Title: Inspections and Competent Person Requirements
Type: Lesson
A trench may look safe — but only a trained competent person can properly assess the risks. OSHA requires daily inspections and immediate hazard correction on all active trenching sites.
According to OSHA, a competent person is someone who:
“Is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards… and has authorization to take prompt corrective measures.”
They must be:
Trained in excavation safety and soil analysis
Authorized by the employer to stop work and make corrections
On-site and actively involved in trench activities
A competent person must inspect:
Daily before work starts
After any hazard-increasing event, including:
Rain, snow, or storms
Vibration or equipment use near the trench
Water accumulation
Soil movement or cracking
Any time conditions change
If a trench becomes unsafe, the competent person must:
Stop all work in or near the trench
Evacuate the trench
Take corrective measures before re-entry is allowed
No trench work should occur unless a competent person is available to perform and document inspections.
Safety doesn’t come from appearance — it comes from trained, empowered people doing routine checks and taking action when something doesn’t look right.
Click “Mark Complete” to continue to Lesson 7: Emergency Response and Rescue Considerations, your final content lesson before the Final Assessment.