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29 CFR 1926 Subpart P

Excavation Competent Person

No one may work in a trench until a competent person has inspected it. This course covers soil classification, sloping, shoring, and shielding, and the daily inspection the standard puts in your hands.

Who this course is for

  • Foremen and supervisors on utility, site work, and foundation crews
  • Workers designated as excavation competent person
  • Equipment operators stepping into a lead role
  • Safety managers who audit trenching operations

What you will be able to do

  • Classify soil as Stable Rock, Type A, B, or C using visual and manual tests
  • Select sloping, benching, shoring, or shielding for the conditions
  • Read manufacturer's tabulated data for trench shields and hydraulic shoring
  • Conduct and document daily and post-event inspections
  • Manage spoil piles, access and egress, water, and hazardous atmospheres
  • Recognize when a registered professional engineer is required

Course outline

  1. Why trenches collapseSoil mechanics in plain terms, and what a cubic yard of soil weighs.
  2. Subpart P requirementsUtilities, access, exposure to traffic and loads, water, and atmospheres.
  3. Soil classificationAppendix A: visual tests, thumb penetration, pocket penetrometer, and reclassification.
  4. Sloping and benchingAppendix B: maximum allowable slopes by soil type.
  5. Shoring and shieldingTimber, aluminum hydraulic shoring, trench boxes, and tabulated data.
  6. Inspections and the competent personDaily, after rain, and as conditions change; removing workers; records.
Know before you enroll

A competent person is designated by the employer, who must also give that person the authority to correct hazards. Training supports the designation; it does not make it.

Excavations deeper than 20 feet need a protective system designed by a registered professional engineer.

Questions about this course

Does this course make me a competent person?

Not by itself. Your employer designates the competent person and must give that person authority to stop work and correct hazards. This course gives you the knowledge the standard expects and a record of it.

Is there a hands-on part?

The course teaches the soil tests and inspection method with photos and worked examples. Practicing manual soil tests on your own site, with your employer, is strongly recommended.

How does the final exam work?

The course ends with a timed, multiple-choice exam drawn from a question bank. The passing score is 70 percent and retakes are included. Your certificate is issued the moment you pass.

Will my employer or general contractor accept the certificate?

Every certificate shows the course, contact hours, completion date, the standard covered, and a unique ID with a QR code, so anyone can confirm it in seconds. Acceptance is always the employer's or site owner's decision. If a site requires a specific provider or a hands-on evaluation, check with them before you enroll.

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