8-1-1

In the United States, 8-1-1 provides a uniform national phone number to access local utility location services.

[9][10] Quebec has since supplemented its teletriage service (Info-Santé) with access to a social worker to deal with situations of psychosocial distress (Info-Social) at the same 8-1-1 number.

This safety measure not only helps prevent damage that interrupts telecommunications, but also the cutting of subterranean power lines, water mains, and natural gas pipes.

[18] However, according to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, using 811 services before digging projects results in a 99% chance of avoiding utility damages, injury, environmental harm, and death.

Many telephone companies, including Canada's Telus, are experimenting with merging 8-1-1 and 6-1-1 service now that neither will usually route directly to a human operator[citation needed].