for non-emergency excavations. Connecticut has also adopted a premarking requirement; however, the law provides for face-to-face meetings between operators and excavators on projects that are too large for or not conductive to pre-marking. Facility owners/operators can avoid unnecessary work locating facilities that are not associated
with planned excavation.

Sources: CGA