Excavation Competent Person Training and Its Importance

Excavation work has higher fatality rate than general construction—112 percent higher, to be exact. The good news is that this number can drastically be reduced with proper safety measures and the right OSHA training classes. OSHA requires an excavation-competent person to be present in every job site. This person—specifically defined as someone who has been trained and educated in the knowledge of applicable safety standards—should have the ability to identify workplace hazards based on specific operations while having the authority to prevent or correct them.

OSHA excavation safety standards require the daily inspection of excavation and trenching sites. This is mainly due to the changing nature of excavation site conditions. The approval of a competent person is required before worker entry so that working conditions can be verified and predictable hazards can be identified and eliminated. Excavation-competent people will determine any and all dangers within excavation and trenching sites and design the appropriate protective systems to make the site safer for workers. They are authorized to recommend and take corrective measures in order to eliminate identified dangers and potentially hazardous conditions.

The work of an excavation-competent person demands incredibly high accountability as the lives and wellbeing of workers rest in their expertise. This is why OSHA training classes for excavation competence are vital to anyone wishing to take on this responsibility. A competent person must acquire extensive training and supreme expertise in all aspects of excavation work, as well as relevant OSHA excavation safety regulations and standards. Their knowledge should cover everything from confined spaces to personal protective equipment, to utility locations, rigging, and design, hazardous atmosphere testing, all the way to the applicable city and state laws.

With proper training and the right tools in place, an excavation safety competent person will not only be able to prevent and eliminate major worksite hazards—they can also proactively anticipate and significantly reduce the likelihood of such risks while keeping in mind applicable OSHA excavation safety standards.

The value of a trained, skilled, knowledgeable, and conscientious excavation-competent person cannot be emphasized enough. Not only do they ensure compliance with OSHA rules and standards, they also and more importantly eliminate or at the very least, reduce potential risks and hazards by a significant factor when it comes to trenching and excavation works. This is exactly why you should invest in extensive OSHA training for your onsite excavation-competent professionals.