(a) For the purposes of providing for the protection of the public health and safety, certain procedures are necessary to assure that persons performing excavation or demolition operations know, prior to commencing such operations, of the presence or location of underground utilities in the excavation or demolition area. Certain precautions must be taken to avoid injuries and damage to life, limb and property, to avoid disruption and discontinuation of utility services to members of the public and to promote safe operations during excavation and demolition.
(b) This subchapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Underground Utility Damage Prevention and Safety Act.” This chapter shall be liberally construed and applied to promote its underlying purposes and policies.