About the course
What this course covers.
Every excavation in British Columbia puts a worker, and often the public, between a machine and whatever is buried below. A struck gas line, power cable, or pipeline can kill, and the law holds the company that broke ground responsible for locating it first. Ground Disturbance 201 (BC) is the BC-endorsed course that gets a planner, supervisor, or operator to the standard the work demands.
The course follows the damage prevention process from start to finish: why it exists and who is accountable, how a ground disturbance is planned and permitted, how buried facilities are searched for and located, and how the dig is executed and closed out. It carries the same course content and examination criteria as the classroom Ground Disturbance 201 course endorsed to the BC Common Ground Alliance standard.
BC companies use Ground Disturbance 201 (BC) to qualify the people who plan and supervise excavation work, to satisfy prime contractors and pre-qualification platforms, and to give a COR auditor a documented competency record. The course also carries Gold Seal Certification credits and British Columbia Water and Wastewater Operator continuing education units.
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.
Module A - Damage prevention
Why damage prevention matters, what happens when a buried facility is struck, the responsibilities of every stakeholder, and the regulators, organisations, and publications that govern the work.
Module B - Ground disturbance planning
What counts as a ground disturbance, why codes of practice matter, the hazard assessments and emergency response plans the work requires, and the approvals, agreements, and on-site supervision involved.
Module C - Preparing for a ground disturbance
Searching for buried facilities, the notification process and who is responsible for it, requesting and carrying out locates, and reading the different types of locate marks.
Module D - Execution and completion
Using a ground disturbance permit, running pre-job and tailgate meetings, hand-exposing buried facilities, proper excavation and backfilling, and damage management, reporting, and investigation.
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 BC sites require the endorsed ticket, and this is it. The crew gets through it online instead of losing a classroom day.
Curtis H.
Construction Manager
It walks locates, permits, and hand-exposing in the order the work actually happens. The BC endorsement is what our clients check for.
Renee M.
Safety Advisor
The locate-marks section is the part new operators get wrong, and the course does not skip it.
Owen T.
Excavator Operator
Who it is for
Built for the people running the work
- Planners and managers who develop and scope ground disturbance work in BC
- Supervisors responsible for a ground disturbance on a BC site
- Equipment operators and labourers who carry out excavation in BC
- BC construction, oil and gas, utility, and municipal crews
- Anyone a BC prime contractor or pre-qualification platform requires to hold Ground Disturbance 201
What you walk away with
Able to do the job, not just describe it
- Explain the damage prevention process and outline stakeholder responsibilities
- Identify and define a ground disturbance and the hazards it carries
- Identify the approvals and permits a ground disturbance may require
- Search for, request locates for, and identify buried facilities
- Hand-expose buried facilities and follow the procedures when damage is found
Pricing
One seat or the whole crew, priced fairly.
A single seat is $94.95 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
$474.75
Individually with code ONTRACK10
10% off, applied at checkout
$427.28
Through a free corporate account
20% off every course, first three months
$379.80
A corporate account saves you
$94.95
on 5 seats of Ground Disturbance 201 (BC)
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 201 course endorsed to the BC Common Ground Alliance standard, and it is eligible for two Gold Seal Certification credits from the Canadian Construction Association.
- Fully online and self-paced - about 6 hours of content across four modules
- Mobile-friendly - runs on a laptop, tablet, or phone
- Instant access as soon as the course is purchased
- Virtual proctoring available on purchase for employers who require it
- Eligible for British Columbia Water and Wastewater Operator continuing education units
Why it matters for compliance
British Columbia occupational health and safety legislation and recognised codes of practice require that a ground disturbance is planned, that buried facilities are located before work starts, and that the people involved are trained and competent. Ground Disturbance 201 (BC) is endorsed by the BC Common Ground Alliance and provides the documented competency record a COR auditor or a contractor pre-qualification platform looks for.
Training outside Alberta?
Ground Disturbance 201 (BC) is endorsed by the BC Common Ground Alliance and built for ground disturbance work in British Columbia. Crews working in Alberta and other provinces should take the Ground Disturbance 201 course endorsed by Utility Safety Partners instead.
Common questions
Questions buyers ask
How much does the Ground Disturbance 201 (BC) course cost?
- The course is 94.95 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 Ground Disturbance 201 (BC) course take?
- The course is about 6 hours of content across four modules and is fully self-paced, so it can be completed in one day or spread across several shorter sessions without losing your place.
Does the certificate expire?
- Yes. The certificate of completion is valid for three years from the completion date shown on it, after which the course is retaken to stay current.
Is this the same as the Alberta Ground Disturbance 201 course?
- The content is the same in structure, but the endorsement differs. Ground Disturbance 201 (BC) is endorsed by the BC Common Ground Alliance, while the Alberta version is endorsed by Utility Safety Partners. Take the version endorsed for the province you work in.
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 201 course endorsed to the BC Common Ground Alliance 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.