Excavations and trenching
Training program standard

SAFE Work Manitoba has made reasonable attempts to confirm the accuracy of the information contained in this document. However, this document is intended for general information purposes only. SAFE Work Manitoba shall not assume responsibility or liability for actions taken or not taken due to reliance on information in this document alone. Manitoba employers must comply with the Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act and Regulation, which may be amended occasionally.

1. Training standard topic

Excavations and trenching

2. Purpose

The purpose of the excavations and trenching training program standard is to provide individuals with: 

• understanding the applicable legal requirements, including the requirements pertaining to registration and notifications before entering an excavation or trench
• knowledge of identifying the hazards and assessing the risks associated with entering an excavation or trench
• knowledge of various control measures and other requirements, including support structures and personal protective equipment to be used when entering an excavation or trench

The training is intended for employers, supervisors, workers, or any personnel performing or involved in trenching and excavation activities.

The excavations and trenching training program standard outlines the minimum requirements for developing and delivering excavations and trenching training programs in Manitoba. It was developed considering the Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act and Regulation, Canada Labour Code Part II, Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (SOR/86-304) Part III for temporary structures and excavations and the Gas Pipe Line Excavations Regulation.

NOTE: This training standard does not include flag-person and confined spaces details. 

3. Design

The design of the training program must meet the following criteria:

• Compliance with adult learning principles:
  
  1. ensure learners know why they need to learn specific content and its relevance to their workplaces
  2. relate training to learners’ own experiences when simulating workplace scenarios
  3. challenge and engage learners using a variety of activities that allow opportunities for participation, feedback and interaction
  4. recognize the limits of attention spans and apply techniques to address the various ways that adults learn
  5. use realistic activities and tools to support the transfer of learning to the workplace
• Use language that is appropriate for all learners
• Provide content that is accurate and current
• Include references to legal and technical information
• Use a variety of technical teaching aids
• Provide learner materials that follow the principles of instructional writing and good graphic design
• Be consistent with provincial and federal legal requirements

4. Delivery

Regardless of the delivery method, all Endorsed Training programs must meet the requirements of this standard along with The Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA), and the delivery method must be reasonable and practicable to support the learner’s ability to attain the applicable learning outcomes.

4.1     Face-to-face learning

 The following is the maximum ratio of learners to instructor:

• Basic theory module:  24:1

The following are the minimum hours for training delivery:

• Basic theory module: 3.5 hours

The timing for delivery of this training program may be extended for various reasons, such as the amount of equipment available to demonstrate learning outcomes, instructor experience and/or the learning needs of the training participants.

4.2     E-learning and blended learning

The eLearning content should be consistent with Manitoba eLearning instructional design guidelines.

This type of learning is acceptable for:

• Basic theory module

4.3     Distance learning

Distance learning includes training via a live video link; a plan for interactivity with a qualified instructor should be developed and available.

This type of learning is acceptable for:

• Basic theory module

5. Learning outcomes

Employers will need to supplement any training program that meets the requirements of this training program standard with additional information, instruction, and training in workplace-specific policies and procedures, workplace-specific hazards, and equipment related to excavations and trenching.

5.1     Excavations and trenching basic theory module

5.1.1      Legal requirement

Content must include:

• an overview of the legal framework, including rights, duties and responsibilities and legislative requirements pertaining to performing excavation work or trenching
• an overview of the legislative documents and additional available resources on excavations and trenching, including but not limited to Guide for Excavation Work by SAFE Work Manitoba and Safe Excavation and Safety Watch Guidelines by Manitoba Hydro, and how to access them

At the end of this module, learners will be able to:

• identify parts in the Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act and Regulation and/or Canada Labour Code Part II and Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (SOR/86-304) Part III and the Gas Pipe Line Excavations Regulation, as applicable, pertaining to excavations and trenching
• distinguish between an excavation and a trench
• reference the duties and responsibilities of the employer, supervisor and workers as they relate to excavations and trenching
• describe the workers’ rights as they relate to excavations and trenching
• recognize the requirements for registration to perform excavations
• recognize the requirements pertaining to notification of excavation work
• recognize the need of a competent person for supervision
• reference and access various resource documents related to excavations and trenching

5.1.2      Identification and assessment of excavations and trenching hazards

Content to include:

• a description of common hazards related to excavations and trenching, including but not limited to cave-ins, collapse, hazardous objects near an excavation, flooding, water accumulation, powered mobile equipment, hazardous atmospheres, slips, trips and falls, material handling and other musculoskeletal hazards
• a description of hazards related to underground or buried as well as overhead facilities
• an overview of different soil categories in Manitoba and various causes for cave-ins or collapses, including the impact of weather conditions
• an overview of the risk assessment process for identifying and assessing hazards

At the end of this module, learners will be able to:

• identify the common hazards associated with excavations and trenching
• identify the common underground or buried and overhead facilities and the hazards associated with them
• recognize different types of incidents due to hazardous conditions when performing excavation and trenching work
• recognize the different soil categories in Manitoba
• describe the various causes of cave-ins
• describe the importance of and steps for conducting a risk assessment

 5.1.3      Control of excavations and trenching hazards

Content must include:

• an overview of the control measures for damage prevention of underground and overhead facilities, including notification to the owner and request for locates
• an overview of the hierarchy of controls and different types of control measures to eliminate or reduce the risk associated with common hazards identified during excavation and trenching work, including but not limited to support structures (shoring, sloping, trench cages), safe access to and egress from excavation, guarding, walkways, hazardous atmospheric testing, safe material handling, safe work procedures, emergency procedures and personal protective equipment (PPE)
• a description of the requirements for support structures for excavations and trenches, including but not limited to installation, use, inspection and removal of shoring
• a description of different methods of shoring and different types of shoring material, including but not limited to wood shoring
• an overview of the requirements for deep foundation excavations

At the end of this module, learners will be able to:

• describe various control measures to eliminate or reduce the risk associated with hazards identified during excavation and trenching work
• recognize underground and overhead facility owners and the process to request locates before doing an excavation
• describe the control measures to eliminate or reduce underground or overhead facilities contacts or hits
• describe the steps to be taken in the event of damage to underground or overhead facilities 
• explain the importance and the requirements of support structures against cave-ins, including but not limited to shoring, sloping and trench cages
• describe the requirements for the design, installation, use, inspection and removal of shoring
• recognize the requirement for engineering approvals
• restate the requirements pertaining to deep foundation excavations
• recognize the need for safe work procedures for performing excavations and trenching
• describe the steps to be taken in the event of an emergency or serious incident when working on excavations or trenching sites
• identify the basic and/or specialized PPE requirements when working on trenching or excavation sites
• recognize the importance of using, maintaining and inspecting PPE

5.1.4      Shafts and tunnels

Content must include:

• an overview of the identification and control of hazards related to shafts and tunnel excavations
• an overview of the requirements for shafts and tunnel excavations with reference to legislation

At the end of the module, learners will be able to:

• identify the hazards related to shafts and tunnels
• explain different control measures to reduce the risk associated with shafts and tunnel excavations
• recognize the requirements for shafts and tunnel excavations

6. Resource material

The excavations and trenching training standard has material requirements for both learners and instructors.

The date and version number should be indicated on all resource materials, which include:

• terms and definitions
• job aids, evaluation tools and templates
• copies of the applicable provincial or federal safety legislation
• manufacturers’ instructions for equipment
• participant and instructor manuals with copies of activities
• instructor manual and lesson plan

Learner materials will include:

• learning objectives, agenda, training content and evaluation/testing

Instructor materials will include:

• instructional methods, learning activities, and lesson plan timing
• detailed instructor manual and lesson plans, including all learning activities and audio-visual resources

7. Learner evaluation

The training program must include a plan for learner evaluation that meets the requirements below. The instructor and/or evaluator must have a variety of evaluation methods appropriate to the learning outcomes.

7.1     Evaluation methods

The training program will include methods to evaluate whether key concepts have been understood by the learner using a variety of evaluation methods that are appropriate to the learning outcomes, including:

• open discussion
• group discussion
• questions and answers
• written and/or oral test, where applicable

The evaluation plan must clearly outline the evaluation methods, and the evaluator must document the corresponding results.

7.2     Evaluation of demonstration learning outcomes

1. Learning outcomes requiring demonstration must be performed satisfactorily to complete the practical module successfully;
2. For learners with language, literacy or accommodation needs, alternative evaluation methods may be employed to verify the learner’s satisfactory demonstration of learning outcome. These evaluation methods must be clearly outlined in the evaluation plan, and the evaluator must document the corresponding results.

8. Validation/refresher requirements

Learners who have successfully completed an approved training program must periodically refresh their training to maintain its validity. This requirement supports learners in maintaining their foundational knowledge and skills.

8.1     Validation/refresher requirements

Learners who successfully complete an approved excavations and trenching training program must periodically refresh their training to maintain its validity. This requirement supports learners in maintaining their foundational knowledge and skills.

To confirm a successful training program, the basic theory module must be completed in accordance with the criteria set out in this standard and the training provider standard.

Training remains valid for three years after the excavations and trenching basic theory module is completed.

8.2     Refresher training

A worker’s training is re-validated for another three-year period after successfully completing the refresher training of the excavations and trenching basic theory module.