Trenching and Excavation

Non-Member: $300 | Members log-in to automatically save 30% on the cost of this course at checkout.

Workplace Scholarship funding available. Qualified applicants can receive an additional 50% off this course! Select the link below to learn more:
Workplace Scholarship Program

Course Time: 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Certain activities or safety procedures at a construction site require design, inspection or supervision by a competent person. The OSHA Construction Standard defines a competent person as someone 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.

Trenching and excavation work is dependent on these specialized employees because its highly technical nature, as well as its inherent hazards, require a greater level of training and experience than a normal worker would possess. The items below specify the trenching and excavation activities where a competent person is necessary.

Protective Systems or Equipment

• Monitoring water removal equipment and operations. [29 CFR 1926.651(h)(2)]
• Inspecting excavations subject to runoff from heavy rains to determine need for diversion ditches, dikes, or other suitable protection. [29 CFR 1926.651(h)(3)]
• Determining cave-in potential to assess need for shoring or other protective system. [29 CFR 1926.652(a)(1)]
• Examining damaged material or equipment used for protective systems to determine its suitability for continued use. [29 CFR 1926.652(d)(3)]
• Classifying soil and rock deposits, by both visual analysis and by testing, to determine appropriate protection; re-classifying, if necessary, based on changing conditions. [29 CFR 1926 Subpart P Appendix A]
• Determining the appropriate slope of an excavation to prevent collapse due to surcharge loads from stored material or equipment, operating equipment, adjacent structures, or traffic, and assuring that such slope is achieved. [29 CFR 1926 Subpart P Appendix B (c)(3)(iii)]

Inspecting Trench and Protective Systems

• Authorizing immediate removal of employees from the hazardous area where evidence of possible cave-in, failure of protective systems, hazardous atmospheres, or other hazardous conditions exists. [29 CFR 1926.651(k)(2)]

Unsafe Access/Egress

• Designing structural ramps that are used solely by employees as a means of access or egress. Structural ramps used for access or egress of equipment must be designed by a competent person qualified in structural design. [29 CFR 1926.651(c)(1)(i)]

Course also available on-site or specially arranged training at the Utah Safety Council's training center.
Member: $1,650 per class up to 10 participants, each additional participant $110.
Non-Member: $2,145 per class up to 10 participants, each additional participant $140.
**Traveling expenses may apply.

To schedule an on-site or special course please fill out our on-site request form or contact the Utah Safety Council at 801.746.SAFE (7233) or email the Occupational Safety Program Manager.

Number of Registrants*Number of registrants must be a number.