Lesson 1Safety Inspections Before Family Arrives: Risks of Collapse, Utility Lines, Access PathsThis part discusses safety checks done before the family arrives, such as checking soil firmness, risks of cave-ins, underground pipes or wires, routes for vehicles and walkers, and emergency plans, to make sure the site is secure and shows respect before the family gets to the grave.
Visual inspection for cracks and slumpsLocating and marking buried utilitiesAssessing vehicle and hearse access routesPedestrian paths and trip hazard controlWeather, lighting, and visibility checksEmergency response and rescue planningLesson 2List of Tools, Gear, and Protective Clothing: Spades, Picks, Planks, Ropes, Lowering ToolsGo over the main tools, gear, and protective clothing needed for preparing graves, like hand tools, planks, ropes, lowering tools, and regular checks, making certain all is suitable, stored safely, and prepared before the burial service begins.
Core hand tools and their upkeepBoards, ladders, and access aidsRopes, slings, and lowering gearPPE for excavation and handlingPre-use inspection and defect logsStorage, transport, and securityLesson 3Handling Dug Soil: Positioning, Firming Up, Avoiding Pollution, Controlling WashawayThis part explains how to position, shape, and firm up piles of dug soil to stop collapses, pollution, and washing away, including keeping safe distances from the grave side, managing water flow, separating soil types, and safeguarding nearby graves and walkways.
Safe setback distances for spoil heapsLayering and separating soil horizonsCovering spoil to limit dust and mudRunoff channels and silt barriersPreventing contamination of pathwaysBackfill preparation and compactionLesson 4Evaluating Sites in Rainy Conditions: Soil Kinds, Water Levels, Drainage SignsThis part concentrates on checking wet sites before starting to dig, including types of soil, signs of underground water, how water flows on the surface, recent rains, and nearby buildings, so you can pick safe digging ways and plan good water handling.
Reading soil texture and structureRecognizing high water table signsSurface drainage and ponding patternsImpact of recent and forecast rainInfluence of trees, walls, and pathsSelecting safe methods from findingsLesson 5Short-Term Safeguarding of Nearby Graves and Plants During DiggingFind out how to protect close graves, stones, and plants from harm while digging by using barriers, soft padding, and path controls, while arranging machine paths and soil pile spots to keep the cemetery looking proper.
Surveying nearby headstones and markersInstalling boards, mats, and barriersRoot zones and tree protection methodsMachinery routes to avoid monumentsDust, mud, and debris containmentPost-excavation site restoration stepsLesson 6Required Depths by Law and Usual Grave Sizes for Adult Coffin BurialsGrasp the legal depth rules and usual sizes for adult coffin graves, covering width, length, and space around, plus local differences, deeper double graves, and ways to check against cemetery rules and maps.
Typical adult coffin grave dimensionsMinimum cover and depth regulationsDouble-depth and family plot layoutsClearances from paths and structuresChecking local and faith-based rulesDocumenting approved dimensionsLesson 7Wall Supporting and Bracing Ways: Timber Planks, Trench Boxes, Short-Term PropsThis part describes when and how to use wall supports and braces, like timber planks, trench boxes, and water-powered props, to avoid wall falls, guard workers, and meet digging safety rules in different soil kinds.
Soil classification and support needsTimber sheeting and waler systemsUse and limits of trench boxesHydraulic and mechanical shoringInspection and maintenance routinesRemoval sequence to avoid collapseLesson 8Keeping Records of Grave Spots, Sizes, and State Before Burial (What to Write Down)Learn to record grave spots, sizes, soil states, and site condition before burial, using photos and drawings, so future care, digging up, or family questions can use exact, trackable, and rule-following papers.
Grave numbering and map referencesRecording dimensions and depth dataNoting soil type and water presencePhotographic and sketch recordsDocumenting protections and shoringSecure storage of records and updatesLesson 9Digging Methods for Firmness in Water-Soaked Soil: Layering, Stepping, SlopingLearn digging methods that keep firmness in soaked or water-filled soil, like layering, stepping, and sloping, plus water removal choices, watching for shifts, and changing methods for weather and water level changes.
Identifying saturated and weak soilsBenching and stepping grave wallsSafe sloping angles by soil typeUse of pumps and simple drainageMonitoring wall movement and heaveBackfilling in wet conditions safelyLesson 10Measuring, Marking, and Setting Out: Side-to-Side and Up-Down Guides, Level TestsThis part explains how to measure, mark, and set out graves with tapes, levels, and fixed points, ensuring right lines, depth, and slope, while guarding old markers and allowing safe machine and carrier access.
Setting reference lines and benchmarksMarking grave corners with stakesChecking length, width, and squarenessUsing levels for depth and fallAllowing space for access and gearProtecting nearby markers while marking
