Who is usually responsible for sloping a trench?

The responsibility for sloping a trench typically falls to the equipment operator. This is due to their role in ensuring that the heavy equipment used to create or work within the trench is operated safely and effectively. The operator is trained to understand the proper angles for trench slopes that comply with safety regulations and best practices, which helps prevent cave-ins and other hazards.

While the site supervisor may oversee the operation and ensure that safety protocols are followed, and laborers may assist in trench work, they are generally not the ones directly responsible for the sloping itself. The safety officer plays an essential role in monitoring and enforcing safety standards, but actual trench work, including sloping, is primarily managed by the equipment operator using their expertise with the machinery and knowledge of construction practices.