Decision Guide
Which Excavation Course Do I Need?
Answer one question below, or use the full role-by-role comparison table to match your job to the right course.
What best describes your role on an excavation site?
Recommended: Excavation, Trenching & Shoring Safety Training
You work in, near, or around excavations and trenches. This 3-hour course covers hazard recognition, soil and protective system basics, and safe access/egress - the awareness you need to work safely and know when to notify the Competent Person.
Course Details Enroll - $59.99Recommended: Competent Person for Excavation, Trenching & Shoring Training
You inspect, classify soil, select protective systems, or supervise excavation work. This 8-hour course covers everything OSHA expects a Competent Person to know - but remember, your employer must formally designate you before you hold that authority on site.
Course Details Enroll - $159.99Recommended: Both Courses, by Role
Enroll your crew, operators, and utility/municipal staff in Excavation, Trenching & Shoring Safety Training, and enroll your designated Competent Person(s) - foremen, safety managers, EHS coordinators - in Competent Person Training. Most excavation programs need both.
See Both Courses & PricingRecommended: Competent Person for Excavation, Trenching & Shoring Training
Daily inspection duties fall to the Competent Person role. This 8-hour course covers required inspection timing, documentation, and how to respond when conditions change.
Course Details Enroll - $159.99Recommended: Competent Person for Excavation, Trenching & Shoring Training
Soil classification is a Competent Person responsibility under OSHA Appendix A. This course covers visual and manual test methods for Stable Rock, Type A, Type B, and Type C soils. See also our Soil Classification page.
Course Details Enroll - $159.99Recommended: Competent Person for Excavation, Trenching & Shoring Training
Selecting and evaluating sloping, benching, shielding, and shoring systems is a Competent Person duty. See also our Protective Systems page for how tabulated data and engineering requirements fit in.
Course Details Enroll - $159.99Full Role-by-Role Comparison
Use the table below if your role isn't a clean fit for the quick picker above, or if you're planning training for a mixed team.
| Job Role | Typical Duties | Recommended Course | OSHA Topics Covered | Employer Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excavation crew member / laborer | Digs, works in/around open trenches, handles materials near the excavation | Excavation, Trenching & Shoring Safety Training | Hazard recognition, safe access/egress, spoil placement | Still needs site-specific instruction from the Competent Person |
| Equipment operator | Operates excavators, backhoes, or trenchers near or over open excavations | Excavation, Trenching & Shoring Safety Training | Cave-in hazards, spoil pile placement, utility strikes | Employer must also cover equipment-specific operating procedures |
| Utility / municipal crew | Installs or repairs underground utility lines, works in trenches routinely | Excavation, Trenching & Shoring Safety Training | Utility location, call-before-you-dig, safe access/egress | See also our Underground Utility Safety page |
| Foreman / site supervisor | Oversees daily excavation work, often performs inspections | Competent Person for Excavation, Trenching & Shoring | Daily inspections, soil classification, protective systems | Employer must formally designate supervisor as Competent Person |
| Safety manager / EHS coordinator | Owns the excavation safety program across sites | Competent Person for Excavation, Trenching & Shoring | Program development, protective system selection, emergency planning | May need to train multiple designated Competent Persons |
| Soil classification personnel | Performs visual/manual soil tests before protective system selection | Competent Person for Excavation, Trenching & Shoring | Stable Rock/Type A/B/C classification, testing methods | See also our Soil Classification page |
| Protective system selector / evaluator | Chooses sloping, benching, shoring, or shielding for site conditions | Competent Person for Excavation, Trenching & Shoring | Tabulated data, sloping/benching limits, shoring/shielding | Engineering-designed systems (20 ft+) still require a Registered PE |
| Contractor with mixed crews | Needs both hands-on crew and designated program oversight | Both courses, by role | Full Subpart P coverage across the team | Enroll crew in Safety Training, supervisors in Competent Person |
Decision Logic, Summarized
- If the worker operates near trenches or excavations: Excavation, Trenching & Shoring Safety Training
- If the worker enters or works around trenches: Excavation, Trenching & Shoring Safety Training
- If the person performs daily inspections: Competent Person Training
- If the person classifies soil: Competent Person Training
- If the person selects or evaluates protective systems: Competent Person Training
- If the person supervises excavation work: Competent Person Training
- If the company needs both crew and supervisor coverage: enroll each role in its matching course