Advanced / Program Oversight
Competent Person for Excavation, Trenching & Shoring Training
An 8-hour, OSHA-aligned course for the person responsible for soil classification, protective system selection, daily inspections, and overall excavation program oversight.
OSHA defines a competent person as someone capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards and authorized to take prompt corrective measures. Training supports this role, but the employer must designate the competent person and ensure they have the knowledge, authority, and site-specific understanding needed for the excavation work being performed. Completing this course is a foundational step, not an automatic designation.
| Duration | 8 hours, self-paced |
| Price | $159.99 per seat |
| Format | On-demand online (SCORM, Virtual Instructor-Led, and In-Person Group available through HAZWOPER OSHA Training) |
| Languages | English and Spanish |
| Device Compatibility | Desktop, laptop, tablet, and mobile browsers |
| Certificate Issued | Certificate of completion, immediately on passing |
| Certificate Validity | 24 months, before a refresher is recommended |
| CEUs | Not issued per-course. HAZWOPER OSHA Training is IACET Accredited at the organizational level - see Credential Transparency. |
| OSHA Standard Covered | 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P, Excavations |
Role & Purpose
This course prepares the individual an employer intends to designate as a site's excavation Competent Person: classifying soil, selecting and verifying protective systems, running daily inspections, and building the site's written excavation safety program. If your role is limited to working in or around a trench without these oversight duties, see Excavation, Trenching & Shoring Safety Training instead.
Who Should Take This Course
- Individuals an employer intends to designate as Competent Person for excavation work
- Safety managers, foremen, and site supervisors overseeing daily trench inspections
- EHS coordinators and compliance staff assessing excavation risk
- Construction engineers and project managers overseeing protective system installation
- Contractors and subcontractors on projects involving excavation, trenching, utility installation, shoring, or site preparation
Who Should Not Rely on This Course Alone
- Workers who only need crew-level hazard awareness - see Excavation, Trenching & Shoring Safety Training (lower cost, shorter, matched to that role)
- Anyone expecting this course alone to satisfy engineering-design requirements for excavations 20 feet or deeper, which require a registered professional engineer - see Protective Systems
- Anyone whose employer has not yet formally designated them as Competent Person - training builds knowledge, but designation and site-specific authority come from the employer
Learning Objectives
- Define the Competent Person's authority and responsibility under 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P
- Classify Stable Rock, Type A, Type B, and Type C soils using visual and manual analysis tests
- Select and size sloping, benching, shielding, and shoring systems for site conditions
- Conduct required daily inspections and document findings
- Build a written excavation safety program and emergency/rescue plan
- Recognize when tabulated data is sufficient and when a registered professional engineer is required
Full Curriculum
- Defining the Competent Person Role - authority and legal responsibility under 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P.
- Soil Classification - classifying Stable Rock, Type A, Type B, and Type C soils using visual and manual analysis tests.
- Selecting Protective Systems - choosing and sizing sloping, benching, shielding, and shoring systems for site conditions.
- Daily Inspection Duties - required inspections before each shift, after rainfall, and whenever conditions change.
- Program Development & Emergency Planning - building a written excavation safety program and rescue plan that holds up under inspection.
Knowledge Check & Exam Details
The course includes module knowledge checks and a final assessment covering soil classification, protective system selection, and inspection duties. A passing score is required to receive a certificate of completion. If a student does not pass on the first attempt, a retake is available; contact HAZWOPER OSHA Training support at 1-866-429-6742 for the current passing-score threshold and retake process for your enrollment.
Sample Certificate
Below is a redacted sample. It illustrates the certificate format only - it is not a real certificate and does not represent OSHA issuance.
HAZWOPER OSHA Training, LLC
Certificate of Completion
[Student Name Redacted]
Verification: hazwoper-osha.com/certificate-verification
Employer Responsibility
This course supports OSHA compliance but does not replace it. The employer must designate who serves as Competent Person on each site, confirm that person has the authority to stop work, and ensure site-specific conditions - soil, water, utilities, equipment, and access - are actually evaluated in the field, not assumed from training alone.
Policies
See our Refund Policy and Certificate Policy for cancellation terms and certificate handling.
Also Available Through HAZWOPER OSHA Training
SCORM packages for company LMS platforms, Virtual Instructor-Led sessions, and In-Person Group training for this course are available directly through HAZWOPER OSHA Training. See Certifications & Accreditations for provider credentials.
Enroll
Competent Person for Excavation, Trenching & Shoring Training
Competent Person Training
- 8 hours of self-paced online training
- Available in English and Spanish
- Certificate of completion, valid 24 months
- Aligned with 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P