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Effective: March 1, 2009
Excavators must obtain a Trench Permit prior to the excavation of a trench made for construction-related purposes on public or private land or rights-of-way. For trenches in the public ways or municipal projects, please obtain your permit from the Director of Public Works. All other excavators should apply to the Building Inspector for a trench permit.
Trench Safety Regulations require that all excavators take specific precautions to protect the general public and prevent unauthorized access to unattended trenches.
Unattended trenches must be covered, barricaded or backfilled.
- Covers must be road plates at least 3/4" thick or equivalent.
- Barricades must be fences at least 6 feet high with no openings greater than 4" between vertical supports.
- Backfilling must be sufficient to eliminate the trench.
- Alternatively, excavators may choose to attend trenches at all times, by hiring a police detail, security guard or other attendant who will be present durinig times when the trench is not attended by the excavator.
The Building Inspector or the Director of Public Works may order an immediate shutdown of a trench for the failure to obtain a permit or the failure to implement or effectively use adequate protections for the general public.
For additional information, please visit the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety's website at www.mass.gov/dps.
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