Ground Disturbance Courses

Module A: Damage Prevention

• The importance of damage prevention
• Buried facility damage and its consequences
• The responsibilities of stakeholders involved in damage prevention and ground disturbance
• Damage prevention legislation, organizations, and publications
• The need for standardized damage prevention and ground disturbance training

Module B: Ground Disturbance Planning

• The definition of ground disturbance
• The importance of codes of practice in terms of ground disturbance
• The importance of and requirements for hazard assessments and emergency response plans
• The various approvals required for ground disturbance
• The various agreements related to ground disturbance
• Onsite supervision responsibilities for all parties involved in a ground disturbance

Module C: Preparing for a Ground Disturbance

• The requirements for conducting a search for buried facilities
• The notification process and the requirements of those involved
• The responsibilities and requirements for requesting locates and locating buried facilities
• The different types of locate marks and outline marking requirements
• Hand expose zones according to regulatory and industry requirements
• Pre-job meetings and what they should entail

Module D: The Execution and Completion of a Ground Disturbance

• How to use a ground disturbance permit
• Tailgate meetings and how to conduct them
• Proper hand exposure techniques
• Proper excavation and backfilling procedures
• Damage management, incident reporting, and investigation requirements

Upon successful completion of this online course, a certificate of completion will be available for download and printing. The certificate is valid for 3 years from the course completion date indicated on the certificate.

Approximately 7 hours

A mark of 80% must be achieved in order to pass this course. The final exam is able to be taken three times in efforts to achieve the pass mark.

Module 1 – Definitions

• Defining ground disturbance
• Common words and terms related to ground disturbance

Module 2 – Regulations and Responsibilities

• Regulations that apply to ground disturbance
• Penalties for contravention of regulations
• Responsibilities of each stakeholder involved in a ground disturbance

Module 3 – Approvals, Permits, and Agreements

• Types of ground disturbance permits
• Commonly used ground disturbance agreements
• Circumstances that may impact the ground disturbance permits and agreements required

Module 4 – Stages of Ground Disturbance

• Techniques for locating existing underground facilities
• Procedures for marking underground facilities
• Exposure processes for underground facilities
• Safe excavating and trenching principles
• Backfill responsibilities

Module 5 – Underground Facility Contact

• Historical examples of damage to underground facilities
• Common causes and potential consequences of underground facility contact
• Strategies for contact prevention and preparation
• What constitutes contact with an underground facility and the procedures to follow if contact is made

Upon successful completion of this course, an online certificate of completion will be available for download and printing.

Approximately 2.5 hour

A mark of 70% must be achieved in order to pass this course. The course is able to be taken three times in efforts to achieve the pass mark.

Module 1 – Definitions

• Defining ground disturbance
• Common words and terms related to ground disturbance

Module 2 – Regulations and Responsibilities

• Regulations that apply to ground disturbance
• Penalties for contravention of regulations
• Responsibilities of each party involved in a ground disturbance

Module 3 – Approvals, Permits, and Agreements

• Types of ground disturbance permits
• Commonly used ground disturbance agreements
• Circumstances that may impact the ground disturbance permits and agreements required

Module 4 – Stages of Ground Disturbance

• Techniques for locating existing underground facilities
• Procedures for marking underground facilities
• Exposure processes for underground facilities
• Backfill responsibilities

Module 5 – Underground Facility Contact

• Common causes and potential consequences of underground facility contact
• Strategies for contact prevention and preparation
• What constitutes contact with an underground facility and the procedures to follow if contact is made

Upon successful completion of this online course, a certificate of completion will be available for download and printing. The certificate is valid for 3 years from the course completion date indicated on the certificate.

Approximately 150 minutes

Testing conducted throughout this online Ground Disturbance 101 Awareness course is designed to reinforce the information presented. A mark of 80% must be achieved in order to receive a certificate of completion. Participants are able to repeat the course twice if the pass mark is not achieved. Print materials necessary to complete this course can be accessed online.

Objective 1 – Hydrovac Procedures

• Describe hydrovac procedures

Objective 2 – Hydrovac Slots

• Use hydrovac slots at facility crossings

Objective 3 – Trenchless Crossings

• Apply hydrovac procedures for trenchless
  crossings

Objective 4 – Primary Means of Excavation

• Explain hydrovacing as the primary means of
  excavation

Objective 5 – Spills & Leaks

• Identify hydrovac procedures for spills &
  leaks

Objective 6 – Facility Identification & Verification

• List facility identification and verification
  procedures

Upon successful completion of this online course, a certificate of completion will be available for download and printing. The certificate is valid for 3 years from the course completion date indicated on the certificate.

Approximately 120 minutes

Testing conducted during this online course is designed to reinforce the information presented. A mark of 80% must be achieved in order to receive a certificate of completion. Participants are able to repeat the course as many times as necessary if the pass mark is not achieved.

Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to:

• Explain the importance of the damage prevention process
• Outline ground disturbance stakeholder responsibilities
• Identify and define ground disturbance
• Describe hazards associated with ground disturbance
• Identify approvals and permits that may be required
• Explain how to search for, locate, and identify buried facilities
• Describe methods for exposing buried facilities
• Outline the procedures to follow if damage is caused or found

Ground Disturbance 201 (BC) Final Exam (A mark of 80% must be achieved in order to receive a certificate of completion. Participants are able to repeat the course a total of 3 attempts if passing mark not achieved.)

Participants who successfully pass the course will be able to print out a certificate of completion through the learning management system.

Approximately 6 hours.

A mark of 80% must be achieved in order to receive a certificate of completion. Each participant is allowed to repeat the course three times if the course pass mark wasn’t achieved on the first attempt.