According to OSHA a competent person is an individual designated by the employer who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary hazardous or dangerous to workers and who is authorized to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.
Under the Excavation standards tasks performed by the competent person include:
Classifying soil;
Inspecting protective systems;
Designing structural ramps;
Monitoring water removal equipment; and
Conducting site inspections.