Online Training

Excavation and Trench Safety - OSHA

Excavation and trench work is a routine part of construction, but it carries some of the highest risks on any job site. A trench can collapse in seconds, and a single cubic yard of soil weighs more than a small car, which means even a partial burial can be fatal. Proper training is what separates a safe dig from a tragedy, giving workers and supervisors the knowledge to classify soil, recognize the warning signs of failure, and put the right protective systems in place before anyone enters. This course covers competency and the role of the competent person, soil classification and mechanics, trench failure modes, protective systems like shoring, shields, and sloping, atmospheric hazards, and the common accident patterns behind excavation incidents.

1h80% to passCertificate4.0 (1)
Purchase Course$99.99 CAD100% online · Self-paced · Instant access

What You'll Learn

  • Competency and the Role of the Competent Person
  • Soil Classification, Cohesiveness, and Basic Soil Types
  • Soil Testing and Test Methods
  • Soil Mechanics: Vertical and Lateral Pressure
  • Trench Failure Modes (Tension Cracks, Sliding, Toppling, Subsidence, Bulging, Heaving, Boiling)
  • Trench Precautions and Water Removal
  • Protective Systems: Shoring, Shields, and Sloping/Benching
  • Shoring and Shield Inspection, Installation, and Removal
  • Rigging, Machine Inspection, and Lift Capacity
  • Trench Access and Egress
  • Atmospheric Hazards and Control Methods
  • Common Hazards and Accident Profiles

About This Course

Working in and around excavations and trenches is one of the most hazardous activities in construction. A trench collapse can happen in seconds, and the weight of falling soil can be unsurvivable. The good news is that these incidents are almost entirely preventable with the right knowledge, protective systems, and work practices. This course gives workers and supervisors the foundation they need to recognize excavation hazards, understand soil behavior, and apply the protective systems that keep people safe.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:
• Define competency in the context of excavation work
• Describe the role and duties of a competent person
• Identify and classify basic soil types
• Recognize the warning signs of trench failure
• Describe the three types of protective systems and when each is appropriate
• Identify atmospheric hazards in excavations and how to control them
• Recognize common excavation hazards and accident patterns

About This Osha Training

This course is an informational and awareness-based training resource, developed and reviewed by an OSHA subject matter expert to ensure content accuracy and regulatory alignment.
However, completion of this course does not qualify as OSHA Outreach Training under the OSHA Outreach Training Program, nor does it qualify you as a Competent Person as defined under any OSHA standard.
This course is also not a substitute for site-specific training required by applicable federal, state, or local regulations, and does not provide any official certification, designation, or credential recognized by OSHA or any regulatory authority.
We encourage you to consult applicable OSHA standards and work with qualified safety professionals to ensure you fully comply with all regulatory requirements applicable to your workplace and role.

Course Requirements

Estimated Duration
This course is approximately 60 minutes long.
Pass Requirements
The pass mark for this course is 80%. Learners can make 3 attempts to pass the course before it must be reassigned.
Certificate
Upon successful completion of this course, learners will receive a certificate of completion.
Registration Fee
$99.99 CAD
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Frequently asked questions about online training

Common questions about enrollment, completion, and certificates.

What are the benefits of online training?

Benefits of online training include:

  • Cost effective: no hotels, travel, meals and less time away from the workplace.
  • Convenient: courses can be completed wherever you have access to a computer and internet access.
  • Self paced: students can pause at any time and continue where they left off.
  • Consistent: video/slide format ensures the course is the same every time.
  • Easy verification: online access to training and certification records for students and managers.
Which online training courses does Safe + Sound offer?
What is BIS Safety Software Inc.?

BIS Safety Software Inc. is a network of more than 200 leading safety training companies from across North America who collectively share and provide companies and individuals with access to a wide variety of safety training courses through one centralized online application.

Since 2010, the collaborative partnership between these training companies has not only enabled the best-of-the-best in online safety training to be brought together in one location but it is also helping to improve industry safety performance through the provision of convenient, cost-effective training.

Our partners BIS Safety Software Inc. are, in our opinion, the best providers of online safety training courses in Canada. We’ve been working with BIS since March 2012 and we are completely happy with the service they provide.

It might be that your first aid certification hasn’t yet expired but you don't feel confident in your skills and would like a refresher or you maybe you need to do a WHMIS course or H2S. Whether you're looking for Confined Space Entry, Firefighting, Ground Disturbance, Fall Protection, Safe Slinging and Rigging, First Aid, Transportation of Dangerous Goods, WHMIS, Wilderness Awareness, or many other safety courses, you will likely find them in our Online Course Library.

Is there a time limit for online courses?

Everyone learns at a different pace and everyone retains information differently. When you take a course online, you go at your own speed. If you get to a certain point and don’t fully understand the material, you can pause and go back for a review. On the other hand, if everything makes perfect sense, you can go straight through the entire course right to the test.

How does virtual proctoring/testing with webcam monitoring work?

When you start your test, you will be monitored via your webcam. If you disappear from the screen or appear to be consulting another device or other material, you will be disqualified from the course. The company responsible for virtual proctoring is Integrity Advocate. You can find out more about how their system works here.

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Disclaimer

Safe+Sound First Aid Training Ltd has made every effort to ensure the quality and standards of educational products sold and distributed by Safe+Sound via this website. Once purchased all online courses and products are non-refundable and all sales are final. Please review all cancellation policy details prior to purchase.

Please ensure your specific jurisdiction and workplace accepts online safety training and allows online training for your use.

Safe+Sound First Aid Training Ltd is not involved in course development and all online courses are sold and delivered in partnership with BIS Safety Software and approved and/or endorsed agencies.