Guide to engineering restrictions

Learn more about the different classes of engineering restrictions in Massachusetts.

Table of Contents

Class 1: Hoisting

  • 1A: All hoisting equipment (except electric and air powered) including clutch machines, derricks, guy derricks, stiff legs, Chicago booms, gin poles, lattice booms, and equipment described by 1B. 
  • 1B: Equipment with telescoping booms with or without wire ropes, and equipment described by 1C. 
  • 1C: Equipment hydraulic telescoping booms without wire ropes and equipment described by 1D. 
  • 1D: General industrial warehouse Fork Lift equipment primarily used in indoor facilities 

Class 2: Excavating

  • 2A: Crawler and rubber-tired excavators, backhoes and loaders, and equipment described by 2B 
  • 2B: Backhoes and front-end loaders, and equipment described by 2C 
  • 2C: Front-end loaders and equipment described by 2D 
  • 2D: Compact Hoisting Machinery with a gross vehicle weight not exceeding 10,000 pounds, excluding Class 1, Class 3, and Class 4 Hoisting Machinery. 

Class 3: Electric and pneumatic

  • 3A: Electric and Pneumatic hoisting equipment. 

Class 4: Specialty

  • 4B: Drill Rigs 
  • 4C: Pipeline Side booms 
  • 4D: Concrete Pumps 
  • 4E: Catch Basin Cleaners 
  • 4F: Sign-Hangers 
  • 4G: Specialty Side Boom Mowers 

Other classes

  • HA Hoisting Apprentice: Must be Registered with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development 
  • HEML Municipal Limited: For use by operators employed by a municipal public works department, solely within the scope of their municipal employment, to operate hoisting equipment under the following restrictions: 1C, 2B, and 4G. 

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