• A variety of duties are performed by the designated competent person, including inspections, soil classification, and monitoring equipment.
• Soil is classified into four main groups: Stable Rock, Type A, Type B, and Type C. These categories are based on order of stability.

A competent person is an individual, designated by the employer, who can identify existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions that are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to workers, and who is authorized to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.

Tasks performed by the competent person include:

• Conducting inspections
• Classifying soil
• Inspecting protective systems
• Designing structural ramps
• Monitoring water removal equipment

Conduct inspections

Make sure the competent person conducts daily inspections of excavations, adjacent areas, and protective systems for evidence of a situation that could result in possible cave-ins, indications of failure of protective systems, hazardous atmospheres, or other hazardous conditions. Perform an inspection prior to the start of work and as needed throughout the shift. Make sure inspections occur after every rainstorm or other hazard-increasing occurrence. These inspections are only required when employee exposure can be reasonably anticipated.

Classify the soil

The soil classification system is a method of categorizing soil and rock deposits in a hierarchy of Stable Rock, Type A, Type B, and Type C, in decreasing order of stability. Categories are determined based on an analysis of properties and performance characteristics of the deposits and environmental conditions of exposure.

The competent person performs soil classification that is needed when:

• A sloping or benching system is designed as a method of protection for employees from cave-ins;
• Timber shoring for excavations is designed as a method of protection from cave-ins;
• Aluminum hydraulic shoring is designed; and
• Other protective systems are designed and selected for use from data prepared, and the use of data is predicated on the use of the soil classification system defined in a separate section.

Classification of the deposits is made based on the results of at least one visual and at least one manual analysis.

Visual analysis is conducted to determine qualitative information regarding the excavation site in general, the soil adjacent to the excavation, the soil forming the sides of the open excavation, and the soil taken as samples from excavated material.

Manual analysis of soil samples is conducted to determine quantitative as well as qualitative properties of soil and to provide more information to classify soil properly.

If, after classifying a deposit, the properties, factors, or conditions affecting its classification change in any way, the competent person must evaluate those changes. The deposit is reclassified as necessary to reflect the changed circumstances.

Inspect protective systems

The competent person must inspect an employer’s protective systems for any sign of damaged materials and equipment. Unsafe materials and equipment should be removed from service until a registered professional engineer evaluates and approves them for use.

Design protective systems

Any structural ramps used in an operation must be designed by a competent person if they are used for employee access or egress, or by a competent person qualified in structural design if they are used for vehicles.

Monitor water removal equipment

If water removal equipment is used to control or prevent water accumulation, an employer must ensure that a competent person monitors the equipment and its operation to ensure proper use. In addition, a competent person must inspect excavations subject to runoffs from heavy rains.