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EUSR Excavation Safety Training Courses

EUSR Excavation Safety Training Courses

We offer five categories of EUSR-accredited utility excavation courses, each of which has been developed in close collaboration with employers and industry stakeholders.

These contributors represent the energy and utility sectors, bringing decades of expertise to ensure relevance and quality. Each category aligns with National Occupational Standards, giving you confidence in its credibility.

Why Choose Our EUSR Excavation Courses?

Our trainers bring years of real-world experience from the Construction, Utility, and Civil Engineering sectors. Consequently, you benefit not just from theoretical knowledge but also from practical insights.

Whether you’re an operative, manager, designer, or supervisor—novice or experienced—these courses are tailored to your role. Moreover, they cover a wide range of excavation responsibilities, making them suitable for teams at every level.

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EUSR Excavation Course Delivery Options

Public Classroom
EUSR Excavation Course 768×485

Classroom Training

You can attend our classroom-based training at our Leigh location, where we combine theory and hands-on practical learning. The theoretical section takes place indoors, while the practical exercises are conducted outdoors.
To check availability, please refer to our Next Available Course dates.

Course Prices by Category:

  • Category 1 – Locate Utility Services (CAT & Genny): £175 + VAT
  • Categories 3 to 5: £729 + VAT

 

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3B Training can deliver EUSR courses in a classroom or in-house

In-house Training

For added flexibility, we also offer in-house delivery at your preferred venue or at one of our training centres.

Importantly, your site must include a suitable outdoor area for practical exercises. You can either use your own equipment or request that we provide it.

We price in-house training on a case-by-case basis, taking into account location, group size, and equipment requirements.

To get started, simply complete our in-house enquiry form, and one of our friendly team members will be in touch.

Key Benefits of 3B's EUSR Excavation Training

  • Book any combination of course categories to suit your team’s needs
  • Courses accredited under Energy Utilities Skills
  • CITB Grant options available
  • Hands-on training using real equipment in a live setting

EUSR Category 1 - Locate Utility Services (CAT & Genny)

This essential CAT and Genny course is designed for individuals who need to detect underground services before beginning excavation work.

It also covers how to avoid overhead power lines using GS6 guidance.

What You’ll Learn on the CAT and Genny Course:

You will learn how to:

  • Accurately mark sites using proper techniques
  • Interpret utility plans and recognize symbols
  • Operate equipment to detect underground services
  • Identify hazards and risks associated with utilities
  • Understand why some services are harder to locate
  • Follow safe digging procedures aligned with HSG47 and GS6

Course Duration:

This course takes a minimum of six guided learning hours.

Why Take This Course?

This course aligns with HSE Guidance150 (Safety in Construction), HSG47 (safe excavation), and GS6 (Avoid contact with Overhead Power Lines), and prepares operatives, supervisors, and managers to manage risks associated with excavation. Ultimately, it empowers you to make safe decisions and protect both workers and infrastructure.

Entry Requirements:

Delegates must wear PPE, including gloves, high-vis jackets, safety boots, helmets, and waterproof clothing.

Accreditation:

Accredited by EUSR or 3B Training.

Enjoyed the course, well presented, fantastic thanks. - EUSR Category 1: Locate Utility Services
David Johnson

EUSR Category 2 - Implement Safe (Digging) Excavating Practices

Course Overview:

This course focuses on safe excavation techniques using hand tools and power tools.

Through practical exercises, you’ll gain the skills needed to dig safely around underground utilities.

Key Skills You’ll Gain:

  • Interpret utility drawings.
  • Identify excavation hazards.
  • Hand-dig trial holes.
  • Protect exposed underground services.
  • Follow safe digging procedures based on HSG47.

Duration:

Minimum of six hours.

 

Why Take This Course?

All personnel involved in excavation must follow safety procedures outlined in HSG47, HSG150, and GS6.

This course offers both technical knowledge and practical steps for ensuring a safe worksite.

Entry Requirements:

Standard site PPE is required: gloves, helmet, boots, waterproofs, and a high-vis jacket.

Accreditation:

This course is accredited by EUSR.

EUSR Category 3 - Install, Inspect and Remove Timber Support Systems

Course Overview:

This course teaches how to work safely with timber shoring systems in excavation settings.

You’ll gain practical knowledge to install, inspect, and safely remove timber supports while identifying potential excavation hazards.

By the end of this training, you will be able to show that you can:

  • Safely excavate and install Timber shoring systems to a pre-set design
  • Backfill, reinstate, and strip out safely the timber shoring support systems
  • Understand the risks associated with excavating
  • Reasons why we support excavations using different methods including benching and battering
  • How to interpret standard designs
  • How to carry out excavation inspections
  • How to deal with change
  • Understand different soil structures
  • Comply with company procedures, health and safety regulations and environmental practices

How long is the course?

The minimum guided learning hours for this course is six hours

Why should I take this course?

All operatives, supervisors and managers that are commencing excavation work need to comply with relevant sections of HSE guidance HSG47 and HSG150, CIRIA Trenching practice, amongst other relevant requirements, and follow the advice contained in them.

This course follows this guidance, and equips you with the practical knowledge needed for the role.

Entry Requirements

As part of the general site requirement, we expect the delegate to wear gloves, safety footwear, high visibility jacket, safety helmet and waterproofs.

Is the Timber Support Systems training accredited?

This course is accredited by EUSR.

EUSR Category 4 - Install, Inspect and Remove Steel Support Systems

Course Overview:

Designed for those handling steel excavation support systems, this course emphasizes the correct use, inspection, and removal procedures.

Additionally, it highlights the safety risks linked to improper installation.

By the end of this training, you will be able to evidence that you are able to:

  • Safely excavate and install Steel shoring systems to a pre-set design
  • Backfill, reinstate, and strip out safely the Steel shoring support systems
  • Understand the risks associated with excavating
  • Reasons why we support excavations using different methods including benching and battering
  • How to interpret standard designs
  • How to carry out excavation inspections
  • How to deal with change
  • Understand different soil structures
  • Use and communicate data effectively and resolve problems

How long is the course?

The minimum guided learning hours for this course is six hours

Why should I take this course?

All operatives, supervisors and managers that are commencing excavation work need to comply with relevant sections of HSE guidance HSG47 and HSG150, CIRIA Trenching practice, amongst other relevant requirements, and follow the advice contained in them.

This course follows this guidance, and equips you with the practical knowledge needed for the role.

Entry Requirements

As part of the general site requirement, we expect the delegate to wear gloves, safety footwear, high visibility jacket, safety helmet and waterproofs.

Is this Steel Support Systems training accredited?

This course is accredited by EUSR.

EUSR Category 5 - Install, Inspect, and Remove Proprietary Support Systems

What does this Proprietary Support System training teach you?

This training covers the essentials that is required for those working to install, inspect and remove proprietary excavation support systems.

With this knowledge, you will be well equipped to identify the dangers and hazards associated with excavations.

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

  • Safely excavate and install proprietary shoring systems to a pre-set design.
  • Backfill, reinstate, and strip out safely the proprietary shoring support systems.
  • Understand the risks associated with excavating.
  • Reasons why we support excavations using different methods including benching and battering.
  • How to interpret standard designs.
  • How to carry out excavation inspections.
  • How to deal with change.
  • Understand different soil structures.
  • Comply with company procedures, health and safety regulations and environmental practices.

Course Duration:

Minimum of six guided learning hours.

Why Take This Course?

All operatives and managers must follow CIRIA guidance and HSG150, especially when working with proprietary systems. This course offers the detailed instruction needed for safe execution.

Entry Requirements:

Delegates must wear all required PPE, as in other courses.

Accreditation:

Fully accredited by EUSR.

EUSR Refresher Courses

Categories 1 and 2:

Refresher training is required every three years. You can attend each as a single unit or as a dual course, covering both in nine guided learning hours.

Categories 3, 4, and 5:

These have a one-day refresher, also taken every three years. The refresher includes:

  • Industry updates and regulatory changes.
  • Condensed theory sessions.
  • Live dig practical sessions, including installation and removal of support systems per temporary works design

Combined refresher training for all three categories requires 16 guided learning hours.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • Is it mandatory to take Category 1 and 2 together?
    Is it mandatory to take Category 1 and 2 together?

    We strongly recommend doing so to ensure you’re not relying on others for accurate marking or location.

  • Will I do any actual digging?

    Yes. Courses include live dig sessions, allowing you to use timber, steel, and proprietary shoring systems hands-on.

  • Do we follow a design for installing shoring equipment?

    Absolutely. All support systems are installed following an approved temporary works design.

     

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Next Available Course Dates - EUSR Excavation Safety Training Courses

Next Available Course Dates - EUSR Excavation Safety Training Courses

  • Blackburn

    3B Training
    Unit 6
    Point 65 Business Centre,
    Greenbank Way,
    Blackburn
    BB1 3EA

  • Derby

    23 Royal Scot Road
    Derby
    Derbyshire
    DE24 8AJ

  • Doncaster

    Unit 1 Meadow View
    Durham Lane
    Armthorpe
    Doncaster
    DN3 3DY

  • Leeds

    25 Bradford Road
    Gildersome
    Leeds
    LS27 7HN

  • Leigh

    Unit 5
    English Street Business Park
    English Street
    Leigh
    WN7 3EH

  • Liverpool

    16 Hurricane Court, Hurricane Drive
    Off Estuary Boulevard
    Liverpool International Business Park
    Liverpool
    L24 8RL

  • Manchester

    The Forum
    Tameside Business Park
    Windmill Lane
    Denton
    M34 3QS

  • Tamworth

    93C Lichfield Street
    Tamworth
    Staffordshire
    B79 7QF

  • Wigan

    Stratus House
    Swan Lane
    Hindley Green
    WN2 4EY

Looking for in-house training?

Enquire to receive a quote for in-house training.

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