Lesson 1Safety checks before family arrival: collapse risk, utility checks, access routesThis lesson covers safety checks before the family arrives, including soil stability, collapse risks, underground utilities, vehicle and pedestrian access, and emergency planning, to ensure the site is safe and dignified before mourners reach the graveside.
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, equipment, and PPE checklist: shovels, picks, boards, ropes, lowering devicesReview essential tools, equipment, and PPE for grave digging, including hand tools, boards, ropes, lowering devices, and inspection routines, ensuring all are serviceable, safely stored, and ready before the funeral service.
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 3Managing spoil: placement, stabilization, contamination avoidance, erosion controlThis lesson explains how to place, shape, and stabilise spoil heaps to prevent collapse, contamination, and erosion, including safe distances from the grave edge, runoff control, soil layer separation, and protection of nearby graves and paths.
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 4Site assessment in wet conditions: soil types, water table, drainage indicatorsThis lesson focuses on evaluating wet sites before digging, covering soil types, water table signs, surface drainage patterns, recent rains, and nearby structures, to select safe digging methods and plan water management.
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 protection of adjacent graves and vegetation during excavationLearn to protect nearby graves, monuments, and plants from damage during digging using barriers, padding, and access controls, while planning machinery paths and spoil placement to maintain the cemetery's dignity.
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 6Regulatory depth and standard grave dimensions for adult coffin burialsUnderstand legal depth requirements and standard grave sizes for adult coffin burials, including width, length, clearance, local variations, double-depth graves, and verifying compliance with 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 7Shoring and bracing methods: use of timber boards, trench boxes, and temporary supportsThis lesson covers when and how to use shoring and bracing like timber boards, trench boxes, and hydraulic supports to prevent wall collapse, protect workers, and meet safety standards in different soil conditions.
Soil classification and support needsTimber sheeting and waler systemsUse and limits of trench boxesHydraulic and mechanical shoringInspection and maintenance routinesRemoval sequence to avoid collapseLesson 8Recordkeeping for grave location, dimensions, and pre-burial condition (what to note)Learn to record grave location, dimensions, soil conditions, and pre-burial site state with photos and sketches, for accurate future maintenance, exhumation, or family queries with compliant documentation.
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 9Excavation techniques for stability in saturated ground: benching, stepping, slopingMaster digging techniques for stability in waterlogged soil, including benching, stepping, sloping, dewatering, movement monitoring, and adapting to weather and groundwater 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 stake-out: horizontal and vertical controls, level checksThis lesson teaches measuring, marking, and staking graves with tapes, levels, and references for correct alignment, depth, and slope, protecting markers and ensuring access for machinery and pallbearers.
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
