Tag: competent person

The best way to ensure you are following OSHA’s rules is to hire someone who is competent to run the operation and who has the expertise to keep things in check.

Trenching and shoring in the construction industry are two of the most dangerous operations that exist. That is why the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has so many procedures, rules, and regulations in place to protect those who work on or near trenching sites. The problem is that although operations are guided by OSHA regulations, there is not always someone overseeing the site to make sure that everyone is following protocol.

There are some companies that run outside the confines of being regulated by OSHA, which means that they try to cut corners and receive lower fines for doing so. Even if you aren’t caught, the result is that you can be subject to some severe and stiff penalties and costs in the event that someone gets hurt. That is why it is important for your managers not only to know what OSHA’s rules dictate, but also that they follow them – regardless of whether or not you are closely monitored.

The Importance of the Competent Person

The best way to ensure you are following OSHA rules is to hire someone who is competent to run the operation and who has the expertise necessary to keep everyone and everything in check. They must have the authority to manage not just the site but the many types of personalities that they will likely be dealing with. Because accidents can happen when rules aren’t followed, finding someone skilled enough to be on top of employee issues is important.

A trenching manager should:

Communicate with the staff regarding the responsibilities and the dangers of working at a trenching site. Communicating effectively means being able to explain why things should be done a certain way and what the potential hazards are if those procedures aren’t followed.

Be capable of completing a protective system to manage the trenching site efficiently and understand what the proper dimensions, including width and depth, need to be to accommodate for various soil conditions.

Must be able to multitask, keeping an eye on the overall trenching operation as well as the individual workers to ensure that they are trained properly and following the right protective standards necessary to keep everyone safe.

Must understand how to both excavate and inspect the areas around the trenching site.

Must understand how to evaluate and ensure that the concentration of oxygen is sufficient for workers or to evaluate if there are any hazardous gases.

Must be capable of anticipating any vulnerabilities, and if they are observed – even in cases where it is workers who aren’t skilled enough – be able to remove them to minimize the potential for danger.

Although they are supposed to be regulated by OSHA, there are many trenching operations that are never inspected or even evaluated unless a red flag goes up. That does not mean that it isn’t important for you to ensure that you have the proper safety guidelines in place and a competent person to follow them. That is the only way to ensure that you aren’t left with huge fines or even a wrongful death suit on your hands.

St. Louis Trench Shoring & Excavation Services Call (636) 660-7467 :: Experts in trench shoring and excavation projects.

A competent person is an individual who has the capacity to identify the predictable and existing dangers.

The competent person plays a very significant role in trenching and excavation. He is well trained and has a comprehensive knowledge of the task.

The Competent Person

A competent person is an individual who has the capacity to identify the predictable and existing dangers in the workplace. He can clearly perceive the working conditions which are hazardous or unsanitary and pose a risk to the workers. He has the ability to identify the types of soil and design suitable protective systems. He possesses the authority to implement corrective measures to get rid of the hazards.

Role in Trenching and Excavation

The competent person has a great deal of responsibility. Trenching and excavation work is inherently dangerous. Accidents can occur at any time. The workers can get injured while performing their duties.

So the competent person must be very capable and well qualified. He must be trained suitably for the job. He should have a complete knowledge of the field. It is imperative that the person who holds this position is acquainted with all the aspects of excavation and the rules and regulations associated with the occupation.

He should be familiar with the applicable laws and requirements for personal protective equipment, utility location, confined space, rigging and design, and hazardous atmosphere testing.

A suitably trained competent person who is equipped with the right tools can make a great difference. He can get rid of the major hazards. At the same time, he can foresee the latent risks and take appropriate steps to reduce them.

Some of the specific qualifications include:

In order to achieve his goal of providing a safe work environment, he should have an open and clear communication with the staff responsible for the trenching operations. In order to achieve his goal of providing a safe work environment, he should have an open and clear communication with the staff responsible for the trenching operations.
He should devise suitable protective systems on the basis of the conditions of the site. While doing this, he must keep the depth and width of the trench and the soil conditions in mind.
He must keep a watch on all the employees who work in the excavation. He should ensure that each worker is trained properly and knows his work, is familiar with the hazards and the protective measures and knows what to do in an emergency.
He has to inspect the excavation and the areas around it.
He must conduct tests to check if there is an oxygen deficiency or a concentration of hazardous gases in the atmosphere.
He should analyze visually or test and classify the soil and rock deposits. If the conditions change he should re-classify the same. He must use this knowledge to determine the appropriate protection.
If there are chances of a cave-in, or if the protective arrangements are not working, if the atmosphere or the working conditions are hazardous, the competent person must immediately remove the workers from there. They should be allowed to return to work at the place only after all the safety precautions have been taken.

In this way, the competent person can play a vital role in trenching and excavation. Need competitive person training or St. Louis trench shoring services? Contact us now by calling (636) 660-7467 or by filling out our online contact form.