Lesson 1Safety checks before family comes: risk of cave-in, underground lines, paths for vehicles and peopleThis part covers safety checks before the family arrives, like checking soil steadiness, risks of walls falling, hidden pipes or wires, ways for vehicles and walkers to get in, and plans for emergencies, making sure the place is safe and proper before folks reach 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 2Tools, gear, and safety wear list: spades, picks, planks, ropes, coffin lowering toolsGo over the main tools, gear, and safety wear needed for preparing graves, including hand tools like spades and picks, planks for support, ropes, lowering devices, and how to check them all, ensuring everything is good to use, stored safe, and set before the service starts.
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: where to put it, making it steady, avoiding dirt spread, stopping wash awayThis part explains how to place, shape, and steady the piles of dug soil to stop them falling, spreading dirt, or washing away in rain, including keeping them far from the grave edge, controlling water run-off, separating soil types, and guarding 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 4Checking site in rainy weather: soil kinds, water levels underground, drain signsThis part looks at checking wet sites before digging, covering different soil types, signs of underground water, how water flows on the surface, recent rains, and nearby buildings, so you 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 5Temporary guarding of nearby graves and plants during diggingLearn to protect close graves, stones, and plants from harm while digging by using fences, soft padding, and controlling who goes where, plus planning machine paths and soil pile spots to keep the cemetery looking nice and unchanged.
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 6Rule depths and usual grave sizes for grown-up coffin burialsKnow the law on how deep to dig and standard sizes for adult coffin graves, including width, length, and space around, plus local differences in Gambia, double-deep graves, and checking against cemetery rules and maps for proper fit.
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: using wood planks, trench boxes, temp holdsThis part shows when and how to use supports and braces like wood planks, metal trench boxes, and push-up supports to stop walls caving in, keep workers safe, and follow digging safety rules for different soils in Gambian grounds.
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 spot, sizes, and state before burial (what to write down)Learn to note the grave's place, sizes, soil state, and how the site looked before burial, using photos and drawings, so later fixes, digging up, or family questions can use clear, trackable records that meet Gambian standards.
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 ways for steadiness in wet ground: steps, benches, slantsLearn digging methods that keep things steady in wet or soaked ground, like making steps, benches, or slants, plus water removal choices, watching for shifts, and changing plans for weather and underground water changes in Gambia.
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 stakes: side-to-side and up-down guides, level testsThis part explains measuring, marking, and staking graves with tapes, levels, and fixed points, ensuring right line-up, depth, and slope, while guarding old markers and leaving space for 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
