Skip to main content
  • 844.873.4948
  • English

    Europe

    • Français
    • Deutsch
    • English
    • Nederlands

    North America

    • English
    • Español
    • Français
  • Sign In / Register
United RentalsHome

Main navigation

  • Rent
    • All Equipment
    • Popular Rentals
    • Scissor Lifts
    • Boom Lifts
    • Telehandlers
    • Mini Excavators
    • Skid Steers & Track Loaders
    • Rental Resources
    • Rental Protection Plan (RPP)
  • Buy
    • All Used Equipment
    • Popular Used Equipment
    • Buy Forklifts
    • Buy Scissor Lifts
    • Buy Boom Lifts
    • Buy Mini Excavators
    • Buy Compressors
    • Buying Resources
    • Financing
    • United Guard™
  • Total Control
    • Account Dashboard
    • Invoices & Payments
    • Items On Rent
    • UR Mobile App
  • Invoices & Payments
    • Invoices
    • Lien releases
    • Apply for credit
  • Locations
    • Find a Location
  • Training
    • Course Catalog
    • Training Credentials
    • United Academy
    • About United Academy
    • Care & Support
    • United Academy - Course Catalog
  • Solutions
    • Worksite Perfomance Solutions
    • Specialty Solutions
      • Ground Protection Matting Solutions
      • Commercial Trucks
      • Flooring & Facility Solutions
      • Power & HVAC
      • Climate Solutions
      • Fluid Solutions
      • Trench Safety
      • Reliable Onsite Services
      • Tool Solutions
      • Storage Containers & Mobile Offices
      • Communications
      • Industrial Blinds
    • Power & HVAC
    • Climate Solutions
    • Fluid Solutions
    • Trench Safety
    • Reliable Onsite Services
    • Tool Solutions
    • Storage Containers & Mobile Offices
    • Commercial Trucks
    • Flooring & Facility Solutions
    • Ground Protection Matting Solutions
    • Industry Solutions
      • Power Generation & Distribution
      • Chemical
      • Oil & Gas Refining
      • Oilfield Services
      • Civil and Infrastructure
      • Restoration and Remediation
      • Government Solutions
      • Agriculture
    • Power Gen. & Distribution
    • Data Centers
    • Renewable Energy
    • Chemical
    • Oil & Gas Refining
    • Oilfield Services
    • Restoration & Remediation
    • Civil & Infrastructure
    • Government Solutions
    • Emergency Solutions
    • Emergency Response
  • Services
    • Digital Solutions
    • Total Control®
    • Mobile App
    • Notifications
    • Benchmarking
    • Wedge
    • Downloadable Catalogs
    • Repair & Maintenance Services
    • Owned Equipment Service
    • Rental Equipment Service
    • Training Services
    • United Academy
  • Safety
    • Safety Commitment
    • Safety Training
    • Safety Articles
  • Company
    • About Us
      • About Us
      • Our Culture
      • Board of Directors
      • Corporate Leadership
      • Mission & Values
      • Sponsorships & Partnerships
      • Awards & Recognition
      • Corporate Responsibility Report
      • Small Businesses
      • Project Uptime
    • Investor Relations
      • Annual Report
      • Reports & Proxy Statements
      • Corporate Governance
      • Investor Press Releases
      • Investor Events, Calls & Presentations
      • Research Coverage
      • SEC Filings
    • Sustainability
    • Careers
      • Search Careers
      • Career Areas
    • Events
      • Events Calendar
      • Webinar Series
    • In the News
    • Press Releases
    • Project Uptime Blog
  • Project Uptime
  • Equipment
  • Data
  • Safety
  • Expertise
  • All Categories
trench engineer at excavation jobsite

Choosing a Competent Person

It’s up to the employer to decide who has the knowledge and experience for the role.

May 26, 2020
  • Labor & Hiring

The “competent person” required by OSHA for certain types of work, such as trenching and excavation, performs a critical role on a jobsite and is instrumental in preventing accidents and injuries. When an employer designates someone a competent person, they are putting great trust in them and expecting them to shoulder a serious responsibility. 

Choosing the right person and getting him or her any additional training needed is essential. After all, the competent person isn’t there just to fulfill OSHA requirements but to protect workers day-to-day by spotting hazards that could put them in danger and taking immediate corrective action. 

So who qualifies? OSHA leaves it up to the employer to decide whether a person is capable of the job. It doesn’t spell out specific training requirements, only the type of knowledge the person needs. For example, in the case of trenching and excavation, OSHA stipulates that the person must be knowledgeable about soil analysis, the use of protective systems and the requirements of the 1926 subpart P standard. 

MasTec – Utility Services, a Florida-based infrastructure engineering and construction company that performs a large amount of trench and excavation work, uses a two-pronged approach to ensuring its competent persons have the knowledge they need. 

“We have elected to send safety professionals and training professionals to the United Rentals train the trainer programs,” said Jarrett Quoyle, senior director, safety & health. “That allows them to learn the material and keep updated on changes, and it allows us to train our own folks when needed.” 

Through internal training, said Quoyle, “We can not only cover the material but also insert our process and make the connection to how we do things or how we want to see things being done.” 

Of course, training isn’t everything. Field experience is a must. 

“In most cases, the competent persons are going to be those that have years of experience and have been through the testing, the assessments and the training. It doesn’t make any sense for us, or really any organization in my opinion, to take that brand-new person or someone new to the industry and say, ‘Here’s some training, you’re a competent person now,’” said Quoyle. 

The bottom line: Choose a competent person with care. Identify someone with the right experience, and provide training to fill any nowledge gaps.

“As an organization you want to be smart about it. We have to make sure that if we deem somebody a competent person — do they have the skillset? Have they been through our required curriculum? Do they have enough time in the field and experience to understand the intricacies of the requirements? If you don’t take that active role in determining who your competent people are, then I think you’re setting the organization up for failure.”

Marianne Wait is an editor and writer who creates content for Fortune 500 brands. 

  • Facebook Facebook
  • X X
  • Linkedin Linkedin
  • Email Email
  • Print Print
  • Copy Link Copy Link
  • RSS Feed RSS Feed

Was this article helpful?

YesNo

Trending Articles

How to Cut Concrete Using a Concrete Saw
Contractors: Are You Violating OSHA's Portable Toilet Guidelines?
What Is a Mini Excavator Used For?
Wood Chipper Safety: Tips for Avoiding Accidents and Injuries
Locating Pipes with Acoustics and Mapping Software

Related Equipment

Trench Safety & Shoring

Trench Safety & Shoring

Trench Safety & Shoring

Air test control panel product image on white background

Footer Social Menu

  • Facebook
  • Linkedin
  • X
  • Youtube

24/7 Customer Care

844.873.4948

Footer Menu

  • Mobile App
    • Download for Android
    • Download for Apple
  • Equipment
    • Rent Equipment
    • Buy Equipment
    • Credit Application
    • Rental Protection Plan
    • United Guard™
    • Download Equipment Catalog
    • GSA Contract Holder
  • Solutions & Services
    • Total Control®
    • Specialty Solutions
    • Industry Solutions
    • Customer Equipment Solutions
    • United Academy
  • Support
    • Find a Location
    • Contact Us
    • Rental Equipment Service
  • About Us
    • Corporate Fact Sheet
    • Corporate Responsibility
    • Our Culture
    • Awards & Recognition
    • Project Uptime
  • Careers
    • Early Career & Development
    • Events
    • Military
    • Search Jobs
  • Investor Relations
    • Annual Reports
    • Presentations

Footer Legal Menu

  • © 2025 United Rentals, Inc.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Legal Terms and Conditions
  • Equipment Directory
  • Branch Directory
  • Cookie Settings
United RentalsHome
  • 844.873.4948
  • Europe

    • Français
    • Deutsch
    • English
    • Nederlands

    North America

    • English
    • Español
    • Français
  • Sign In / Register

Main navigation

  • Rent
    • All Equipment
    • Popular Rentals
    • Scissor Lifts
    • Boom Lifts
    • Telehandlers
    • Mini Excavators
    • Skid Steers & Track Loaders
    • Rental Resources
    • Rental Protection Plan (RPP)
  • Buy
    • All Used Equipment
    • Popular Used Equipment
    • Buy Forklifts
    • Buy Scissor Lifts
    • Buy Boom Lifts
    • Buy Mini Excavators
    • Buy Compressors
    • Buying Resources
    • Financing
    • United Guard™
  • Total Control
    • Account Dashboard
    • Invoices & Payments
    • Items On Rent
    • UR Mobile App
  • Invoices & Payments
    • Invoices
    • Lien releases
    • Apply for credit
  • Locations
    • Find a Location
  • Training
    • Course Catalog
    • Training Credentials
    • United Academy
    • About United Academy
    • Care & Support
    • United Academy - Course Catalog
  • Solutions
    • Worksite Perfomance Solutions
    • Specialty Solutions
      • Ground Protection Matting Solutions
      • Commercial Trucks
      • Flooring & Facility Solutions
      • Power & HVAC
      • Climate Solutions
      • Fluid Solutions
      • Trench Safety
      • Reliable Onsite Services
      • Tool Solutions
      • Storage Containers & Mobile Offices
      • Communications
      • Industrial Blinds
    • Power & HVAC
    • Climate Solutions
    • Fluid Solutions
    • Trench Safety
    • Reliable Onsite Services
    • Tool Solutions
    • Storage Containers & Mobile Offices
    • Commercial Trucks
    • Flooring & Facility Solutions
    • Ground Protection Matting Solutions
    • Industry Solutions
      • Power Generation & Distribution
      • Chemical
      • Oil & Gas Refining
      • Oilfield Services
      • Civil and Infrastructure
      • Restoration and Remediation
      • Government Solutions
      • Agriculture
    • Power Gen. & Distribution
    • Data Centers
    • Renewable Energy
    • Chemical
    • Oil & Gas Refining
    • Oilfield Services
    • Restoration & Remediation
    • Civil & Infrastructure
    • Government Solutions
    • Emergency Solutions
    • Emergency Response
  • Services
    • Digital Solutions
    • Total Control®
    • Mobile App
    • Notifications
    • Benchmarking
    • Wedge
    • Downloadable Catalogs
    • Repair & Maintenance Services
    • Owned Equipment Service
    • Rental Equipment Service
    • Training Services
    • United Academy
  • Safety
    • Safety Commitment
    • Safety Training
    • Safety Articles
  • Company
    • About Us
      • About Us
      • Our Culture
      • Board of Directors
      • Corporate Leadership
      • Mission & Values
      • Sponsorships & Partnerships
      • Awards & Recognition
      • Corporate Responsibility Report
      • Small Businesses
      • Project Uptime
    • Investor Relations
      • Annual Report
      • Reports & Proxy Statements
      • Corporate Governance
      • Investor Press Releases
      • Investor Events, Calls & Presentations
      • Research Coverage
      • SEC Filings
    • Sustainability
    • Careers
      • Search Careers
      • Career Areas
    • Events
      • Events Calendar
      • Webinar Series
    • In the News
    • Press Releases
    • Project Uptime Blog