Who is ultimately responsible for ensuring excavation safety measures are implemented?

The employer or their designee is ultimately responsible for ensuring excavation safety measures are implemented because they have the authority and obligation to establish a safe working environment. This responsibility includes not only the enforcement of safety protocols and regulations but also the training of employees in safe operating procedures and hazard recognition. The employer typically has a comprehensive understanding of the specific risks associated with excavation work and the necessary measures to mitigate those risks, making them well-suited to oversee safety compliance on-site.

While the site foreman plays a key role in day-to-day operations and local government officials may set regulations and guidelines, it is the employer or their designee who carries the ultimate accountability for safety practices. Safety inspectors are tasked with evaluating compliance with safety regulations but do not have the authority to enforce safety measures in the way that the employer does.