Trenching and Excavation — Competent Person
Construction · Ver en español
Talking points
- A competent person must inspect the excavation, adjacent areas, and protective systems daily before work begins and after any rain, vibration, or other event that could change conditions.
- The competent person must be able to identify existing and predictable hazards and have the authority to take immediate corrective action — including stopping work.
- Soil classification is the competent person's responsibility. They must evaluate the soil type using at least one visual and one manual test (thumb penetration, ribbon, etc.).
- If conditions change — unexpected water, utility crossings, or signs of soil movement — the competent person must reassess and may need to upgrade the protective system.
- Every worker in and around the excavation should know who the competent person is for today's work. If you don't know, ask before entering.
Ask the crew
Who is the competent person for today's excavation work — and when was the last inspection?
Standards this talk is built on
A toolbox talk is a short safety briefing. It supports the training a standard requires; it does not replace it.
Run this talk with your crew and keep the record
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Sign-in sheet
Print this page to collect signatures, or run the talk in Jobsite and workers sign in on their phones.
| Name | Signature | Date |
|---|---|---|
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