STANDARD + VR Construction and EPC · Canada Updated October 14, 2026

Trench and Excavation VR Training for Ontario Construction (O. Reg. 213/91, Part III)

VR trench scenario on Part III of O. Reg. 213/91: soil types 1 to 4, locating services before digging, support systems and keeping spoil and machines back.

QUICK ANSWER

Part III of Ontario's Construction Projects regulation classifies soil into Types 1 to 4, requires gas, electrical and other services to be located and marked before an excavation begins, and requires excavation walls to be supported or sloped. A VR trench lets crews practise reading soil and support before stepping in.

What the Rule Requires

O. Reg. 213/91 Construction Projects, Part III Excavations: section 226 classifies soil as Type 1, 2, 3 or 4 for the purposes of Part III. Section 228 requires that before an excavation is begun, gas, electrical and other services in and near the area are accurately located and marked, and where needed shut off and disconnected. Section 234 and the sections that follow set out when and how excavation walls must be supported by a support system such as a trench box or shoring.

The scenario is a watermain replacement on a residential street in Ottawa. The trench is open to just above head height, the soil looks firm but water is seeping from one wall, the spoil pile sits at the edge and a locate for a gas line has a missing paint mark.

Hazards in This Scenario

Wall collapse and burial
Striking an unmarked gas line
Spoil and equipment loading the edge
Water weakening the soil

The Procedure the Scenario Rehearses

Confirm locates are complete and marked
Classify the soil type for this trench
Install the support system before entry
Keep spoil and machines back from the edge
Provide a ladder within reach
Reassess after rain or seepage

Mistakes the Scenario Is Built to Catch

Entering before the box is placed
Assuming firm-looking soil is Type 1
Digging past a missing locate mark
Spoil piled at the lip

Competence Assessment Matrix

Decision point	What the assessor sees	Pass standard
Locates	Service marks checked	Complete before digging
Soil	Type classified	Matches conditions
Support	System in place	Before entry
Edge	Spoil and machines	Kept back

What VR Covers

Soil and water changes made visible
Collapse risk without burial risk
Locate errors that must be caught
Records of each decision per worker

What VR Does Not Replace

A competent person on site
Engineered support design where needed
Ontario One Call locates

Scope of a One-Scenario Pilot

A pilot builds this scenario as a single module, in Unity or Unreal Engine depending on the visual fidelity the task needs and the headsets on site. It runs on standalone headsets, logs every learner decision, and exports a per-person record for your training file. It is measured against your current method with a test cohort before anything is scaled.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Ontario classify soil?

Section 226 of O. Reg. 213/91 classifies soil as Type 1, 2, 3 or 4, which drives the support or sloping required.

What must happen before digging?

Section 228 requires gas, electrical and other services to be located and marked before an excavation begins.

Can VR replace a competent person?

No. It prepares workers to recognise problems the competent person must address.

Want this scenario built around your site?

We review your current procedure and tell you which parts can be rehearsed in VR and which still need hands-on practice.

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