Trench Safety Regulations

This new PUBLIC SAFETY regulation is required by statute and is designed to prevent the general public from falling into an unattended trench and suffering an injury or fatality.

Under the regulation, municipalities must designate a permitting authority to issue the required permits for trenches on public ways or private property within the municipality.

The City of Lowell has adopted new regulations to bring the City in compliance with these new state regulations. The application for Street Opening and Trenches can be printed out and brought in to Engineering (3rd floor, City Hall).

• Application (PDF)
  
• Application checklist (PDF)
  

 
The following links have more information on the new state regulations:

from mass.gov

• http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eopsmodulechunk&L=3&L0=Home&L1=Public+Safety+Agencies&L2=Massachusetts+Department+of+Public+Safety&sid=Eeops&b=terminalcontent&f=dps_trench_page&csid=Eeops

from MA Municipal Assoc. (MMA)

• http://www.mma.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3514:trench-safety-rules-take-effect-march-1&catid=34:public-works-energy-and-utilities&Itemid=574