Overview

This training course is designed specifically for workers to provide them with the knowledge and skills necessary to perform Excavation, Trenching, and Shoring tasks safely and effectively.

Course Description

Excavation and trenching work is essential to many projects, but it poses significant risks to worker safety, including cave-ins, falls, and struck-by hazards. This Excavation, Trenching, and Shoring Safety training course is designed specifically to equip workers with the knowledge and skills necessary to perform these tasks safely and effectively. By the end of the training, participants will have a solid understanding of excavation safety protocols, enabling them to protect themselves and their team while performing these high-risk tasks, minimize accidents, and ensure the success of projects.

Learning Objectives

• Identify and Assess Excavation Hazards: Learn how to recognize potential hazards in excavation and trenching work, including soil instability, cave-ins, hazardous atmospheres, and the presence of underground utilities, and how to assess site conditions to ensure safety.
• Understand and Apply OSHA Regulations: Gain a clear understanding of OSHA standards, including 1926 Subpart P, for excavation and trenching safety, and learn how to comply with these regulations to prevent accidents and injuries on the job site.
• Implement Safe Shoring and Shielding Techniques: Learn the proper use of shoring, shielding, trench boxes, and sloping methods to protect workers from cave-ins and collapse hazards, ensuring the trench or excavation remains safe for entry and work.
• Utilize Protective Systems in Excavations: Understand the different types of protective systems (e.g., trench boxes, shoring, and sloping) and how to select and properly implement the most suitable system based on excavation depth, soil type, and environmental factors.
• Recognize and Mitigate Underground Utility Hazards: Develop the skills to identify and mitigate hazards related to underground utilities, including gas, water, and electrical lines, and understand how to safely excavate near these utilities to prevent accidents and service disruptions.

Compliance and Certification Requirements

This Excavation, Trenching, and Shoring Safety course is an awareness course and includes the areas outlined in 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P, 29 CFR 1926.651 (Excavation and Trenching: Specific Requirements), and 49 CFR 1926.650 (General Requirements for Excavation), as applicable. This course satisfies the regulatory requirement(s). Competent Persons*, as defined in 29 CFR 1926.32(f), must oversee all excavation, trenching, and shoring operations and workers.
*An employer designates a “competent person” who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees. They must also have the authority to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them. Competency is determined by the employer based on the individual’s training, experience, and knowledge.

Audience

This course is designed for anyone who is involved with excavation and/or trenching or who encounters these activities during their work.