How far from a marked facility should you dig with hand tools?

• A. 36 inches
• B. 10 inches
• C. 24 inches
• D. 20 inches

Answer: (C)

When working near buried utilities, you protect yourself and the lines by keeping a two-foot buffer and using hand tools within that zone. The standard rule is to dig with hand tools within twenty-four inches (two feet) of any marked facility. This small, careful approach reduces the risk of striking a gas line, cable, or other utility if you’re near what’s buried below. Exceeding that distance typically allows mechanical excavation, but within the two-foot zone you use hand tools to carefully expose and assess what’s below before using larger equipment. Always remember to call before you dig to have the utilities marked so you know exactly where the lines run. The other distances don’t match the safety guideline: they’re either too large or too small to reliably protect buried facilities.