Massachusetts General Laws Part I. Administration of the Government (Ch. 1-182) Ch. 149, § 129A

On any construction project carried on by any city, town, county or other subdivision of the commonwealth in which a trench is to be dug to a depth of five feet or more, except a trench for laying of water pipes dug to a depth of six and one-half feet which will be open less than forty-eight hours, such trench shall be shored and braced in conformity with the rules and regulations for the prevention of accidents in construction operations, as adopted and enforced by the attorney general. This section shall not apply to the digging of graves.