Excavation and trenching - Kentucky

Kentucky operates an OSHA-approved State Plan covering most private sector workers and all state and local government workers. Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health (Kentucky OSH) is part of the Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet's Department of Workplace Standards.

NOTE: As of June 2025, per House Bill 398, Kentucky OSH will no longer enforce standards that are stricter than federal OSHA.

Underground facilities

Kentucky has created an underground damage protection procedure. Under the procedure, excavators notify a notification center of a planned excavation so that the center can notify operators of underground facilities prior to the excavation. The operators then locate and mark their facilities to prevent damage to underground facilities, to facilitate workplace safety, and the protection of consumer services. The rules are found in KRS §§ 367.4901 -- 4917.

Hand-digging or nonintrusive methods. When excavation or demolition is necessary within the tolerance zone, the excavator must hand-dig or use nonintrusive means to avoid damage to the underground facility, except that mechanized equipment may be used:

• To remove the pavement or other manmade hard surface if used during the initial penetration only to the depth necessary and if an individual other than the equipment operator visually monitors the excavation activity;
• To remove indigenous rock if used during the initial penetration only to the extent necessary, if an individual other than the equipment operator visually monitors the excavation activity, and if the excavation is planned to avoid damage to the underground facility. Exception: If the underground facility contains flammable, toxic, corrosive, or hazardous products, the excavator must notify the facility owner of the excavator’s intent prior to removing indigenous rock;
• To remove materials that are more than 12 inches in any direction from the outer edge of the located facility if the excavator visually identifies the precise location of the underground facility or visually confirms that no facility is present within the depth of the excavation, if an individual other than the equipment operator visually monitors the excavation activity, and if the excavation is planned to avoid damage to the underground facility; and
• To place shores into an existing excavation or remove shores from an existing excavation.