Excavation/Trench Safety Competent Person

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Date/Time

Date(s) - September 10, 2026
8:00 am - 12:00 pm

Location

Mid-America Safety & Environmental, LLC
2259 N Burton Avenue
Springfield, MO 65803

Duration: 4 Hours

$195.00 per person

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Course Overview

Excavation and trenching are among the most hazardous operations in construction, and failures in planning, inspection, or protective systems can result in catastrophic injuries and fatalities. This intensive, half-day Excavation Competent Person Training is designed to equip supervisors and key personnel with the knowledge and skills required to recognize, evaluate, and control excavation-related hazards in full accordance with OSHA Subpart P requirements.

Delivered by experienced safety professionals, this course provides a practical, standards-based approach to excavation safety. Participants will learn how to interpret and apply OSHA regulations, assess soil conditions, select appropriate protective systems, and conduct thorough inspections to prevent cave-ins, engulfment, and other serious incidents. Upon successful completion, attendees will be prepared to serve as the designated competent person for excavation and trenching operations on their projects.

Who Should Attend

This course is designed for individuals who have direct responsibility for planning, overseeing, or working in and around excavations and trenches, including:

  • Construction site supervisors and foremen
  • Safety managers and safety coordinators
  • Project managers and field engineers
  • Crew leaders and lead equipment operators
  • Utility and pipeline contractors
  • Municipal public works and maintenance personnel
  • Anyone designated or expected to serve as the excavation/trenching competent person

Key Topics Covered

Training content is aligned with OSHA’s Subpart P excavation standards and all associated appendices:

Regulatory Framework & Definitions (29 CFR 1926.650)

  • Overview of OSHA Subpart P – Excavations
  • Scope, application, and key definitions for excavation work
  • OSHA’s definition of “competent person” as it applies to excavation and trenching operations
  • Distinction between competent person, qualified person, and authorized employee

Specific Excavation Requirements (29 CFR 1926.651)

  • Access and egress requirements for trenching operations
  • Protection from falling loads and mobile equipment
  • Hazard identification: cave-ins, falling materials, water accumulation, hazardous atmospheres, adjacent structures, and surface encumbrances
  • Requirements for inspections before, during, and after excavation activities

Requirements for Protective Systems (29 CFR 1926.652)

  • Types of protective systems: sloping, benching, shoring, and shielding (trench boxes)
  • Role of registered professional engineers and manufacturer data in protective system design
  • Evaluating and selecting appropriate protective systems based on site conditions and soil classification

OSHA Subpart P Appendices A–F

  • Appendix A – Soil classification and analysis: identifying Type A, B, and C soils through visual and manual tests
  • Appendix B – Requirements for sloping and benching systems
  • Appendix C – Timber shoring for trenches: design and installation
  • Appendix D – Aluminum hydraulic shoring for trenches
  • Appendix E – Alternatives to timber shoring
  • Appendix F – Selection of protective systems: decision-making framework

Practical Application & Field Considerations

  • Conducting and documenting daily excavation inspections
  • Recognizing changing conditions and triggering events requiring re-evaluation
  • Safe use of heavy equipment around excavations
  • Protective measures for workers and the public (barricades, signage, traffic control)
  • Emergency planning and incident response for excavation-related events

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

  1. Explain OSHA requirements for excavation and trenching under 29 CFR 1926.650, 1926.651, and 1926.652, and associated Appendices A–F of Subpart P.
  2. Define the role and authority of the excavation competent person and describe how that role functions on a jobsite.
  3. Identify common excavation and trenching hazards and implement effective controls to prevent cave-ins, collapses, and related incidents.
  4. Classify soil types using OSHA Appendix A criteria and understand how soil conditions affect protective system selection.
  5. Select appropriate protective systems (sloping, benching, shoring, shielding) based on OSHA requirements, soil classification, and site-specific factors.
  6. Conduct and document pre-job, daily, and post-event inspections of excavations and trenches in accordance with OSHA standards.
  7. Recognize when conditions have changed sufficiently to require re-evaluation of the excavation and modification or suspension of work.
  8. Communicate excavation safety expectations clearly to crews and contractors and enforce site requirements consistently.

Competent Person Responsibilities Upon Completion

Following successful completion of this course, participants will be prepared to perform the duties of a competent person for excavation operations, as designated by their employer, including:

  • Evaluating excavation and trench conditions before work begins and throughout the work shift
  • Determining whether protective systems are adequate, properly installed, and appropriate for the soil and site conditions
  • Identifying hazardous conditions — such as indications of imminent cave-in, water intrusion, spoil pile placement issues, or equipment hazards — and taking prompt corrective action
  • Stopping work when necessary due to unsafe conditions and authorizing resumption only when hazards have been controlled
  • Directing the installation, modification, or removal of protective systems based on OSHA Subpart P requirements and manufacturer instructions
  • Ensuring that access/egress, atmospheric testing (where applicable), and traffic/pedestrian controls meet regulatory and company standards
  • Maintaining inspection records and communicating findings to management and affected workers

Note: Designation as a competent person remains the responsibility of the employer, based on the individual’s training, experience, and demonstrated ability to identify and correct hazards.

Prerequisites & Requirements

  • Experience: Basic familiarity with construction operations and jobsite safety practices
  • Role: Currently involved in — or preparing to oversee — excavation or trenching activities
  • Employer Authorization: Participants should be authorized or under consideration by their employer for competent person designation
  • No formal academic prerequisites; participants should be prepared to engage in technical discussion and apply regulatory concepts to real-world scenarios
  • Employers are encouraged to provide relevant company policies or procedures for discussion during class
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