Lesson 1Safety Checks Before Family Comes: Risk of Falling In, Checking Underground Lines, Paths to Get ThereThis part covers safety checks before the family arrives, like checking if the soil is steady, risks of sides falling, hidden pipes or wires, ways for cars and people to reach, and plans for emergencies, so the place is safe and treated with care before 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 2Tools, Gear, and Safety Clothes List: Shovels, Picks, Boards, Ropes, Devices to Lower the CoffinLook over the main tools, gear, and safety clothes needed for readying the grave, including hand tools, boards, ropes, devices to lower, and ways to check them, making sure all is good for use, kept safe, 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 3Handling the Dug Soil: Where to Put It, Making It Steady, Avoiding Dirtying, Stopping Wash AwayThis part shows how to put, shape, and make steady the piles of dug soil to stop falling, dirtying, and washing away, including keeping safe space from grave edge, controlling water flow, keeping soil layers apart, 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 4Checking the Place in Rainy Times: Kinds of Soil, Water Level Underground, Signs of Water FlowThis part looks at checking wet places before digging, covering types of soil, signs of underground water, how water runs on top, recent rains, and things nearby, so you pick safe ways to dig 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 ways to protect close graves, stones, and plants from harm while digging by using fences, soft covers, and controls on who goes where, while planning machine moves and soil piles to keep the cemetery looking nice.
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 Depth and Usual Grave Sizes for Adult Coffin BurialsKnow the law on how deep to dig and usual sizes for adult coffin graves, including width, length, and space around, plus changes in places, double deep graves, and how to check if it follows 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 7Supporting and Bracing Ways: Using Wood Boards, Trench Boxes, and Short-Term HoldsThis part explains when and how to use supports and braces, like wood boards, trench boxes, and water-powered holds, to stop walls from falling, keep workers safe, and follow digging safety rules in 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 8Keeping Records for Grave Spot, Sizes, and State Before Burial (What to Write Down)Learn to note the grave spot, sizes, soil state, and how the place was before burial, with pictures and drawings, so later fixes, digging up, or family questions can use true, 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 Ways for Steady in Wet Ground: Steps Like Benches, Stairs, SlopesLearn digging ways that keep steady in wet or water-filled ground, like making benches, steps, and slopes, plus removing water, watching for shifts, and changing ways for weather and underground water 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 Stakes: Side and Up-Down Controls, Level ChecksThis part shows how to measure, mark, and set stakes for graves using tapes, levels, and fixed points, making sure straight lines, right depth, and slope, while guarding old marks and allowing safe machine and carrier paths.
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
