Maryland Excavation Competent Person
Certification Exam Practice Questions
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1. Which OSHA-defined characteristic is essential for an excavation
competent person?
A. Ability to operate heavy equipment
B. Authority to approve payroll
C. Capability to identify hazards and take corrective action
D. Certification as a professional engineer
C. Capability to identify hazards and take corrective action
Rationale: OSHA defines a competent person as someone capable of
identifying existing and predictable hazards and authorized to take prompt
corrective measures to eliminate them.
2. What is the primary purpose of a protective system in a trench?
A. Improve drainage
B. Prevent cave-ins
C. Increase production speed
D. Reduce excavation costs
,B. Prevent cave-ins
Rationale: Protective systems such as sloping, benching, shoring, and
shielding are designed to protect workers from trench wall collapse.
3. A trench is generally defined as:
A. Any excavation deeper than 20 feet
B. A narrow excavation where depth exceeds width
C. An excavation in rock only
D. Any hole dug by machinery
B. A narrow excavation where depth exceeds width
Rationale: OSHA identifies a trench as a specific type of excavation that is
narrow relative to its depth.
4. Who is responsible for classifying soil at an excavation site?
A. Equipment operator
B. Project owner
C. Competent person
D. Laborer
C. Competent person
Rationale: Soil classification is a critical duty of the competent person
because protective system requirements depend on soil type.
5. Protective systems are generally required in trenches:
A. 2 feet deep or more
B. 3 feet deep or more
C. 5 feet deep or more unless stable rock exists
D. Only when water is present
C. 5 feet deep or more unless stable rock exists
,Rationale: OSHA generally requires cave-in protection for trenches 5 feet or
deeper unless the excavation is entirely in stable rock.
6. Excavated material should generally be kept at least how far from the
edge of a trench?
A. 6 inches
B. 1 foot
C. 2 feet
D. 4 feet
C. 2 feet
Rationale: Spoil piles placed too close to the edge can increase surcharge
loads and contribute to trench collapse.
7. A competent person must inspect excavations:
A. Weekly
B. Monthly
C. Before each shift and after hazard-increasing events
D. Only after an accident
C. Before each shift and after hazard-increasing events
Rationale: Daily inspections and additional inspections after rainstorms or
changing conditions are required to ensure ongoing safety.
8. Which condition requires immediate reevaluation of a trench?
A. Sunny weather
B. Rainstorm
C. Lunch break
D. Shift change paperwork
B. Rainstorm
, Rationale: Rain can affect soil stability and increase cave-in risks, requiring
a competent person inspection.
9. What is the most significant hazard associated with trenching
operations?
A. Noise exposure
B. Heat stress
C. Cave-ins
D. Dust inhalation
C. Cave-ins
Rationale: Trench collapses are among the leading causes of fatalities in
excavation work.
10. Which soil type is generally considered the least stable?
A. Type A
B. Type B
C. Type C
D. Stable rock
C. Type C
Rationale: Type C soil has the lowest stability and requires the most
conservative protective measures.
11. Access and egress are required in trenches that are:
A. 2 feet deep
B. 3 feet deep
C. 4 feet deep or more
D. 10 feet deep or more
C. 4 feet deep or more
Certification Exam Practice Questions
And Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationale 2026 Q&A| Instant
Download Pdf
1. Which OSHA-defined characteristic is essential for an excavation
competent person?
A. Ability to operate heavy equipment
B. Authority to approve payroll
C. Capability to identify hazards and take corrective action
D. Certification as a professional engineer
C. Capability to identify hazards and take corrective action
Rationale: OSHA defines a competent person as someone capable of
identifying existing and predictable hazards and authorized to take prompt
corrective measures to eliminate them.
2. What is the primary purpose of a protective system in a trench?
A. Improve drainage
B. Prevent cave-ins
C. Increase production speed
D. Reduce excavation costs
,B. Prevent cave-ins
Rationale: Protective systems such as sloping, benching, shoring, and
shielding are designed to protect workers from trench wall collapse.
3. A trench is generally defined as:
A. Any excavation deeper than 20 feet
B. A narrow excavation where depth exceeds width
C. An excavation in rock only
D. Any hole dug by machinery
B. A narrow excavation where depth exceeds width
Rationale: OSHA identifies a trench as a specific type of excavation that is
narrow relative to its depth.
4. Who is responsible for classifying soil at an excavation site?
A. Equipment operator
B. Project owner
C. Competent person
D. Laborer
C. Competent person
Rationale: Soil classification is a critical duty of the competent person
because protective system requirements depend on soil type.
5. Protective systems are generally required in trenches:
A. 2 feet deep or more
B. 3 feet deep or more
C. 5 feet deep or more unless stable rock exists
D. Only when water is present
C. 5 feet deep or more unless stable rock exists
,Rationale: OSHA generally requires cave-in protection for trenches 5 feet or
deeper unless the excavation is entirely in stable rock.
6. Excavated material should generally be kept at least how far from the
edge of a trench?
A. 6 inches
B. 1 foot
C. 2 feet
D. 4 feet
C. 2 feet
Rationale: Spoil piles placed too close to the edge can increase surcharge
loads and contribute to trench collapse.
7. A competent person must inspect excavations:
A. Weekly
B. Monthly
C. Before each shift and after hazard-increasing events
D. Only after an accident
C. Before each shift and after hazard-increasing events
Rationale: Daily inspections and additional inspections after rainstorms or
changing conditions are required to ensure ongoing safety.
8. Which condition requires immediate reevaluation of a trench?
A. Sunny weather
B. Rainstorm
C. Lunch break
D. Shift change paperwork
B. Rainstorm
, Rationale: Rain can affect soil stability and increase cave-in risks, requiring
a competent person inspection.
9. What is the most significant hazard associated with trenching
operations?
A. Noise exposure
B. Heat stress
C. Cave-ins
D. Dust inhalation
C. Cave-ins
Rationale: Trench collapses are among the leading causes of fatalities in
excavation work.
10. Which soil type is generally considered the least stable?
A. Type A
B. Type B
C. Type C
D. Stable rock
C. Type C
Rationale: Type C soil has the lowest stability and requires the most
conservative protective measures.
11. Access and egress are required in trenches that are:
A. 2 feet deep
B. 3 feet deep
C. 4 feet deep or more
D. 10 feet deep or more
C. 4 feet deep or more
