Final answer:
The safe distance for digging near a marked utility varies by location but often involves a tolerance zone of 18 to 24 inches. One must call the local utility location service for markings and guidelines to avoid hazards, service disruptions, and legal issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
When digging near a marked utility with a machine, there are specific safety and legal regulations to follow. Generally, the exact distance you must maintain from a marked utility can vary based on local laws and regulations, but a common guideline is the 'tolerance zone.' This zone typically extends 18 to 24 inches on all sides of the marked utility line. Digging within this tolerance zone should be done with extreme caution and may require hand digging or soft digging techniques to prevent damage to underground utilities.
Using a machine to dig near utilities without knowing the proper clearances can be hazardous and lead to significant service disruptions, legal consequences, and even physical harm. Before digging, one should always call the local utility location service to have all underground utilities properly marked and to receive information on the required safe digging practices around these utilities.