United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI), a North American leader in trench safety solutions, today announced that its excavation safety training courses are available over the Internet for contractors to comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements. The online curriculum has been developed by instructors with trench site experience, and mirrors the classroom training the company provides at each of its trench safety locations nationwide.

Excavation Safety Training for Competent Persons addresses OSHA 1926 subpart P, including proper soil test procedures, types of protective systems, and guidance on how to take control of hazardous conditions. Confined Space Training addresses OSHA 29 CFR 1910.146, including safety procedures, hazards, and the duties of confined space entrants, attendants and supervisors. When successfully completed, both courses provide written documentation that satisfies U.S. federal requirements.

Paul McDonnell, senior vice president - operations, trench safety, power and HVAC, said, "As the leading provider of trench safety services in North America, we want to help our customers comply with health and safety legislation in the best practicable ways. Online access extends the benefit of classroom training to contractors who find it easier to train on their own schedule. Since the launch of our national trench safety training program in 2006, our instructors have trained more than 60,000 workers face-to-face. We expect that number to accelerate dramatically with online convenience."

United Rentals' trench safety training is part of a broader curriculum that includes safety and fall protection, site-specific regulatory compliance, and operator certifications for equipment such as aerial lifts, loaders, backhoes, forklifts and cranes. To access trench safety training programs online, visit www.ur.com/trench-safety.

About United Rentals

United Rentals, Inc. is the largest equipment rental company in the world, with an integrated network of 529 rental locations in 48 states and 10 Canadian provinces. The company's approximately 7,500 employees serve construction and industrial customers, utilities, municipalities, homeowners and others. The company offers for rent approximately 3,000 classes of equipment with a total original cost of $4.29 billion. United Rentals is a member of the Standard & Poor's MidCap 400 Index and the Russell 2000 Index® and is headquartered in Greenwich, Conn. unitedrentals.com

United Rentals, Inc.
Fred Bratman, 203-618-7318
Cell: 917-847-4507
fbratman@ur.com