Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost?

Free. Not a dime. Nothing. Zilch. Did we mention free?

What can you do with your data?

Anything you want. Use it to document events, submit it to DIRT, or just keep it to yourself and track your own performance. It’s yours to utilize in the way you see fit.

Who can use this tool?

Anyone. Excavators, underground facility operators, locators, one call centers, or anyone else with an interest in underground damage prevention, and a direct interest in collecting more information regarding the who, what, and why of underground damage incidents.

Will my data be reported to DIRT?

Yes, but only if you authorize us to do so. Safe Excavator Pro has been developed in a way that will allow the information to be provided to the DIRT system in an anonymous fashion, and only in the required format. In other words, your data will only be shared if you direct us to do so, or when you do it yourself.

Can anyone else see my company-specific data?

Only you and your affiliated company can view your data.

What information can we see?

We will only be able to view user data in an anonymized format that prevents it from being associated with any specific user.

How long does it take to create a damage record?

It depends on what question groups are selected, but the average time is between one (1) and three (3) minutes.

How many questions are there?

Besides a handful of registration questions you will only have to answer once, you may select the groups of questions used to build your particular damage reports. The number of questions used to build your particular damage reports is up to you. Questions are organized into three possible groups, at least one of which must be selected. The number of questions that can be chosen range from 19 to 42.

Do I have to answer all of the questions?

No. You only have to answer the questions for the group(s) you select. Those questions will then be pre-populated for you. If you do not know the answer to a question, you may answer “unknown” and come back to it at a later time. However, your report will not be completed until all selected questions are answered.

Can I select the questions I want to track?

You may select which group(s) of questions you or your users are asked each time a damage report is logged. This allows you to collect just basic information, or to dig deeper in order to get to the bottom of what happened and why.

How safe is my data?

Safe. Data is stored and managed in the Cloud by Microsoft® Azure, with top marks in the most stringent industry protocols, including ISO 27001, PCI DSS 3.2, and Azure CIS 1.1.0. The Cloud also means that everything is backed up.

Can I register multiple users?

Absolutely. There are two different types of accounts: one for individuals and another for companies or other organizations. When a company or organization establishes an administrative account, individual users can be invited to be a part of that group.

Can I be a member of more than one organization?

Not at this time.

What happens if I make a mistake or need to change an answer?

Don’t sweat it. You can go back an edit a report at any time. Just log into your account and go back to the question(s) you need to update and make your change. We will take care of the rest.

What happens if I don’t have all the information at the time of the initial report?

Fill out as much as you can so you don’t forget or lose information. You can go back to the report at any time and fill in additional information.

Can I export data?

Yes. There are two ways to export reports. The first is a PDF summary of an individual event. The second is a spreadsheet that includes your data or your organization’s data. Only your organization is able to download its entire data set.

Do I have to use the app to enter data?

No. You can also access your account at SafeExcavatorPro.com website. Just log on to input data or update an existing report.

What is the benefit if using Safe Excavator Pro over using the DIRT online portal directly?

The Safe Excavator app allows you to collect data easily from anywhere. It permits your data to be organized or your own analysis or into the format required for submission to DIRT.

May I export this data and submit to DIRT directly?

Sure. Safe Excavator Pro is permission-driven. If you don’t expressly give us permission to submit your data to DIRT, we won’t. You can then do your own reporting.

If I authorize Safe Excavator Pro to submit my data to DIRT, should I also submit it?

No. Do not submit your data to DIRT if you grant us permission to do so.

What do I do if I have additional questions?

Please send an email to info@SafeExcavatorPro.com.

Is it possible to tie this app to our existing reporting system or internal database?

Absolutely. Please contact us for more information at info@SafeExcavatorPro.com.

Does this take the place of my state reporting requirements?

No. If you have state reporting requirements, you must still file those reports just as you always have.

If I create a report using Safe Excavator Pro do I still have to notify the operator of the underground facility of the damage?

Yes. Always contact an operator and the 811 notification center if damage occurs. If a release of natural gas or hazardous liquids from a pipeline occurs, you must also notify 911.