Lesson 1Safety checks before family comes: risk of falling in, checking for pipes and wires, paths for walkingThis part covers safety checks before the family arrives, including how steady the soil is, risks of walls falling, hidden pipes or wires, ways for vehicles and people to reach, and plans for emergencies, ensuring the place is safe and respectful 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 2Tools, equipment, and safety gear list: spades, hoes, planks, ropes, devices for loweringGo over important tools, equipment, and safety gear for preparing the grave, including hand tools, planks, ropes, lowering devices, and checks, making sure all is good for use, stored safely, and ready 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 dug soil: where to put it, making it steady, avoiding dirt mixing, stopping soil washThis part explains how to place, shape, and steady piles of dug soil to stop falling, dirt mixing, and washing away, including safe distance from grave edge, controlling water flow, separating soil types, and protecting 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 site in rainy conditions: soil kinds, water level, signs of water flowThis part looks at checking wet sites before digging, covering soil types, signs of water level, how water flows on surface, recent rains, and nearby buildings, so you pick safe digging ways and plan good water control.
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 for nearby graves and plants during diggingLearn how to protect nearby graves, stones, and plants from harm while digging by using barriers, soft covers, and controls on who goes where, while planning machine paths and soil piles to keep the cemetery looking good.
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-required depth and standard grave sizes for adult 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, deeper double graves, and how 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 7Supporting and bracing ways: using wooden planks, trench boxes, and temporary holdsThis part explains when and how to use supports and braces, including wooden planks, 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 how to record grave spot, sizes, soil state, and site before burial, including photos and drawings, so future care, digging up, or family questions can use correct, 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 steadiness in wet ground: steps, levels, slantsLearn digging ways that keep steadiness in wet or water-filled ground, including steps, levels, and slants, plus removing water, watching for shifts, and changing ways with weather and underground water.
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 height controls, level checksThis part explains how to measure, mark, and set stakes for graves using tapes, levels, and fixed points, ensuring right line, depth, and slope, while guarding old marks 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
