Competent Person Duties (Excavations)

A competent person must be appointed to manage the safety of every excavation on a construction site.
Their duties include directing the excavation, specifying support, and scheduling inspections.
The competent person must have practical knowledge and experience of the type of work being undertaken.
They must inspect the excavation before each shift, after any event affecting stability, and after falls of material.
Inspection reports must be prepared in writing and retained on site for a minimum of 3 months.
CDM 2015 Regulation 22 specifically requires excavations to be managed by a competent person.
The competent person determines whether shoring, battering, or other support systems are needed.
They authorise entry into the excavation and control access during the work activity.
Ground conditions, weather, adjacent structures, and surcharge loading must all be assessed.
The competent person has authority to stop work and evacuate the excavation if conditions become unsafe.

Prevent collapse	Competent assessment of ground conditions prevents excavation collapses that kill workers.
Legal requirement	CDM 2015 mandates a competent person for excavation inspection and safety management.
Inspection duty	Regular inspections detect deterioration before it leads to a collapse incident.
Authority to stop	The competent person must have the power to halt unsafe excavation work immediately.

Do

Don't

Appoint a named competent person for every excavation on the project.
Inspect the excavation before each shift and record the findings in writing.
Assess ground conditions, water ingress, and the need for support systems.
Specify the support method — shoring, battering, or benching — based on conditions.
Inspect after heavy rainfall, vibration from plant, and after any material fall.
Retain written inspection reports on site for a minimum of 3 months.
Control access into the excavation — only authorised, briefed personnel may enter.
Stop work and evacuate if ground movement, water ingress, or cracking is observed.
Brief all excavation workers on the hazards and controls before they enter.
Review the assessment whenever the depth increases or conditions change.

DON'T allow excavation work without a named competent person appointed.
DON'T enter an excavation that has not been inspected at the start of the shift.
DON'T skip the written inspection report — verbal assessments are not compliant.
DON'T continue work if the competent person identifies unsafe conditions.
DON'T appoint someone without the knowledge and experience to assess excavation risks.
DON'T delay re-inspection after rainfall, vibration, or falls of material.
DON'T allow anyone to enter the excavation without the competent person's authorisation.
DON'T assume the excavation is safe because it was stable yesterday.
DON'T overrule the competent person's decision to stop work.
DON'T discard inspection reports before the required 3-month retention period.

See also: Excavation Safety Awareness | Excavation Inspection Requirements

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