The eLearning Center for Gatlin Education Services

Overview

Excavation and trenching are among the most hazardous construction operations. Workers involved in excavating and trenching operations are exposed to many different potential hazards, including cave-ins, hazardous atmospheres and falling objects. However, most injuries and deaths associated with excavation and trenching operations can be prevented by employing OSHA safety standards.

In this course, the student will review OSHA 2226, "Excavations". This publication outlines the requirements of OSHA's safety standards for excavation and trenching operations contained in the Code of Federal Regulations (29CFR Part 1926). This course is relevant to business owners, engineers, managers, foreman and any other personnel working in industries that require excavation and trenching operations.

The student must take a multiple-choice quiz consisting of ten questions at the end of this course to obtain PDH credits.

Specific Knowledge or Skill Attained

This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:

  · Identifying the difference between excavating and trenching
  · The dangers of excavation and trenching
  · The measures employed to protect against cave-in, water accumulation, hazardous atmospheres, underground utilities and falling objects
  · Protective equipment required for confined footing excavations
  · Requirements for site inspections

State Board Acceptance

This course can be used by professional engineers to fulfill PDH requirements mandated by state and provincial licensing boards. Decatur Professional Development is an approved provider of continuing education in all states that pre-approve course providers. In all other states that mandate continuing education for engineers, it is the individual engineer's responsibility to determine the suitability of activities for PDH credit. The state boards typically accept online* courses that cover technical, managerial** or ethical content and which are relevant to the practice of engineering. The course must have a clear purpose or objective with a content that will maintain, improve or expand the skills and knowledge of the licensee's field of practice. For questions about your mandatory PDH requirements, visit the website of your state licensing board.

*Online courses are accepted by all state licensing boards that mandate continuing education. Other than New York (which limits online courses to 18 PDH) and Iowa (which limits online courses to 6 PDH), there are no limits placed by other states on the number of hours that can be earned through online continuing education. Consult with your state licensing board if you have any questions about the acceptability of online courses.

**The New York State Board of Engineers does not accept general office management courses, but will accept project management courses that are offered by an approved provider and that are technical in nature and contribute to the engineer's professional practice.