Excavation and Trenching Awareness Course
Understand why excavations collapse and how support, edges, access and inspections keep you safe.
Add 3 online courses to your basket and pay for all 3 together in one checkout. The discount only applies when all 3 are bought at the same time — it cannot be claimed on courses bought individually. EUSR courses are not included.
About this course
Every year workers are killed or seriously injured when excavations collapse — often in trenches less than 1.5 m deep.
This awareness course covers excavation hazards, CDM 2015 duties, ground conditions, battering, shoring and trench boxes, edge protection, access, spoil and plant, water and atmospheres, inspections and rescue.
The course runs entirely in your browser. You can stop at any point and pick up where you left off, and once you pass the final assessment you can download a PDF certificate straight away.
Who it's for
- Groundworkers and pipelayers
- Utility and drainage operatives
- Plant operators and banksmen
- Supervisors responsible for excavations
Snippets from the course
Two short extracts taken straight from the course material, so you know exactly what you're signing up for.
Trench boxes
**Trench boxes** (drag boxes) are steel panels held apart by struts. They protect workers inside but must be the right size, installed correctly and workers must stay within the protected area.
Water in excavations
Water weakens soil and can cause rapid collapse. Pumps may be needed, and pump discharge must be controlled to avoid pollution. Heavy rain is a trigger for re-inspection.
What's covered
Welcome and Introduction
- Welcome to Excavation and Trenching Awareness
- Who this course is for
- What the course covers
- How the tests and pass mark work
Excavation Hazards
- Why excavations are dangerous
- Collapse of the sides
- Falls and falling materials
- Other hazards
The Law and Responsibilities
- CDM 2015
- Supporting excavations
- Inspection requirements
- Other relevant law
Ground Conditions and Planning
- Types of ground
- Signs of instability
- Planning the excavation
- Temporary works
Support Systems: Battering, Shoring and Boxes
- Battering and benching
- Trench boxes
- Hydraulic and mechanical shoring
- Installing and removing support
Edges, Access, Spoil and Plant
- Edge protection
- Safe access and egress
- Spoil heaps and materials
- Plant and vehicles near the edge
Water, Atmospheres and Other Hazards
- Water in excavations
- Hazardous atmospheres
- Gas monitoring
- Contaminated ground
Inspections, Rescue and Records
- Daily inspections
- Inspection records
- Re-inspection triggers
- Emergency and rescue
Summary and Putting It Into Practice
- Recap
- Before you enter — checklist
- Never take shortcuts
- Speak up
Final assessment
A longer multiple-choice assessment covering every module. Score 80% or more and your PDF certificate is issued immediately. You can retake it as many times as you need.
Start Excavation and Trenching Awareness Course now
9 modules, a test after each one and a final assessment — all in your browser, all saved as you go.
You'll be asked to sign in or create a free account first, then pay £24.99 (includes VAT at 20%) to unlock the course. Your progress and certificate are saved to your account.