EUSR - Implement Safe (Digging) Excavating Practices and Locate Utility Services Combined Course

Learning Outcomes / Achievement Criteria:

Learners will be able to:

•Interpret utility drawings for the correct detailed information that is required on the drawings.

•Use location equipment to locate underground services in all modes and mark out the findings correctly.

•Have an understanding of the dangers and hazards associated with underground services.

Including :

• Planning the work
• Working to Legislation
• Dangers from existing services
• Understanding service drawings
• Methods of identification and excavation.
• Cable avoidance locating equipment and safe locating using the equipment.
• 3 basic elements of a safe system of work during excavating (planning the work, locating and identifying buried services and safe excavating)  and dangers of overhead power lines
• Practice locating services with all modes on cable detection equipment
• How to plan the work & follow Legislation such as HSG47 & GS6
• The dangers from existing services
• Methods of excavation
• Why support excavations
• Why do excavations collapse
• The definition of Working in Confined Spaces, the dangers and specific risks that are associated with it. The controls that are required to be in place eg PPE etc.

Learners will understand:

• Basic soil categories,
• Contaminated ground,
• Soil movement,
• The angle of repose
• Surcharges (Loads)
• The hand signals that are required when using excavators
• Learners will understand the hazards concerned with working at height in excavations and control measures required,

Assessment : locating services with all modes on cable detection equipment and carry out correct safe digging practices

Assessment will be by demonstration and written answers

On successful completion of their assessment each candidate will then be eligible to have their achieved competence modules registered on the Energy and Utility Skills Register (EUSR) and to have an EUSR card detailing that competence