Before any excavation, drilling, or sidewalk demolition can begin, utility technicians must physically locate and mark underground pipes, conduits, and cables. These markings follow a strict nationwide color code, with yellow indicating gas, blue for potable water, red for electricity, and green for sewer systems. Performing sidewalk repairs without a fresh, visible markout is extremely dangerous and violates New York State Industrial Code Rule 753. Contractors must respect the tolerance zone around these paint marks, using hand tools rather than heavy machinery to dig within two feet of any marked utility line.
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