Bruce Magee
Excavations are integral to underground infrastructure construction, but they pose significant dangers for workers when improperly planned or managed. On average, more than 20 workers die from trench cave-ins each year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
To mitigate the risk of injuries and death, OSHA requires companies to designate a “Competent Person” to oversee trenching and excavation activities. Too often, employers fail to comply with this regulation. In a survey of industry stakeholders, only 39 percent reported there was always a properly trained Competent Person on the job site; 31 percent said there was occasionally a competent person present; and 3 percent said they never had a competent person during a project.
Many facility owners and their contractors lack clarity about what a Competent Person should be expected to know and do. Almost 34 percent of the survey respondents failed to understand the roles and responsibilities of this role.
Who can serve in this role?
OSHA defines a Competent Person as “one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.” Examples of existing and predictable hazards are cave-ins, hazardous atmospheres, and lack of entry and exit.
OSHA requires that a Competent Person be trained in and knowledgeable about soil evaluation, the proper selection and use of protective systems, and the requirements of the standard.
It is up to the employer to see that a Competent Person has had the appropriate training – but checking the training box is not enough. The employer must ensure, on an ongoing basis, that the person still possesses the necessary knowledge and is able to execute what he or she has been trained to do.
The Competent Person bears a great deal of responsibility. In trench and excavation work, this person is required to perform the duties below, among others.
Follow all relevant OSHA standards. OSHA 1926 Subpart P standard outlines the legal requirements for protecting workers involved in excavation and trenching activities. It specifies when a protective system is required and calls for designating a Competent Person to ensure that the system selected is designed for the application and used properly.
Six appendices present guidelines related to soil classification, sloping and benching, timber shoring, aluminum hydraulic shoring, alternatives to timber shoring and the selection of protective systems.
Classify the soil. Too often, a solution is determined before the problem is understood. In excavation safety, accurate soil classification is necessary prior to selection of a protective system. OSHA requires that the chosen system be designed to resist, without failure, all actual and reasonably expected loads, including soil loads.
Follow tabulated data. Manufacturers of trench protection systems provide tables and charts developed by professional engineers that dictate the maximum allowable depth for safe use, load limits and installation requirements. The Competent Person must follow the manufacturer’s tabulated data when choosing and using a prefabricated system.
The tab data must be kept onsite during construction in the event conditions change. For instance, heavy rainfall may alter the soil classification. The Competent Person will need to refer to the data to ensure that use of the protective system still falls within the limits of safe operation.
Enlist site-specific engineering as needed. The Competent Person must know when a shoring or shielding design from a registered professional engineer is required.
A site-specific plan is needed at any depth, any time there is deviation from the OSHA charts or any tabulated data. When the desired protective system has no tabulated data, a site-specific plan must be developed. Examples of protective systems that do not have tabulated data include beam and lagging, beam and plate, soil nailing and cantilevered sheeting.
Determine the best type of protective system. One of the main responsibilities of the Competent Person is determining the best type of protective system for the excavation, accounting for factors such as width, depth and length; soil type; and any adjacent structures or surface encumbrances.
Excavation protective systems include:
Sloping or benching: Removing additional soil away from the excavation in order to eliminate the risk of collapse
Shoring: Installing supports, such as a hydraulic strut system
Shielding: Installing a trench box or similar structure
Identify the location of underground utilities. Before the excavation begins, the Competent Person is responsible for locating any and all underground installations in the area, including gas, water or electrical lines. Skipping this step could result in gas leaks, flooding or electric shock.
Conduct tests for hazardous atmospheres. When workers are in a confined space or an excavation deeper than 4 feet and it is reasonable to think that a hazardous atmosphere could exist, the Competent Person must test that atmosphere prior to entry. Monitoring the atmosphere and taking appropriate corrective action, when necessary, protects workers from injuries due to hazardous gases and oxygen deficiencies.
Watch out for water accumulation. Water accumulation in a trench, regardless of the source, can undermine the performance of a protective system. The Competent Person should monitor water levels and re-evaluate the soil classification and the safety of the excavation, as necessary.
Perform inspections. Conditions on a job site can change unexpectedly; a leak can develop, for example, or a section of sloped earth could shift. Before any worker goes into an excavation at the start of a shift, and after each hazard-increasing event throughout the day, the Competent Person is required to inspect the site to ensure that integrity of the protective system has not been compromised, and the workspace remains safe.
Role of training
Companies may become complacent if their projects frequently require excavations, and they’ve never had an incident. They may neglect to designate a Competent Person because they assume that crews know what they’re doing. But the reality is that everyone in a job involving excavations is required to be trained in the hazards of the work, and at least one person must be designated as the decision-maker. Formal training can fill knowledge gaps, correct any long-held misunderstandings and provide a refresher on critical details and protocols.
Training on an ongoing basis ensures that the competent person stays up to date with the most recent advances in protective systems and any changes in the OSHA standard.
Designating and training a Competent Person does more than meet a legal requirement. It helps companies in the underground infrastructure space create safer worksites, improve their safety culture, protect their bottom line and safeguard their most valuable asset: their people. UI
About the author: Bruce Magee is the regional product development manager for United Rentals. In this role, Magee focuses on training support for key customers. He has 30 years of service in underground safety solutions, and over 40 years total in the field of industrial equipment distribution. Specializing in trench and excavation work, he has delivered more than 400 OSHA Competent Person Classes to the underground construction industry.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
United Trench Safety: (844) 873-4948, Trench Safety - Home | United Rentals
