Lesson 1Safety checks before family arrival: collapse risk, utility checks, access routesThis lesson covers safety checks before the family arrives, like checking soil steadiness, risks of cave-ins, underground pipes or wires, routes for vehicles and people walking, and emergency plans, to keep the site safe and respectful before mourners get 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 2Tools, equipment, and PPE checklist: shovels, picks, boards, ropes, lowering devicesGo over must-have tools, gear, and protective clothing for grave digging, like spades, pickaxes, planks, ropes, coffin lowering gear, and checks to make sure everything is good to use, stored safely, and set before the funeral 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 3Managing spoil: placement, stabilization, contamination avoidance, erosion controlThis lesson shows how to place, shape, and steady soil heaps from digging to stop collapses, dirt mixing, or washing away, keeping safe space from the grave edge, controlling water run-off, separating soil types, and guarding 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 looks at checking wet sites before digging, covering soil kinds, signs of underground water, how water drains on top, 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 protection of adjacent graves and vegetation during excavationLearn to protect nearby graves, stones, and plants from harm while digging by using screens, padding, and path controls, plus planning machine paths and soil placement to keep the cemetery looking tidy.
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 burialsKnow the required depths by law and usual grave sizes for adult coffins, including width, length, space around, local differences, double graves, and checking 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 7Shoring and bracing methods: use of timber boards, trench boxes, and temporary supportsThis lesson explains when and how to use supports like timber planks, trench shields, and hydraulic props to stop walls falling in, keep workers safe, and meet digging safety rules for different soils.
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 note down grave spot, sizes, soil state, and site before burial, with photos and drawings, so future upkeep, digging up, or family questions have correct, trackable records that follow rules.
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, slopingLearn digging methods that keep things steady in wet or soaked ground, like steps, benches, slopes, plus water removal, watching for shifts, and changing plans for weather and water levels.
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 shows how to measure, mark, and peg out graves with tapes, levels, and fixed points for right line, depth, and slope, 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
