Safety in Excavations and Trenches – Online training in 16 languages
Safety in Excavations and Trenches
Safety in Excavations and Trenches at a glance
- Legal basis
- § 12 ArbSchG (German Occupational Safety and Health Act), DGUV Vorschrift 1 (German statutory accident prevention regulation), Baustellenverordnung (German Construction Site Ordinance), DIN 4124 (German national standard), ASR A2.1 (German Technical Rules for Workplaces)
- Who must participate
- Employees in building construction and civil engineering working at or in excavation pits and trenches
- How often
- Prior to taking up work and regularly thereafter, at least once annually (§ 12 ArbSchG, § 4 DGUV Vorschrift 1); adolescents at least semi-annually (§ 29 JArbSchG (German Youth Employment Protection Act)).
- Proof
- Written or electronic documentation with date, content, and participants; Armstrong automatically generates a certificate for this purpose.
Facts about the training
| Legal basis | § 12 ArbSchG, DGUV Vorschrift 1, Baustellenverordnung, DIN 4124, ASR A2.1 |
|---|---|
| Target group | Employees in building construction and civil engineering working at or in excavation pits and trenches |
| Refresher | every 12 months |
| Duration | 19 minutes |
| Languages | 16 |
| Proof | Certificate with knowledge test |
What participants learn
- Equipping and designing excavation pits and trenches correctly
- Preventing burial and falls
- Soil conditions and external influences on stability
- Organizational protective measures
- Conduct in an emergency
Frequently asked questions
From what depth must trenches be secured?
According to DIN 4124, trenches and excavation pits must be sloped or shored from a depth of 1.25 m, unless special soil conditions require protection earlier.
Who must receive safety training?
All employees working at or in excavation pits and trenches – prior to their assignment on the construction site and at least annually thereafter.
Is online safety training legally permissible?
Yes. Safety training may be conducted electronically if the content is workplace-related, comprehension is tested, and employees can ask questions of a competent person at any time (DGUV Regel 100-001 (rules of German statutory accident insurance), Abschnitt 2.3). Armstrong tests comprehension with knowledge questions and provides a question function.
How is the safety training documented?
Upon completion, each person receives a certificate with their name, date, topic, and the result of the knowledge test. Participation can be retrieved by the employer at any time in the participation matrix – this provides proof of documentation in accordance with § 4 Abs. 1 DGUV Vorschrift 1.
Included in your training package
Included with Basic or Basic Pro. A one-participant package costs 19,00 € net per month, plus applicable VAT. This is the platform package price, not a separate course fee. Quantity pricing is available.
Calculate your participant packageAbout this course
This training course provides essential knowledge for working safely in and around excavation pits and trenches. You will learn how to properly equip and design excavation pits and trenches to prevent hazards such as being buried and falls. A key focus is on organizational measures, soil characteristics, and external factors affecting stability. The course also covers specific fall protection measures, required distances from vehicles and construction equipment, and specific hazards such as gases, oxygen deficiency, and electrical risks. The training also covers the planning of rescue operations, first aid, and the importance of protecting third parties, so that all those involved can work on earth-excavation projects safely and in compliance with the law.
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Knowledge checks
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Which industries is this course relevant to?
These are just a few examples — the content is relevant to almost every industry.
Chemicals & manufacturing
Trades & cleaning
Logistics & warehousing
Healthcare & laboratories
Construction & civil engineering
Metalworking
Food industry
Office & administration
Included in our flat-rate model
Training modules are available to your employees through your subscription. No individual course booking is needed.