About the course
What this course covers.
Every worker on an excavation needs to understand what is buried below and how to keep clear of it, even if they are not the one planning the job. Ground Disturbance 101 is the worker-level course that gives operators and labourers that knowledge - the awareness and best practices that prevent a struck line.
The course follows the damage prevention process at the level a worker needs it: why damage prevention matters and who the stakeholders are, what a ground disturbance is and the hazards it carries, how buried facilities are searched for, located, and marked, and how a dig is executed - permits, pre-job and tailgate meetings, hand exposure, backfilling, and damage reporting. It carries the same content and examination criteria as the classroom Ground Disturbance 101 course endorsed to the Utility Safety Partners standard.
Companies use Ground Disturbance 101 to train the operators and labourers on a dig, while the planners and supervisors take Ground Disturbance 201. It satisfies prime contractors and pre-qualification platforms that require ground disturbance awareness, and carries Water and Wastewater Operator continuing education units in Alberta.
Pass mark 80%
Score the pass mark to earn the certificate.
Course outline
4 modules, start to finish
Each module ends with a short knowledge check before you move on.
Damage prevention
Why damage prevention matters, what happens when a buried facility is struck, the stakeholders involved, and worker training and competency.
Ground disturbance planning
What a ground disturbance is, codes of practice, the hazards and hazard assessments the work needs, and emergency response plans.
Preparing for a ground disturbance
Searching for buried facilities, the notification process, and locating and marking buried facilities.
Execution and completion
Ground disturbance permits, pre-job and tailgate meetings, hand-exposing buried facilities, backfill requirements, and damage reporting.
Developed to meet Canadian and provincial standards
What every course includes
Printable and mailed certificates
Digital wallet and wall-sized certificates print the moment the course is passed.
Standards compliant
Built on Canadian federal and provincial legislation, safety standards, and industry best practice.
Self-paced
Unlimited access to the training material. Pause and resume the course any time.
Live student support
Real support is available seven days a week if a learner gets stuck.
Unlimited exam attempts
The exam can be retaken until the learner reaches a passing grade.
Record of training
Training records are stored securely for three years and pulled on demand from the account.
What learners say
Trusted by Canadian crews
Our operators and labourers need ground disturbance awareness, not the full supervisor course. This is exactly that level - locates, hand exposure, what to do if a line is struck.
Wade T.
Site Foreman
USP-endorsed and accepted by our prime contractor. We put the crew through 101 and the supervisors through 201.
Joanne R.
Safety Coordinator
Short and to the point. The hand-exposure and damage-reporting sections are the parts I actually use on a dig.
Cody M.
Equipment Operator
Who it is for
Built for the people running the work
- Equipment operators and labourers working on a ground disturbance
- Workers who carry out, but do not plan, excavation work
- Construction, oil and gas, utility, and municipal crews
- Workers who do not need the supervisory-level Ground Disturbance 201
- Anyone who needs ground disturbance awareness documented on file
What you walk away with
Able to do the job, not just describe it
- Explain the importance of damage prevention and identify the stakeholders
- Define a ground disturbance and recognise its hazards and controls
- Follow the processes for notification, locating, and marking buried facilities
- Hand-expose buried facilities and backfill safely
- Know what to do if damage to a buried facility occurs
Pricing
One seat or the whole crew, priced fairly.
A single seat is $49.99 CAD. Buying one at a time, code ONTRACK10 takes 10 percent off at checkout. Training more than two or three people is cheaper through a free On-Track Safety corporate account, which also tracks every certificate and renewal date for you. Move the slider to see the difference.
- Free corporate account, no setup fee
- 20 percent off every course for the first three months
- Automatic certificate and expiry tracking for your whole team
Team pricing
What it costs to train your crew
Individual purchases
One seat at a time, list price
$249.95
Individually with code ONTRACK10
10% off, applied at checkout
$224.96
Through a free corporate account
20% off every course, first three months
$199.96
A corporate account saves you
$49.99
on 5 seats of Ground Disturbance 101
No setup fee. The account also tracks every certificate and expiry date for you.
Certificate and format
How the course runs
Your certificate
A mark of 80 percent on the final exam earns the certificate, and the exam can be taken up to three times. On completion the worker downloads and prints a certificate of completion valid for three years from the completion date. The course carries the same content and examination criteria as the classroom Ground Disturbance 101 course endorsed to the Utility Safety Partners standard.
- Fully online and self-paced - about 75 minutes of content
- Mobile-friendly - runs on a laptop, tablet, or phone
- Instant access as soon as the course is purchased
- Eligible for Water and Wastewater Operator continuing education units in Alberta
- Pass mark is 80 percent, with three final-exam attempts
Why it matters for compliance
Provincial occupational health and safety legislation and recognised codes of practice require that workers on a ground disturbance are trained and competent. Ground Disturbance 101 is endorsed by Utility Safety Partners and provides the documented worker-level training record a COR auditor or a contractor pre-qualification platform looks for.
Common questions
Questions buyers ask
How much does the Ground Disturbance 101 course cost?
- The course is 49.99 CAD per seat. Use code ONTRACK10 at checkout for 10 percent off an individual purchase, or set up a free On-Track Safety corporate account for 20 percent off every course for the first three months when training a crew.
How long does the course take?
- The course is about 75 minutes of content and is fully self-paced, so a worker can complete it in one sitting or across a couple of shorter sessions without losing their place.
Does the Ground Disturbance 101 certificate expire?
- Yes. The certificate of completion is valid for three years from the completion date shown on it, after which the worker retakes the course to stay current.
What is the difference between Ground Disturbance 101 and 201?
- Ground Disturbance 101 is the worker-level course for operators and labourers who carry out a dig but do not plan or supervise it. Ground Disturbance 201 is the planning and supervision course for the people who develop, plan, permit, and oversee the work. Many crews train workers on 101 and supervisors on 201.
Is the online course accepted the same as the classroom version?
- Yes. The online course carries the same course content and examination criteria as the classroom Ground Disturbance 101 course endorsed to the Utility Safety Partners standard.
Get your team trained, on the record.
Enrol one person now, or set up a free corporate account and train the whole crew at 20 percent off with every certificate tracked for you.