What is a Competent Person?
A Competent Person is someone who is able to recognize existing and predictable hazards in the work place and has the ability and the authority to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate those hazards. (See the exact wording in the OSHA Excavation Standard definitions (1926.650).
How does someone become a Competent Person?
The Competent Person is a designated position. The employer designates the Competent Person.
What are the training requirements for the Competent Person?
The Competent Person must be trained and knowledgeable in three subjects; Soils, protective systems, and in the requirements of the OSHA Excavation Standard.
What are the responsibilities of a Competent Person?
In the definition of the Competent Person found in the OSHA Excavation Standard (1926.650), the overall responsibility of the Competent Person is to recognize hazards and to correct them. Specific responsibilities are enumerated in 1926.651 and 1926.652.
How long should a Competent Person training class take?
In order to adequately cover the subjects of soils, protective systems, and the requirements of the OSHA Excavation Standard, a class can take an average of 6 to 8 hours depending on the instructor and how much time is spent on each topic.
How often does the Competent Person need to attend training?
OSHA does not say how often a Competent Person needs to attend training. Since the focus of the Competent Person’s job includes the responsibility of recognizing existing and predictable hazards, classifying soil, selecting an adequate protective system, and inspecting excavations and protective systems (to name but a few) the Competent Person must be trained as required in order to stay current with the regulations as well as the skills required such as soil classification specifically, and generally managing a safe workplace.
What are the main hazards in excavation work?
Excavation hazards can be divided into two broad categories, the hazards involving cave-ins and those other hazards not necessarily involving cave-ins. The precautions and safety regulations pertaining to these various hazards can be found in 1926.651 and 1926.652 of the OSHA Standard.
How can a Competent Person make sure the excavation work is free from hazards?
The Excavation Standard requires that the Competent Person make periodic inspections to identify and eliminate hazards. Those are spelled out in 1926.651 and 1926.652 of the OSHA Standard.
How much does soil weigh?
An average cubic foot of soil can weigh between 75 lbs. and 125 lbs. depending on the type of soil, moisture content, etc. This means a cubic yard of soil (27 cubic feet) could weigh in the vicinity of 2,700 lbs.
Why do soils cave in?
All soils will eventually cave in because the soil strength is not enough to support the soil weight indefinitely. Just because the face (side) of the excavation does not collapse immediately, it does not mean that it will continue to stand unsupported.
What is soil classification?
This is a method of rating the soil stability as Stable Rock, Type A, Type B, or Type C, which will factor into the selection of an adequate protective system.
What is soil classification based on?
According to OSHA’s Appendix A, soil classification is based on site and environmental conditions and the structure and composition of the earth deposit.
What are the main types of protective systems?
Sloping and Benching, Shoring, and Shields
What is the difference between shoring and a shield?
A shoring system supports the sides of an excavation and is designed to prevent a cave-in. A shield system is a device that is typically used in a way that does not prevent a cave-in, but protects the worker inside of the shield.
What is a Competent Person?
A Competent Person is someone who is able to recognize existing and predictable hazards in the work place and has the ability and the authority to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate those hazards. (See the exact wording in the OSHA Excavation Standard definitions (1926.650).
How does someone become a Competent Person?
The Competent Person is a designated position. The employer designates the Competent Person.
What are the training requirements for the Competent Person?
The Competent Person must be trained and knowledgeable in three subjects; Soils, protective systems, and in the requirements of the OSHA Excavation Standard.
What are the responsibilities of a Competent Person?
In the definition of the Competent Person found in the OSHA Excavation Standard (1926.650), the overall responsibility of the Competent Person is to recognize hazards and to correct them. Specific responsibilities are enumerated in 1926.651 and 1926.652.
How long should a Competent Person training class take?
In order to adequately cover the subjects of soils, protective systems, and the requirements of the OSHA Excavation Standard, a class can take an average of 6 to 8 hours depending on the instructor and how much time is spent on each topic.
How often does the Competent Person need to attend training?
OSHA does not say how often a Competent Person needs to attend training. Since the focus of the Competent Person’s job includes the responsibility of recognizing existing and predictable hazards, classifying soil, selecting an adequate protective system, and inspecting excavations and protective systems (to name but a few) the Competent Person must be trained as required in order to stay current with the regulations as well as the skills required such as soil classification specifically, and generally managing a safe workplace.
What are the main hazards in excavation work?
Excavation hazards can be divided into two broad categories, the hazards involving cave-ins and those other hazards not necessarily involving cave-ins. The precautions and safety regulations pertaining to these various hazards can be found in 1926.651 and 1926.652 of the OSHA Standard.
How can a Competent Person make sure the excavation work is free from hazards?
The Excavation Standard requires that the Competent Person make periodic inspections to identify and eliminate hazards. Those are spelled out in 1926.651 and 1926.652 of the OSHA Standard.
How much does soil weigh?
An average cubic foot of soil can weigh between 75 lbs. and 125 lbs. depending on the type of soil, moisture content, etc. This means a cubic yard of soil (27 cubic feet) could weigh in the vicinity of 2,700 lbs.
Why do soils cave in?
All soils will eventually cave in because the soil strength is not enough to support the soil weight indefinitely. Just because the face (side) of the excavation does not collapse immediately, it does not mean that it will continue to stand unsupported.
What is soil classification?
This is a method of rating the soil stability as Stable Rock, Type A, Type B, or Type C, which will factor into the selection of an adequate protective system.
What is soil classification based on?
According to OSHA’s Appendix A, soil classification is based on site and environmental conditions and the structure and composition of the earth deposit.
What are the main types of protective systems?
Sloping and Benching, Shoring, and Shields
What is the difference between shoring and a shield?
A shoring system supports the sides of an excavation and is designed to prevent a cave-in. A shield system is a device that is typically used in a way that does not prevent a cave-in, but protects the worker inside of the shield.