SafetyQuestion 319 of 360
Cal/OSHA requires that a 'competent person' oversee trenching operations. What best describes this person's authority on the jobsite?
a.Anyone with a valid driver's license who can operate the excavator
b.Someone able to identify hazards and authorized to take prompt corrective action, including stopping work
c.The property owner who requested the excavation
d.The newest apprentice, so they learn by observing the trench
Explanation
Under Title 8, a competent person is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards and has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them, including removing workers from the trench. They must inspect excavations daily and as conditions change. Merely operating equipment does not make someone a competent person.
Law Reference: Cal/OSHA Title 8 §1541Practice all 360 questions free — no signup required.
Related questions on this topic
- A plumber is digging a trench to reach a broken sewer main. At what excavation depth does Cal/OSHA first require a protective system such as sloping, shoring, or a trench shield to guard against cave-ins?
- While excavating a trench, the crew is piling the removed dirt (spoil) beside the opening. What is the minimum distance the spoil pile must be kept back from the edge of the trench?
- A plumber is working in a trench 5 feet deep and 60 feet long installing pipe. Cal/OSHA requires a means of egress (ladder, ramp, or steps). How far must a worker ever have to travel laterally to reach that egress?
- A very deep sewer excavation reaches 22 feet. What does Cal/OSHA require regarding the protective system for a trench deeper than 20 feet?
- A crew chooses to slope the walls of a trench instead of shoring it. The soil has been classified as Type C (the least stable, such as loose sand or wet soil). What is the maximum allowable slope for Type C soil?
- Cal/OSHA recognizes several methods of protecting workers from trench cave-ins. Which of the following is a recognized protective method?
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