Excavation and Trench Safety (Competent Person) Online Training

First, there’s no such thing as an excavation competent person certification, and OSHA generally dislikes the word “certification” when used to discuss safety training.

That said, OSHA requires the supervision of a competent person for a number of activities or procedures related to excavation and trench safety. A competent person is necessary for monitoring water removal equipment and operations, inspecting excavations subject to runoff from heavy rain, designing structural ramps for access and egress, and more.

This competent person must be capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards related to excavation and trenchwork, as well as working conditions that are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees. This training is intended to ensure that anyone serving as an excavation competent person has a current and thorough understanding of the relevant hazards and OSHA standards.

Please note that in order to fulfill OSHA’s requirement for a competent person, the individual must also be given the authorization to take prompt corrective actions to eliminate hazards or dangerous conditions.

OSHA doesn’t specify a refresher training frequency for excavation competent persons. That said, many employers prefer competent persons to repeat relevant training annually to ensure their point person has a fresh memory of the details.

The difficulty of the Excavation Competent Person course can vary depending on your familiarity with excavation safety standards. The material covers important topics, but they’re presented in a clear, structured way to make learning manageable. Quizzes are built into each section to reinforce your understanding and prepare you for the final exam, so by the time you reach the end, you’ll be ready to earn your certificate of completion.

We aim for all of our customers to be satisfied with their purchase. If, for some reason, you’re not happy with your course, you may be eligible for a refund if certain conditions are met. We recommend reviewing our refund guidelines to discover whether you qualify.

Unless otherwise stated in the course description, you’ll have 60 days from your purchase date to access and complete your Excavation and Trench Safety (Competent Person) Online Training. Once your access period ends, you will no longer be able to view the course materials.

If you misplace your certificate of completion and need a replacement, you can follow the instructions on this page. For more details on accessing your course or obtaining a replacement certificate, please visit our support page.

Because everyone learns and progresses at different speeds, the amount of time you spend taking this training will vary. However, the estimated time for this training is 150 – 180 min. 

This course is designed for employees and supervisors.   

This course is aligned with OSHA standard training requirements to cover:   

• 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P 
• 29 CFR 1926.650-Scope, Application, and definitions 
• 29 CFR 1926.651- Specific Excavation Requirements 
• 29 CFR 1926.652- Requirements for protective systems 
• 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P App A- Soil Classification 
• 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P App B- Sloping and Benching 
• 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P App C- Timber Shoring for Trenches 
• 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P App D- Aluminum Hydraulic Shoring for Trenches 
• 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P App E- Alternatives to Timber Shoring 
• 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P App F- Selection of Protective Systems 
• 29 CFR 1926.20, General Safety and Health Provisions, training 
• 29 CFR 1926.21, Training and Education