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This Trenching and Excavation Awareness Course is designed for anybody who will need to work in or around trenches, holes, or below-ground areas. Examples of job types include equipment/machinery operators, laborers, underground tank removal or maintenance, utility workers, oil & gas workers, safety officers, civil engineers, and many more.
For over 14 years, we've been certifying hundreds of thousands of workers with high-caliber compliance training that actually engages learners. While competitors offer glorified PowerPoint presentations, we invest in superior animation, professional narration, and thoughtful instructional design. Our courses aren't just compliant, they're memorable and effective. We make quality training easy to deploy, manage, and track, with responsive North American support. Whether you're onboarding 10 workers or 10,000, you get the same premium experience backed by proven results.
Our customized progress tracking software will automatically provide up to date information on where your employees are within a course.
Combining the accessibility of online training with the self-paced nature of our courses, and the ability to deliver them on almost any device, offers the ultimate in training convenience.
A well-designed and thought out course increases student engagement and retention. The quality of the content and delivery of our online training is second to none.
It is important to us that our customers get any questions or issues answered quickly. We guarantee that our staff will be accessible and responsive, whether by phone or email.
Combining the accessibility of online training with the self-paced nature of our courses, and the ability to deliver them on almost any device, offers the ultimate in training convenience.
Our customized progress tracking software will automatically provide up to date information on where your employees are within a course.
Combining the accessibility of online training with the self-paced nature of our courses, and the ability to deliver them on almost any device, offers the ultimate in training convenience.
A well-designed and thought out course increases student engagement and retention. The quality of the content and delivery of our online training is second to none.
It is important to us that our customers get any questions or issues answered quickly. We guarantee that our staff will be accessible and responsive, whether by phone or email.
Combining the accessibility of online training with the self-paced nature of our courses, and the ability to deliver them on almost any device, offers the ultimate in training convenience.
Trenching and excavation safety training is a safety education program that teaches workers how to recognize and prevent hazards associated with working in and around trenches and excavations. eTraining’s course provides approximately 2–3 hours of instruction covering OSHA 29 CFR 1926.650 (Subpart P) standards, including soil classification, protective systems (sloping, benching, shoring, and shielding), competent person responsibilities, hazardous atmospheres, and safe work practices. Upon completion, participants receive a printable certificate of completion.
You must score at least 70% on the final exam to pass and receive your certificate of completion. The course includes knowledge-check quizzes throughout to help prepare you for the final exam. If you do not pass on your first attempt, you can retake the exam.
The course covers: cave-in hazards and excavation statistics; soil classification and testing methods (including visual and manual tests, pocket penetrometer, and shearvane); protective systems including sloping, benching, shoring, sheeting, and shielding; hazardous atmospheres in excavations; competent person requirements and daily inspections; safe work practices including spoil placement, egress requirements, and fall protection; underground utility protection; water accumulation hazards; and cave-in rescue procedures. The course is divided into 4 parts with quizzes throughout.
The course takes approximately 2–3 hours to complete. Because it is self-paced, you can complete it over multiple sessions at your convenience. Most students finish within 1 week. You have 6 months from your enrollment date to complete all coursework. Progress is saved automatically on the same device, so you can stop and resume at any time.
OSHA requires employers to train all workers who will enter or work in and around excavations (OSHA 29 CFR 1926.651). This includes equipment operators, laborers, utility workers, and anyone who works in or near trenches. A competent person must also be designated to inspect excavations daily. This awareness-level course is appropriate for general workers. Competent persons may need additional in-depth training, which eTraining offers as a separate course.
Yes. eTraining’s Trenching & Excavation Safety course covers OSHA 29 CFR 1926.650 (Subpart P) excavation standards and is accepted nationwide. You receive a printable certificate of completion that documents your training. This awareness-level training satisfies the OSHA requirement for worker training in excavation safety across all 50 U.S. states.
Yes. The Trenching & Excavation Safety course works on desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Your progress is saved automatically on the same device you are using, allowing you to pause and pick up where you left off. Note: you must continue on the same device to retain your saved progress.
The Trenching & Excavation Awareness course is designed for general workers who will work in or around excavations and covers basic hazard recognition and safe practices. The Trenching & Excavation Competent Person course is a more in-depth program designed for individuals who will be designated as the competent person on site, covering detailed soil analysis, protective system design, inspection procedures, and the authority to stop work when hazards are identified.
There is no federally mandated expiration date for trenching and excavation awareness training. However, OSHA requires retraining when workplace conditions change, when new hazards are introduced, or when workers demonstrate a lack of understanding of safe practices. Refresher training is recommended to stay current with evolving safety standards and regulations.
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