Competent Person Evaluation
Excavation and Trenching
Employee Name:
How many years of experience in excavation & trenching operations?
Length of time with employer:
Title and Job Duties:
1. Before any employee enters an excavation, the Competent Person shall FIRST:
A. Verify the excavator operator's license
B. Inspect the excavation and classify the soil
C. Check workers' attendance
D. Verify the toolbox talk attendance
2. According to Saudi Aramco requirements, an Excavation Safety Checklist is mandatory for:
A. All excavations deeper than 600 mm
B. All excavations deeper than 1.2 m
C. Every trench regardless of depth
D. Only excavations requiring shoring
3. If buried pipelines or electrical cables may exist, an Excavation Safety Checklist is required when
excavation exceeds:
A. 150 mm
B. 300 mm
C. 600 mm
D. 1.2 m
4. A trench initially classified as Type B soil receives heavy rainfall overnight. What must the Competent
Person do?
A. Continue work without inspection
B. Reclassify the soil and reinspect before entry
C. Only inspect the ladder
D. Increase manpower
5. Excavated spoil piles shall normally be kept at least:
A. 300 mm
B. 450 mm
C. 600 mm
D. 1.5 m
6. The MOST important responsibility of an Excavation Competent Person is:
A. Signing permits
B. Operating excavation equipment
C. Identifying hazards and taking immediate corrective action
D. Issuing PPE
7. Workers are inside a 2.5 m deep trench. Groundwater suddenly begins entering the trench. The
Competent Person shall:
A. Continue work
B. Add another ladder
C. Stop work and evacuate immediately
D. Increase lighting
8. Which soil type has the HIGHEST risk of collapse?
A. Stable Rock
B. Type A
C. Type B
D. Type C
9. A Competent Person must conduct a documented inspection:
A. Weekly
B. Monthly
C. Before entry and whenever conditions change
D. Only after rain
10. For excavations greater than 2.4 m (8 ft) in Type B or C soil, Saudi Aramco requires:
A. Supervisor approval only
B. Engineer-designed excavation plan
C. Additional fire extinguishers
D. Double barricading only
11. The safest action when an unknown underground utility is discovered during excavation is:
A. Dig carefully around it
B. Continue excavation manually
C. Stop work immediately and notify responsible authorities
D. Cover it with soil
12. Which condition requires immediate evacuation of the trench?
A. Minor dust
B. Small stones
C. Tension cracks appearing near the edge
D. Slight wind
13. Safe access and egress must be provided so employees never travel more than:
A. 5 m
B. 6 m
C. 7.5 m
D. 10 m
14. Which hazard is MOST commonly responsible for excavation fatalities?
A. Heat stress
B. Noise
C. Cave-in
D. Dust
15. The Competent Person determines protective systems based primarily on:
A. Excavator size
B. Soil classification and excavation depth
C. Weather forecast only
D. Number of workers
16. A ladder used for trench access shall extend at least:
A. 300 mm above ground
B. 600 mm above ground
C. 1.0 m above ground
D. 1.5 m above ground
17. Heavy equipment should NOT be positioned near the excavation edge because it:
A. Creates noise
B. Causes vibration and surcharge loading
C. Blocks access
D. Increases dust
18. The Competent Person observes sidewall bulging during excavation. The correct action is:
A. Ignore it if workers feel safe
B. Continue work until lunch
C. Stop work and reassess protective systems
D. Only notify the supervisor
19. Which of the following BEST defines a Saudi Aramco Excavation Competent Person?
A. Any experienced operator
B. A person authorized to sign permits
C. A person with the knowledge, training, experience, and authority to identify hazards and immediately correct them
D. The project manager
20. After a rainstorm, the Competent Person must inspect for ALL of the following EXCEPT:
A. Water accumulation
B. Sidewall deterioration
C. Ground fissures
D. Workers' overtime
Bonus Expert-Level Question
21. During excavation, the Competent Person notices:
Type C soil
Excavation depth: 3.2 m
Spoil pile located at edge
Water seepage
No shoring installed
What should be the FIRST action?
A. Remove spoil pile only
B. Install additional lighting
C. Stop work, evacuate personnel, and redesign the protective system
D. Continue while monitoring
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