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Toolbox Talks

The competent person at the trench

The competent person at the trench

Trenching and excavation 5 min 29 CFR 1926.651 · 29 CFR 1926.652

Excavation

Why it matters

The competent person looks at the trench at the start of the shift and again when conditions change, and they can pull people out. Rain, a thaw, vibration, or water seeping in can move a wall that stood yesterday. A crack, water in the bottom, or spoil sliding means get out.

The talk

You are in the trench setting pipe. The walls looked dry at sunrise. By midmorning a machine is working on the bank, and the ground shakes each time the bucket drops. A dark line of water is seeping from one wall. The spoil pile that was set back has started to slide toward the edge. A crack opens along the top. People keep joining pipe because a crane is waiting and the competent person is at the other end of the site. Nobody wants to be the one who stops the dig. The trench does not care about the schedule. Water, vibration, and a moving pile are the change.

The competent person looks at the trench at the start of the shift and again when conditions change. Rain, a thaw, vibration from equipment, or water seeping in are those changes. The look is daily, and it is again when conditions change. Do not hang it on a clock you made up. The competent person has the authority to pull people out. They do not have to clear that call with the production schedule. A crack in the wall, water in the bottom, or spoil sliding means get out. Those are signs the soil is moving. The crew gets out when told. The crew also tells the competent person what they see. You are the ones with your face at the wall. A new seep or a new crack is worth a shout. Staying in to finish one more joint is how people get caught.

At the start of this shift, know who the competent person is and make sure they have looked at this trench. If it rains, if the ground thaws, if equipment starts shaking the bank, or if water seeps in, stop and get them back before you keep working. Do not wait for the end of the day. If you see a crack in the wall, water in the bottom, or spoil sliding, get out and tell them. When they say get out, you get out. Leave the pipe and use the way out. Do not argue from the bottom of the trench. Once you are up on top, tell them what you saw and where. The work starts again only when they say the trench is ready. If you do not know who has that authority today, ask the foreman before anyone goes in.

Key points

  1. The competent person checks the trench at the start of the shift.
  2. They check again when conditions change.
  3. Rain, a thaw, vibration, or water seeping in is a change.
  4. They have the authority to pull people out.
  5. A crack, water in the bottom, or spoil sliding means get out.
  6. The crew gets out when told.
  7. The crew tells the competent person what they see.

Do this

  • Know who the competent person is before you enter.
  • Get a look at the start of the shift and when conditions change.
  • Get out if you see a crack, water, or sliding spoil.
  • Leave when the competent person tells you to leave.
  • Report what you saw once you are out of the trench.

Do not do this

  • Do not stay in the trench because a crane is waiting.
  • Do not skip a new look after rain, a thaw, vibration, or seeping water.
  • Do not treat yesterday's look as good enough after the bank has changed.
  • Do not argue from the bottom when you are told to get out.
  • Do not keep a crack, water, or sliding spoil to yourself.

Talk about it

  1. Who is the competent person for this trench today, and have they looked since the shift started?
  2. What has changed out here: rain, a thaw, equipment vibration, or water?
  3. If they tell us to get out, where do we go, and who calls them back?

This is a short crew briefing. It does not replace a competent person, training, or the law.

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