Education and Training
Explore our free online educational program for professional excavators. Equip yourself and your employees with the knowledge and skills essential for safe excavation with our targeted and comprehensive online damage prevention curriculum.
As the curriculum grows to over 40 modules, you’ll find tailored learning experiences to meet your needs. Whether you’re just starting your career, are a veteran excavator or serve in a supervisory/administrative role, this curriculum is for you.
Covering the critical aspects of safe digging, each module demonstrates how to apply excavator best practices for damage prevention and safety.
About the Common Ground Alliance
The Common Ground Alliance (CGA), the national nonprofit trade association dedicated to protecting underground utility lines, people who dig near them and their communities, has created an online education program focused on delivering comprehensive damage prevention curriculum to excavators.
CGA’s excavator education program equips professional excavators with a foundational understanding of their role in safe digging procedures, as well as the laws and regulations related to safe digging that must be followed. Most importantly, the curriculum will boost competence and compliance with CGA’s Best Practices for damage prevention and safety.
We are actively building this training with a team made up of subject matter experts in the industry and will be rolling out modules in phases.
Key Topics Include:
An Intro to Safe Digging
Lay the foundation by uncovering why damage prevention education is important, tools used for excavation, hazards associated with the job, and protective gear.
Facility Avoidance & Protection
Become equipped with critical damage prevention best practices while on a job, including how to safely hand dig, maintain clearance, and protect facilities.
The 811 Process & Troubleshooting
Learn the ins and outs of 811, from locating and marking to submitting a request to troubleshooting mismarked facilities.
What to do when Damage Occurs
Feel confident in knowing when to escalate a situation or how to notify and report damage.
Preparing for an Excavation
Know how to pre-walk a site and take safety precautions to prevent damage and harm.
Administrative Responsibilties
Learn how to hire for a safe workplace, effectively communicate with staff about damage prevention, and create an emergency plan as it relates to damage prevention.