United Rentals launches new and improved trench safety training course

Working underground is extremely dangerous. Trench collapses occur with alarming frequency and are often fatal. It is essential that people who supervise such work, as well as the employees that perform it, are trained in and knowledgeable of how the work can be carried out safely. The correct use of protective systems will not only keep employees safe but can also increase productivity.

Some trench safety training courses cover specifically what is written in the OSHA standard. That is important. But it is not all that needs to be learned. A well-rounded course will cover the standard, discuss the importance of soil evaluation, and preemptively address areas where interpretations are needed.

United Rentals' United Academy^®, in conjunction with the Trench Safety Division, has made a huge investment to enhance a worker safety training program that has been industry leading for quite some time. These upgrades will help meet the needs of the industry's future and existing workforce.

A new course, Excavation Safety Training for Competent Persons, covers the information that employers, competent persons, and affected employees need to know about complying with OSHA standard 29 CFR Part 1926 Subpart P. It also teaches topics that aren’t addressed in the standard’s tables and charts such as, but not limited to, how to use manufactured systems and how to develop site-specific trench protection plans.

Companies who choose this course for their employees do more than check a required training box—they help ensure that workers know what it takes to work safely in excavation environments and navigate through common hazards.

This training is not just for field personnel. Estimators, project managers, and superintendents can learn why protective systems are needed and which systems can be used and when. This information may help them bid jobs more effectively.

What’s different: More relevant, engaging training

The new course was developed with the help of Mosaic Learning, an instructional design company with expertise in how adults learn and retain information. The goal was to make the content easily digestible and directly relevant to everyday work, including the real-life challenges competent persons often face. Addressing common misconceptions and mistakes identified by United Rentals’ trench experts was among the priorities.

Examples of course content include:

• Factors that affect soil stability;
• How to know when an engineer must be involved;
• Limitations and safe use of manufactured protective systems;
• How to use manufacturer tabulated data to determine if a prefabricated system is right for the job; and
• How to properly slope an excavation in both favorable and distressed soil conditions.

Throughout the course, interactive modules and activities test knowledge and boost engagement. Learning activities that take place in virtual reality or 2D, depending on the course format, include soil classification simulations and jobsite hazard hunts.

Unlike courses structured to mirror the order in which the OSHA standard spells out regulations, this course is designed to teach tasks in the order in which they are typically encountered. Soil evaluation is one of the earliest lessons. Each learning objective flows logically into the next. Periodic knowledge checks quiz workers on information they just learned and emphasize key takeaways.

Course formats: Three choices for maximum flexibility

As with many other training courses from United Rentals, the course is available in three formats to give companies and workers convenient options.

In person training: The in-person, instructor-led course is ideal for training large groups of workers at a single site.

Virtual training:  The virtual training course features a live instructor on video. Companies can choose this platform to train workers in different locations at the same time. It allows trainers and students to interact as if they were together in a room. Virtual training is also a convenient way to train workers who are together in the same space but not near an available instructor.

E-learning: The online course is suitable for people who are comfortable with computers and want to learn on their own schedule. Students can stop as needed and pick up later where they left off.

The United Rentals Trench Safety Mobile App

For use both during and after the course, United Rentals has created a free trench safety mobile app. It contains a simple slope calculator; links to relevant videos, webinars, a podcast and blog articles; and links to OSHA letters of interpretation and OSHA state-led programs.

Why choose United Rentals

According to a 2019 survey of industry stakeholders, lack of proper training is a main contributor to trench collapses and other trench safety incidents. Many companies offer trench safety training, but United Rentals’ new course breaks the mold.

When workers have the specific, relevant knowledge they need to stay safe and, in the case of competent persons, keep crew members safe, everyone benefits. Workers are more likely to arrive home in one piece at the end of day, and companies are more likely to enjoy a good safety record, which helps keep insurance premiums in check.