Excavation, Trenching, and Shoring Safety in Construction Training Course

Protect workers from excavation hazards with training that covers safe trenching practices, protective systems, soil classification, and OSHA excavation requirements. This course helps construction workers, supervisors, contractors, and utility crews recognize common excavation hazards and implement proven safety measures to prevent cave-ins, injuries, and fatalities on the job site.

Training Objectives

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

• Identify the leading causes of trench cave-ins and excavation accidents.

• Recognize excavation hazards before work begins.

• Understand the different protective systems used to prevent trench collapses.

• Describe OSHA soil classifications and how they affect excavation safety.

• Explain the responsibilities of the competent person during excavation activities.

• Apply safe excavation, trenching, and shoring practices to help protect workers.

Course Overview

Excavation and trenching are among the most hazardous operations in the construction industry. Every excavation project presents unique risks, including cave-ins, falling loads, hazardous atmospheres, underground utilities, and unstable soil conditions. Without proper planning and protective systems, workers can be seriously injured or killed within seconds.

One of the greatest dangers during excavation work is a trench collapse. A cave-in occurs when soil or rock suddenly gives way, trapping or burying workers inside the excavation. Because soil conditions constantly change, every trench should be evaluated before work begins and throughout the project by a qualified competent person.

This training explains the essential principles of excavation safety, including OSHA's requirements for trench protection, soil classification, hazard recognition, and excavation inspections. Participants will learn how protective systems such as sloping, benching, shoring, and shielding help reduce the risk of collapse and provide safer working conditions.

The course also reviews the importance of identifying underground utilities, monitoring changing site conditions, controlling water accumulation, and recognizing hazards created by nearby structures, equipment, and traffic. Understanding these factors allows employers and employees to make informed decisions before entering an excavation.

Whether you're working in construction, utility installation, public works, maintenance, or excavation operations, this training provides practical knowledge to help reduce excavation hazards, improve OSHA compliance, and create a safer work environment.

Spanish and French closed captions are available with this program.

Key Benefits

• Explains OSHA excavation, trenching, and shoring safety requirements.

• Covers trench cave-in hazards and prevention strategies.

• Reviews soil classification and protective system selection.

• Discusses the responsibilities of the competent person.

• Promotes safer excavation planning and hazard recognition.

• Ideal for construction, utility, excavation, and public works professionals.

Course Details

Course Length: 15 Minutes

SKU: AT117

Languages: English, Spanish, French

Participant Guide: Downloadable participant guide included

Delivery Options:

• Streaming video on-demand

• Learning Management System (LMS) compatible

• Hosted LMS access available

Year Produced: 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

How is licensing calculated?
Licensing is based on the total number of learners who will access the course during the license period.

Can I train more than 250 employees?
Yes. We offer enterprise licensing options for larger organizations and multi-location businesses.

Can we use our own LMS?
Yes. Courses are available in SCORM-compatible formats and can be deployed through most learning management systems.

Do you offer multi-course discounts?
Yes. Organizations licensing multiple courses may qualify for discounted workforce training packages.

Do you offer custom pricing?
Yes. We can create customized pricing solutions for enterprise organizations, multi-course licensing programs, annual training initiatives, and large workforce deployments. Contact us for custom pricing tailored to your organization.