About the course
What this course covers.
A mini excavator is compact and easy to underestimate - but it still swings a counterweight, still has a tipping point, and still works next to people in the tight spaces it is chosen for. Operating one well means understanding stability and the hazards just as much as on a full-size machine. This course trains an operator to do that.
The course covers an introduction to the mini excavator and its anatomy, what keeps the machine stable, operation itself, and the hazards a mini excavator operator faces. Quiz questions throughout prepare the operator for the final written exam.
The course is the classroom portion of mini excavator operator training and comes with a checklist an employer uses for the required practical observation. Companies use it to qualify mini excavator operators and to give a documented training record.
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.
The equipment and its anatomy
An introduction to the mini excavator and the anatomy and components of the compact machine.
Stability
What keeps a mini excavator stable, including the swing of the counterweight and the tipping point.
Operation
Operating the mini excavator safely in the tight spaces it is chosen for.
Hazards
The hazards a mini excavator operator faces, around the machine and the people working nearby.
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 crews run minis all day in tight yards. The course makes the point that compact does not mean it cannot tip or swing into someone.
Reg D.
Landscaping Crew Lead
Good that it is mini-specific rather than a full-size excavator course relabelled. The practical checklist made field sign-off easy.
Holly M.
Safety Coordinator
Solid course. The stability and counterweight-swing content was a useful refresher.
Sam T.
Utility Worker
Who it is for
Built for the people running the work
- Mini excavator and compact excavator operators
- Landscaping, utility, and small-site construction crews
- New operators learning a mini excavator
- Supervisors who carry out the practical operator observation
- Any company that needs a documented mini excavator training record
What you walk away with
Able to do the job, not just describe it
- Describe the anatomy and components of a mini excavator
- Explain what keeps the compact machine stable
- Operate a mini excavator safely in tight spaces
- Identify the hazards a mini excavator operator faces
- Work the machine within its limits
Pricing
One seat or the whole crew, priced fairly.
A single seat is $99.99 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
$499.95
Individually with code ONTRACK10
10% off, applied at checkout
$449.96
Through a free corporate account
20% off every course, first three months
$399.96
A corporate account saves you
$99.99
on 5 seats of Mini Excavator (CAN)
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 earns the certificate, and the course can be taken up to three times to reach the pass mark. On completion the operator downloads and prints a certificate of completion valid for three years from the completion date, along with a checklist an employer uses for the required practical observation.
- Fully online and self-paced - about 120 to 150 minutes of content
- Satisfies the classroom portion of Canadian operator safety training
- Includes a practical observation checklist for the employer
- Mobile-friendly - start on a laptop, finish on a phone
- Pass mark is 80 percent, with up to three attempts
Why it matters for compliance
Occupational health and safety legislation requires that equipment operators are trained and competent before they run a machine, and a compact size does not change that. This course is the classroom portion of mini excavator operator training and provides the documented record a COR auditor or a contractor pre-qualification platform looks for; a practical observation completes the certification.
Common questions
Questions buyers ask
How much does the Mini Excavator Operator course cost?
- The course is 99.99 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 120 to 150 minutes of content and is fully self-paced, so an operator can complete it across a couple of sessions without losing their place.
Does the Mini Excavator certificate expire?
- Yes. The certificate of completion is valid for three years from the completion date shown on it, after which the operator retakes the course to stay current.
How is this different from the full Excavator course?
- This course is built specifically for mini and compact excavators, with the stability and operating considerations of the smaller machine. On-Track Safety also offers a separate Excavator Operator Safety course for full-size trackhoes.
Do I need a practical evaluation as well as this course?
- This course is the classroom portion of mini excavator operator training. It comes with a checklist an employer uses to administer the required practical observation on the actual machine.
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.