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Safe Excavation Techniques in Construction

Safe Excavation Techniques in Construction

The purpose of this standard is to provide the delegate with the knowledge to support the following: Scope: • spoil characteristics safe storage and removal of excavated material • maintain a safe environment • maintain tools and equipment • underground and above ground services • permits to work • working at height near excavations • safety signs and signals • emergency procedures • banksman role and responsibilities • transportation of loads • hazards – all common plant and plant machinery • hazards – collapse, noise, environmental and services • legislation, regulations and approved guidance • topsoil and subsoil characteristics • proprietary trench support • marking out and measuring • the effects of adverse weather conditions

Duration

3 days of 6 learning hours. Duration for any practical learning to be at least 50% of this.

Purpose/scope

The purpose of this standard is to provide the delegate with the knowledge to support the following:

Scope:

  • spoil characteristics safe storage and removal of excavated material
  • maintain a safe environment
  • maintain tools and equipment
  • underground and above ground services
  • permits to work
  • working at height near excavations
  • safety signs and signals
  • emergency procedures
  • banksman role and responsibilities
  • transportation of loads
  • hazards – all common plant and plant machinery
  • hazards – collapse, noise, environmental and services
  • legislation, regulations and approved guidance
  • topsoil and subsoil characteristics
  • proprietary trench support
  • marking out and measuring
  • the effects of adverse weather conditions

Occupational relevance

Training delivered against this standard would be relevant to the following occupational group(s):

  • operative and craft

Delegates pre-requisites

There are no delegate pre-requisites as part of this standard.

Instruction/supervision

As a minimum, course trainers must be able to demonstrate that, in relation to this standard, they have:

  • an award in education and training (or equivalent, as per requirements for approved training organisations)
  • successfully completed training to this standard or evidence to prove knowledge and competency
  • at least 2 years relevant industrial experience
  • a verifiable CV.

Delivery

Delivery may be in an on or off the job environment.

All materials and equipment must be of a suitable quality and quantity for delegates to achieve learning outcomes and must comply with relevant legislation.

The class size and delegate/trainer ratio must allow training to be delivered in a safe manner and enable delegates to achieve the learning outcomes.

The following delivery methods may be used in the delivery of this standard:

  • classroom/suitable practical training area

This standard is considered to contain 51% or more practical training.

This standard is considered to be set at a basic level.

Assessment

Methods of assessment considered appropriate for training delivered against this standard are:

For the successful completion of training, the trainer must be satisfied that the delegate has achieved all learning outcomes.

Quality assurance

Assured

Quality assurance against this standard will require initial approval of the training organisation and their content mapped to the standard.

CITB will also conduct an approval intervention, either desk-based or centre visit, to ensure the training organisation can meet the requirements of the training standard.

Approved training organisations (ATOs) will be required to present information on records of training and assessment upon request to CITB for desk-based analysis. They will also be visited annually by the CITB quality assurance team.

Renewal

There are no mandatory renewal or recommended refresher requirements for this standard.

Approval date

Mar 2021

Review cycle

N/A

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes
The delegate will be able to: Additional guidance to support learning outcome:

identify key responsibilities under legislation and official guidance relating to safe working practices:

  • personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • induction
  • working at height near excavations
  • risk assessments
  • safety signs and signals
  • working below ground
  • reporting unsafe practices
  • permits to work

Health and Safety at Work Act (HASAWA) 1974

Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER)

The Work at Height Regulations 2005

Including codes of practice, technical guidance, best practice and manufacturers’ instructions/recommendations

identify the different types of underground and above ground services:

  • standard colour coding
  • types of indicators and protection

Approved Codes of Practice (ACOP)

Current and historical service identifiers

Temporary works

Excavation register

Sign off from competent person.

HSG47 guidance for working around live services

identify hazards caused by:

  • above ground services
  • underground services
 

describe the hazards posed by working near plant and vehicles

  • noise
  • collision
  • asphyxiation
  • excavation collapse
  • environmental

Health & Safety Executive (HSE) guidance HSG150

identify the Banksman role and responsibilities  

identify different soil types

  • the load bearing capabilities of different soil types
  • the factors that affect the stability of different soil types
  • state how adverse weather conditions can affect the stability of,
    • trenches
    • stockpiled spoil
 

describe ways of providing excavation support

  • battering.
  • trench boxes
  • sheet piles

Temp works and excavation registers, requirement for inspections

describe how to safely store excavated materials for removal or reuse including top soil and sub soils:

  • angles of repose
  • increase in volume
  • reaction to weather conditions
 

assist in the transportation of loads:

  • demonstrate how to stop operations in an emergency
 

demonstrate how to safely erect barriers to create a safe work area.

  • safety signs and signals
  • edge protection
 

demonstrate how to mark out an excavation from given dimensions and instructions.

The candidate is not expected to extract information from site documents.

demonstrate, as part of a team, how to position and remove either Trench Box or Sheet Pile excavation support systems:

  • agree methods of work, risk assessments method statements
  • inspect resources before application
  • identify lifting equipment
  • team communication
  • identify when a system is correctly positioned and/or make adjustments as directed to ensure correct positioning of system
  • use access equipment as directed
  • prepare system for removal
  • attach lifting apparatus as directed
  • use tag lines as directed
  • follow instructions to maintain safe working practices
  • remove lifting equipment
  • clean, maintain and store as directed all equipment
  • complete relevant documentation

Risk Assessments

Method statements

Manufacturer’s instructions

Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER)

Permits to work

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