Occupational Safety Course in Deep Excavations
Online course of 300 hours in Occupational Safety in Deep Excavations: 6 modules covering hazards in deep excavations, the legal framework for prevention, collective protection measures, machinery and special works, and geotechnical control and emergencies, with an assigned technical tutor.
Occupational Safety Course in Deep Excavations — studying from Ireland
Ireland's civil engineering sector is driven by public infrastructure investment in roads, water, housing and public transport, alongside rail projects such as Dublin's light rail and commuter rail upgrades. Transport Infrastructure Ireland sets standards for national roads, while Irish Rail and Iarnród Éireann operate and develop the rail network. Smart city initiatives in Dublin and other urban areas create demand for engineers working on sensors, data platforms and integrated mobility systems. Typical employers include contractors, consultancies, local authorities and public agencies, with Engineers Ireland providing professional recognition.
Fees for Ireland: €448 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Ireland
Typical roles
Questions from Ireland
Is a SEIUM qualification recognised for chartered civil or rail engineering status in Ireland?
Chartered engineer status in Ireland is administered by Engineers Ireland, which sets its own criteria for membership and registration. Rail is regulated in part by the National Transport Authority and Irish Rail-related bodies, while building and infrastructure standards involve other authorities. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by any national body, so recognition is for those bodies and employers to decide.
Do Irish civil, rail and smart-city employers consider private online engineering study?
Irish infrastructure, consultancy and local authority employers usually weigh chartered status, project experience and relevant degrees heavily. A private online qualification may be considered as supporting evidence of skills, but its value is at each employer's discretion. We cannot promise any outcome, so discuss it with prospective employers.
Can I study alongside a site or office job, and is employer funding common?
The programme is online and taught in English, so you can study from home without travel or a student visa. Plan for 1,900 hours on a master's, 800 on a postgraduate diploma or 300 on a specialist course. Each student has an assigned technical tutor, fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible. Many Irish employers have continuing professional development budgets, so ask yours.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Identify the characteristic hazards of deep excavations.
Apply Spanish prevention legislation to construction works.
Design suitable collective protection measures.
Establish safe procedures for machinery and special works.
Link geotechnical control with accident prevention.
Plan the emergency response in excavations.
Prepare a safety plan for a deep excavation.
Who it's for
- Health and safety coordinators on construction sites.
- Occupational risk prevention technicians.
- Site managers responsible for excavation works.
- Designated preventive resources on site.
- Site geotechnical engineers.
- Quality and safety managers.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the construction sector.
What you'll work with
- Ley 31/1995 (Spanish Occupational Risk Prevention Act)
- Real Decreto 1627/1997 (minimum health and safety requirements on construction sites)
- Real Decreto 39/1997 (Regulation on Prevention Services)
- UNE-EN 13331-1 (trench lining systems)
- Real Decreto 1215/1997 (use of work equipment)
- Real Decreto 773/1997 (personal protective equipment)
- Ley 32/2006 (regulation of subcontracting in the construction sector)
- Real Decreto 1154/2020 (carcinogenic agents (respirable crystalline silica))
- Presto
- AutoCAD
- Microsoft Project
- GEO5
- PLAXIS 2D
6 modules
1.1Types of deep excavation1.2Diaphragm walls, piles and soldier pile walls1.3Excavation behind anchored retaining walls1.4Collapse of slopes and trench walls1.5Piping and base heave1.6Falls of people and objects from height1.7Hazardous atmospheres and oxygen deficiency1.8Electrical hazards and buried utilities1.9Accident statistics in excavations1.10Case study: investigation of a trench collapse
2.1Ley 31/1995 on Occupational Risk Prevention2.2Real Decreto 1627/1997 on construction sites2.3Health and safety study and plan2.4Health and safety coordinator2.5Preventive resources and their presence on site2.6Subcontracting in the construction sector2.7General collective agreement for the construction sector2.8Legal liability in accidents2.9Labour inspection2.10Workshop: review of a health and safety plan
3.1Trench shoring: panels, boxes and rails3.2Safe slopes according to soil type3.3Guardrails and perimeter nets3.4Safe access: ladders and stair towers3.5Water control and dewatering3.6Forced ventilation and gas measurement3.7Signage and barriers3.8Work lighting3.9Protection against suspended loads3.10Practical: design of shoring for a deep trench
4.1Excavators and safety distances4.2Cranes and lifting operations4.3Hydromills and diaphragm wall equipment4.4Drilling of anchors and micropiles4.5Work in confined spaces4.6Rescue in excavations4.7Vibration and noise4.8Respirable crystalline silica dust4.9Personal protective equipment4.10Case study: work procedure for a confined space
5.1Monitoring of retaining walls and excavation bases5.2Warning signs of instability5.3Thresholds and preventive evacuation5.4Emergency and evacuation plan5.5First aid on site5.6Coordination with emergency services5.7Accident investigation5.8Safety culture and leadership5.9Training and awareness5.10Case study: emergency drill in a shaft
6.1Description of the excavation6.2Risk assessment by phase6.3Collective protection measures6.4Safe work procedures6.5Preventive monitoring plan6.6Emergency plan6.7Health and safety budget6.8Monitoring indicators6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with your tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so it can be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Presto, AutoCAD, Microsoft Project, GEO5 and PLAXIS 2D, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Cases are studied on real procedures for risk assessment in deep shafts and trenches, shoring design and emergency plans for urban excavations. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final integrated project.
Standards covered: Ley 31/1995; Real Decreto 1627/1997; Real Decreto 39/1997; UNE-EN 13331-1; Real Decreto 1215/1997; Real Decreto 773/1997; Ley 32/2006; Real Decreto 1154/2020.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification is required.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with Presto, AutoCAD, Microsoft Project, GEO5 and PLAXIS 2D, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute certificate, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
No prior qualification is required: you only need an internet connection, a computer able to run the programme software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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