Trenching Course – Safe Excavation and Trenching Work
A trenching course is mandatory training for anyone performing excavation and trenching work. Every year, serious accidents occur in Norway due to trench collapses and cave-ins – proper training in trench safety is crucial to prevent fatalities and injuries. The trenching course provides you with the knowledge you need to work safely in and around trenches.
With Komplett HMS's online trenching course, you can complete the training at your convenience. The course is available in multiple languages, and you receive a digital course certificate immediately after passing the knowledge test.
Legal Requirements for Trenching Courses
The requirements for training in excavation and trenching work are rooted in:
- Regulations on the Performance of Work Sections 21-1 to 21-5: Sets requirements for the safe performance of excavation work, including trench shoring and safety zone distances.
- Client Regulations Sections 8 and 17: The client and employer are obliged to ensure that employees have the necessary training.
- Working Environment Act Section 3-2: General duty to provide training in safe work.
- Internal Control Regulations Section 5: The enterprise must document that employees have the required competence for the safe performance of their duties.
The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority regularly supervises construction sites and requires documentation that employees have received training in trenching work.
Consequences of Insufficient Trenching Training
Trench accidents are among the most serious incidents in construction. When a trench collapses, workers can be buried under large quantities of soil and rock. The consequences of insufficient training can be very severe:
- Orders and Fines: The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority can impose coercive fines and infringement fees if training in trench safety cannot be documented.
- Immediate Work Stoppage: In case of serious deviations, the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority can halt all excavation work on site until the conditions are remedied.
- Insurance Problems: If an accident occurs and the employer cannot document training, insurance coverage may be lost – which can lead to enormous claims for damages.
- Criminal Liability: In serious accidents, the employer and responsible manager can be held personally liable if training was not carried out.
What do you learn in the Trenching Course?
- Laws and regulations related to excavation and trenching work
- Properties of soil types and stability conditions
- Trench shoring: bracing, sheet piling, and sloping
- Safety zone distance – distance from trench edge for machines and materials
- Risk assessment before and during excavation work
- Safe access to and from trenches
- Cables and pipes in the ground – detection and notification
- Emergency procedures for collapses and cave-ins
Who needs a Trenching Course?
The course is mandatory for everyone working with or near trenches and excavations:
- Excavator operators
- Plumbers and pipefitters
- Groundworkers and construction workers
- Foremen and supervisors on construction sites
- Electricians laying cables in trenches
- Water and Wastewater (VA) workers
- Project managers and HSE managers in construction
Employer's Responsibility for Trenching Training
The employer has a clear responsibility under the Working Environment Act and the Client Regulations to ensure that everyone working in or near trenches has adequate training. This includes:
- Mapping who needs trenching training based on work tasks and risk assessment
- Ensuring that training is completed before excavation work begins
- Documenting the training as part of the company's internal control system
- Conducting regular refreshers, especially for new projects with different ground conditions
- Ensuring that foreign workers receive training in a language they understand
When hiring personnel, the company leading the work is responsible for ensuring that hired personnel have documented competence.
Course Format and Duration
The trenching course is 100% online and takes approximately 4–6 hours. You complete the course at your own pace, on a PC, mobile, or tablet. The course consists of theory, illustrations, and a final knowledge test.
All Komplett HMS courses are available in multiple languages, so the entire work team can receive training in their own language. You receive your course certificate immediately after passing the knowledge test – ready to be included in the company's HSE documentation.
Order Trenching Course
The trenching course from Komplett HMS is among the most affordable courses on the market for excavation and trenching work, with a course certificate and certification.
Do you also work at heights? Check out our fall protection course and our article on fall protection.
Why Choose Komplett HMS?
- Competitive Prices – Among Norway's most affordable online trenching courses
- Multiple Languages – The entire work team receives training in their native language
- Same-Day Certificate – Digital certificate sent immediately after passing the knowledge test
- Flexible and Mobile-Friendly – Complete anywhere, anytime
- 5 out of 5 stars on Google – Norway's top-rated HSE course provider
- Complete HSE Provider – Everything from HSE courses for managers to specialized courses for construction
Frequently Asked Questions about Trenching Courses
How deep can one excavate without trench shoring?
The general rule is that trenches deeper than 2 meters must be secured with bracing or adequate sloping. The soil type and site conditions may require shoring even at shallower depths. You will learn to correctly assess ground conditions in the trenching course.
How long is the trenching course valid?
There is no fixed expiry date, but regular updates are recommended. Many companies choose to refresh every 3–5 years, or when regulations and working methods change.
Is both theory and practice required?
Yes, our online course covers the theoretical part. The employer must also provide practical training on the workplace, adapted to the actual ground conditions you are working under. Also read about risk assessment in construction.
What is a safety zone distance?
Safety zone distance is the distance from the trench edge where it is not safe to place machines, materials, or people. This distance depends on the trench's depth, soil type, and load. In the trenching course, you will learn to calculate and assess the correct safety zone distance for different situations.
Can foreign workers take the trenching course?
Yes, the trenching course from Komplett HMS is available in multiple languages. It is the employer's responsibility to ensure that all employees understand the training, regardless of their native language. A multilingual course makes it easier to meet this requirement.