Lesson 1Hot works, electrical and lifting safety controls for small sitesThis section outlines controls for hot works, temporary electrical systems, and lifting operations on small sites, including permits, inspections, equipment checks, and communication to prevent fires, shocks, dropped loads, and other serious incidents.
Hot work permits, fire watches and fire gearTemporary power boards and cable managementGrounding, GFCIs and lockout proceduresSelecting and inspecting lifting accessoriesSafe slinging, signaling and load path controlLesson 2Waste, spill and stormwater management: segregation, containment, silt fences, temporary sumps and proper disposal recordsThis section details proper segregation, storage, and disposal of construction waste, spill prevention and response, and stormwater controls such as silt fences and sumps, emphasizing documentation, legal compliance, and protection of nearby waterways.
Classifying and segregating construction wastesLabeling, storage and waste transfer recordsSpill prevention, kits and response drillsSilt fences, berms and inlet protectionTemporary sumps, pumping and discharge controlsLesson 3Exclusion zones and machine operation safety: banks, signalling, spotters, proximity alarmsThis section covers safe operation of plant and equipment, including planning exclusion zones, using spotters and signals, proximity alarms, and clear communication protocols to prevent struck-by, crush, and rollover incidents on busy work sites.
Defining and marking exclusion zonesBanksmen roles and standard hand signalsSpotter positioning and line-of-sight rulesUse and limits of proximity detection systemsManaging pedestrians and public near machinesLesson 4Traffic management and worker protection: high-visibility, hard barriers, vehicle exclusion routes, banksmen for heavy movementsThis section focuses on traffic management around work zones, including temporary traffic control plans, barriers, signage, high-visibility garments, vehicle routes, spotters, and coordination with agencies to protect workers, drivers, and pedestrians.
Reading and applying traffic control plansHigh-visibility garments and lighting needsHard barriers, cones and taper layoutsVehicle routes, spotters and reversing controlsCoordination with road authorities and policeLesson 5Resident and business communication: notification templates, signage, regular updates and complaint handlingThis section explains how supervisors communicate with residents and businesses, using notices, signage, meetings, and digital updates, while logging inquiries, managing complaints, and coordinating mitigation for noise, access, and service disruptions.
Preconstruction notification letters and emailsDesign and placement of public information signageMaintaining stakeholder contact registersComplaint logging, triage and response stepsTracking commitments and closing communicationLesson 6Excavation and trench safety: shoring, benching, steps, access/egress, utility locating and safe digging practicesThis section explains excavation and trench hazards, including collapse, falls, and buried services, and covers shoring, benching, access and egress, spoil placement, atmospheric testing, and safe digging practices around utilities and existing structures.
Pre-excavation planning and permitsUtility locating, marking and verificationShoring, shielding, benching and slopingSafe access, egress and spoil placementAtmospheric testing and water controlLesson 7Environmental controls for dust suppression, noise mitigation and vibration minimizationThis section covers environmental controls for dust, noise, and vibration, including planning, monitoring, and mitigation methods, selection of equipment, scheduling, and documentation to protect neighbours, workers, and sensitive structures.
Dust risk assessment and trigger conditionsWater carts, misting and surface stabilizationNoise barriers, silencers and quiet equipmentWork scheduling and community quiet hoursVibration monitoring and building protectionLesson 8Concrete, asphalt and heat exposure controls and first aid provisionsThis section addresses hazards from concrete, asphalt, and heat exposure, including burns, skin and eye contact, fumes, and heat stress, and outlines controls, hydration, shade, work-rest cycles, and first aid provisions for small and large crews.
Handling wet concrete and skin protectionAsphalt fumes, burns and safe application zonesHeat stress risk factors and warning signsWork-rest cycles, shade and hydration plansFirst aid kits, eyewash and burn treatmentLesson 9Minimum PPE and enforcement: hi‑vis, helmets, boots, hearing and eye protection, respirators for dust workThis section defines minimum PPE standards for public works sites, explains selection by task and hazard, and sets expectations for enforcement, inspections, training, and documentation to ensure consistent worker protection and compliance.
Core PPE for typical civil works tasksTask-specific PPE for dust, noise and chemicalsFit, maintenance and replacement of PPEPPE inspections, records and noncomplianceSupervisor coaching and progressive discipline
