Excavation Safety Competent Person Training

Qualified/Competent Person Training is designed for all employees involved in trenching work, including job foremen, job superintendents, engineers and any personnel involved in underground projects.

According to OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart (US) and CCOHS (Canada), every excavation must have a designated Qualified/Competent Person to manage the safety aspects of the site. To properly carry out Qualified/Competent Person responsibilities, this individual must have training in, and be knowledgeable of, soil analysis, the use of protective systems and the requirements of the standard.

Additional responsibilities include identifying existing and predictable hazards in the work environment and possessing the authority to take prompt corrective action.

Training topics include: 

• Introduction to trench safety 
• The OSHA/CCOHS excavation standard 
• Competent person responsibilities 
• Sloping, shoring, shielding guidelines 
• Protective systems options 
• Soil analysis 
• Job planning