Health, Safety and SecurityExcavation, Trenching and Ground Works Safety
A cubic metre of soil weighs more than a tonne, and a trench collapse gives no warning and leaves no time to climb out. This course covers working in and around excavations. Delegates work through soil types and the behaviour of each, the causes of collapse including surcharge, vibration and water, and the protective systems available: battering, benching, shoring and shielding. Underground services are covered in full, from records and scanning through safe digging practice to what to do on a strike. Access, edge protection and vehicle movements follow. Atmospheric hazards and water ingress are addressed. The course closes on inspection, on permits and on emergency response to a collapse.
Course objectives
- Identify soil types and predict their behaviour
- Recognise the causes of collapse including surcharge, vibration and water
- Select battering, benching, shoring or shielding appropriately
- Locate underground services and apply safe digging practice
- Respond correctly to a service strike
- Control access, edge protection and vehicle movements
- Inspect an excavation and respond to a collapse
Who should attend
- Site supervisors and construction managers
- Excavator operators and ground works teams
- Utilities and pipeline crews
- Safety officers on civil and construction sites
- Engineers designing and inspecting excavations
Course outline
- 01A tonne per cubic metre and no warning
- 02Soil types and behaviour
- 03Causes of collapse
- 04Battering, benching, shoring and shielding
- 05Underground services and safe digging
- 06Service strikes and response
- 07Access, edges and vehicle movements
- 08Water, atmosphere, inspection and emergency response
Scheduled sessions
| Dates | Venue | Format | Price | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 to 11 November 2026 | Online | Online | R6,500 per delegate | |
| 16 to 18 November 2026 | Kigali, Rwanda | Classroom | USD 995 per delegate | |
| 16 to 18 December 2026 | Windhoek, Namibia | Classroom | R14,950 per delegate | |
| 23 to 25 December 2026 | Maputo, Mozambique | Classroom | USD 995 per delegate | |
| 24 to 26 March 2027 | Johannesburg, South Africa | Classroom | R14,950 per delegate |
Excavation, Trenching and Ground Works Safety
From R6,500