About the course
What this course covers.
A trench collapse gives no warning. A cubic metre of soil weighs more than a tonne, and a worker caught in a cave-in rarely gets out. Trench work more than doubles a construction worker's chance of being killed on the job - and almost every one of those deaths is preventable when the crew understands the hazard. This course builds that understanding.
The course covers the hazards of trenching, the role of the competent person and the worksite inspection, and soil types and the protective systems that match them. It works through ongoing inspection and testing, access, egress, setback, and equipment placement around a trench, and working defensively when the unexpected happens.
Companies use the course to train construction workers who work in or around trenches and excavations, and to give a documented training record an auditor or a contractor pre-qualification platform looks for.
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.
Trench hazards and the competent person
The hazards of trenching work, and the role of the competent person in the worksite inspection.
Soil and protective systems
Soil types and the protective systems that match them, and the ongoing inspection and testing a trench needs.
Access and equipment
Safe access and egress, setback distances, and the placement of equipment around an open trench.
Working defensively
Working defensively in and around a trench so a changing condition does not become a cave-in.
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
The soil-types and protective-systems section is the part that matters. A crew that understands why the box goes in does not argue about it.
Garrett M.
Excavation Supervisor
Clear on the competent person role and the daily inspection. It is the right grounding before anyone goes near an open trench.
Lisa R.
Construction Safety Officer
The access, egress, and setback content closed a real gap for us. Good, practical course.
Pete H.
Utility Crew Lead
Who it is for
Built for the people running the work
- Construction workers who work in or around trenches
- Excavation and utility crews
- Workers new to trenching and shoring
- Supervisors and competent persons on excavation work
- Any company that needs a documented trenching training record
What you walk away with
Able to do the job, not just describe it
- Recognise the hazards of trenching and shoring work
- Explain the role of the competent person in a trench inspection
- Match protective systems to soil types
- Apply safe access, egress, and setback around a trench
- Work defensively in and around an open trench
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 Trenching and Shoring Safety in Construction Environments
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 worker downloads and prints a certificate of completion. A printable student manual is available as a reference.
- Fully online and self-paced - about 45 minutes of content
- Includes a printable student manual
- Mobile-friendly - start on a laptop, finish on a phone
- Instant access as soon as the course is purchased
- Pass mark is 80 percent, with up to three attempts
Why it matters for compliance
Occupational health and safety legislation sets specific requirements for excavation and trenching work, including the role of a competent person and the use of protective systems. This course gives workers trenching safety training and the documented record a COR auditor or a contractor pre-qualification platform looks for.
Common questions
Questions buyers ask
How much does the Trenching and Shoring Safety 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 45 minutes of content and is fully self-paced, so it can be completed in a single short session, and a printable student manual is available as a later reference.
Does the certificate expire?
- The certificate of completion does not carry an expiry date. Many employers refresh trenching training periodically as part of their health and safety program.
What is a competent person in trenching work?
- A competent person is someone with the training and authority to identify trench hazards and take corrective action. The course explains the competent person's role in the worksite inspection.
Does the course cover soil types?
- Yes. The course covers soil types and the protective systems that match each one, alongside ongoing inspection and testing of the trench.
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.