What is Digging Awareness (US)?
Excavation and ground disturbance work come with significant safety risks, from striking underground utilities to causing serious injuries. The Digging Awareness (US) course equips workers with the knowledge and best practices needed to plan, locate, and execute digs safely. Learn how to identify hazards, follow regulatory procedures, and apply safe excavation techniques to protect yourself, your team, and the surrounding infrastructure.
Course Overview
The Digging Awareness course provides essential training for workers involved in ground disturbance and excavation activities. Developed with guidance from multiple industries, this program introduces learners to the PROPPER Phases of Safe Digging and the key legislation, procedures, and safety requirements needed to complete excavation work safely. The training emphasizes hazard recognition, planning, communication, and the steps required to prevent damage to buried facilities.
Learners review the stages of the excavation process, from initial planning and notification to exposing buried facilities, performing the dig, and restoring the site. The course also highlights the responsibilities of all parties involved in ground disturbance, along with best practices to reduce the risk of incidents and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS COURSE?
This course is designed for supervisors, ground disturbers, excavators, project managers, and workers involved in any ground disturbance or excavation activity. It provides foundational knowledge suitable for new workers as well as experienced personnel looking to refresh their understanding of safe digging practices.
TOPIC OVERVIEW
Excavation work presents significant risks, ranging from utility strikes to worker injuries. Understanding how to plan a dig, locate buried facilities, follow notification procedures, and apply safe digging techniques is essential to preventing incidents. This course equips learners with the knowledge needed to perform excavation tasks responsibly and safely.
COURSE TOPICS
Module 1 – Introduction to Digging Awareness
- Understand the purpose and importance of safe excavation practices
Module 2 – Damage Prevention: Why It Is Important
- Review the impacts of facility strikes and why prevention is critical
Module 3 – Ground Disturbance & Excavation
- Learn types of excavation activities and related hazards
Module 4 – Facilities, Damage and Stakeholders
- Review buried facility types and stakeholder responsibilities
Module 5 – Requirements Prior to Ground Disturbance
- Explore legal requirements, permits, and pre-excavation planning
Module 6 – The Notification Process
- Understand when and how to contact local one-call or locate services
Module 7 – Locating and Identifying Buried Facilities
- Learn how locate markings work and how to interpret them correctly
Module 8 – Hand Exposure and Hand Expose Zones
- Review safe hand-exposure methods and zone requirements
Module 9 – Ground Disturbance Safety Procedures
- Explore safe digging techniques and hazard controls during excavation
Module 10 – Plan, Review and Organize
- Learn how to review locate information and organize work safely
Module 11 – Perform Locates and Pre-Excavate
- Understand steps for verifying locates and preparing the site
Module 12 – Excavate and Restore
- Review excavation procedures and site restoration practices
Module 13 – Incidents and Damage Prevention Procedures
- Learn how to respond to incidents and how to prevent recurrence
COURSE DURATION
This online Digging Awareness course takes approximately 2 hours to complete. Learners may start, pause, and resume training at their convenience.
PASS MARK
A minimum score of 80% is required to receive a certificate of completion. Participants may repeat the course as many times as needed to achieve a passing grade. Knowledge checks throughout the program reinforce learning.
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION
Upon successful completion, learners can download and print a digital certificate. The certificate is valid for 3 years from the completion date.
