Final answer:
OSHA requires a competent person to perform two visual and two manual tests on soil samples to ensure safety in excavation and trenching. These tests are part of a broader set of safety requirements, including training, injury tracking, and providing necessary protective equipment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has specific requirements for the analysis of soil samples in the workplace, particularly in construction activities involving excavation and trenching. A competent person must conduct two visual and two manual tests on soil samples to classify the soil and determine the appropriate protective systems to implement. These requirements are part of OSHA standards designed to protect workers from various hazards, such as trenching cave-ins.
OSHA's requirements also include providing safety training to workers in a language they understand, maintaining accurate records of work-related injuries and illnesses, and performing workplace tests for hazards. Employers are also obligated to provide necessary personal protective equipment, conduct medical tests as required, and comply with the General Duty Clause of the OSH Act, which mandates that employers maintain a workplace free from recognized hazards. The goal is to ensure that workplaces adhere to safety protocols to protect workers' health and safety.