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Health, Safety and Security

Excavation, 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.

3 day courseRegister NowRequest Proposal

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

  1. 01A tonne per cubic metre and no warning
  2. 02Soil types and behaviour
  3. 03Causes of collapse
  4. 04Battering, benching, shoring and shielding
  5. 05Underground services and safe digging
  6. 06Service strikes and response
  7. 07Access, edges and vehicle movements
  8. 08Water, atmosphere, inspection and emergency response

Scheduled sessions

Scheduled sessions for Excavation, Trenching and Ground Works Safety
DatesVenueFormatPriceRegister
12 to 14 October 2026Harare, ZimbabweClassroomUSD 995 per delegateRegister Now
21 to 23 October 2026OnlineOnlineR6,500 per delegateRegister Now
28 to 30 October 2026Kigali, RwandaClassroomUSD 995 per delegateRegister Now
2 to 4 November 2026Johannesburg, South AfricaClassroomR14,950 per delegateRegister Now
2 to 4 December 2026Windhoek, NamibiaClassroomR14,950 per delegateRegister Now
6 to 8 January 2027Casablanca, MoroccoClassroomUSD 995 per delegateRegister Now

Excavation, Trenching and Ground Works Safety

From R6,500

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