Lesson 1Site setup and temporary services: access gate, temporary power/water, security fencing (electrician, general labour, security)Describes initial site setup, including access gates, laydown areas, and temporary power and water. Covers security fencing, lighting, welfare facilities, and coordination between electrician, labour, and security teams in Zambia.
Site layout plan and logistics routesAccess gates, signage and traffic controlTemporary power boards and cablingTemporary water supply and drainage pointsSecurity fencing, lighting and CCTV optionsLesson 2Site strip and vegetation removal, topsoil stripping: excavator, dumpers, labour supervisionDescribes stripping vegetation, removing topsoil, and preparing the construction platform. Includes machine selection, haul routes, erosion control, and supervision of labour to protect retained trees and environmental buffers in Zambia.
Identifying strip limits and protection zonesVegetation felling, chipping and disposalTopsoil stripping, testing and stockpilingManaging haul routes and traffic controlEnvironmental and erosion protection measuresLesson 3Pre-start activities: permits, utility searches, site induction (supervisor, safety officer, surveyor)Explains pre-start tasks including permits, utility searches, and site inductions. Covers risk assessments, method statements, stakeholder notifications, and coordination between supervisor, safety officer, and surveyor in Zambia.
Planning approvals and permit registerDial-before-you-dig and utility searchesConstruction risk assessments and JHAsSite induction content and attendance logsPre-start briefings and toolbox talksLesson 4Backfilling and compaction around foundations: granular fill, compaction layers, testingCovers backfilling around foundations with suitable granular fill, placing in layers, and compacting to specification. Explains protection of waterproofing, drainage pipes, and testing to confirm density and settlement control in Zambia.
Selecting and testing backfill materialsLayer thickness and placement sequenceCompaction near walls and servicesProtecting waterproofing and drainsField density tests and settlement checksLesson 5Reinforcement fixing and inspection: rebar cutting/bending, tying tools, QA checks by supervisor/surveyorExplains rebar cutting, bending, and tying to drawings, including bar scheduling, lap lengths, and cover. Covers fixing chairs, spacers, and starter bars, plus inspection hold points and documentation for quality assurance in Zambia.
Reading reinforcement drawings and schedulesCutting, bending and labelling rebarTying methods, laps and anchorage detailsChairs, spacers and cover controlInspection checklists and QA recordsLesson 6Establishing survey controls and bench levels: surveyor tools and benchmarksCovers establishing survey control points, benchmarks, and grid lines. Explains use of total stations and levels, transfer of datums, and protecting control marks for later excavation, foundations, and superstructure works in Zambia.
Survey control network and primary benchmarksUsing total station and automatic levelTransferring datums to working areasMarking grid lines and offsets on siteProtecting and checking survey marksLesson 7Concrete delivery and placement: ready-mix trucks, pumps/wheeled feeders, consolidation tools, curing startExplains planning concrete deliveries, pump setup, and safe placement. Covers coordination with ready-mix suppliers, placing methods, vibration, initial finishing, and starting curing while maintaining access and safety in Zambia.
Pre-pour checks and pour sequencingTruck access, washout and traffic controlPump setup, boom reach and safety zonesPlacing, vibration and segregation controlInitial finishing and start of curingLesson 8Formwork installation for slab edges and beams: timber/steel formwork, propping, bracingCovers planning and safe installation of slab edge and beam formwork using timber and steel systems. Explains propping, bracing, alignment checks, release agents, and coordination with reinforcement and concrete trades in Zambia.
Reading formwork drawings and specificationsSelecting timber versus steel formwork systemsErection sequence, propping and bracing layoutTolerances, line and level checks before pourFormwork safety, access and fall protectionLesson 9Site cleanup and temporary drainage restoration: waste removal, sediment controls, final housekeepingExplains systematic site cleanup after earthworks and concrete, including waste segregation, spoil removal, and reinstating temporary drainage. Covers sediment controls, silt fencing, and final housekeeping before inspections in Zambia.
Planning cleanup around active work areasWaste segregation, stockpiling and disposalRestoring temporary drains, swales and sumpsSediment control devices and inspectionFinal housekeeping before client walk-throughLesson 10Bulk and formation excavation: excavator, grader, trench compaction, shoring where requiredDetails bulk and formation excavation using excavators and graders, including setting out, depth control, and safe batters. Covers trench excavation, compaction of formation, shoring where required, and coordination with surveyors in Zambia.
Reading excavation plans and levelsMachine selection: excavator, grader, rollersExcavation sequence and stockpile managementTrench excavation, shoring and accessFormation trimming and compaction checksLesson 11Subgrade preparation and compaction: compactor/plate, geotextile placement, testing (compaction testing)Focuses on subgrade trimming, moisture conditioning, and compaction to specified density. Explains use of plates, rollers, geotextiles, and field testing methods, plus dealing with soft spots and wet or reactive soils in Zambia.
Subgrade inspection and proof-rollingMoisture conditioning and drying methodsCompaction equipment selection and passesGeotextile placement and overlapsField density and compaction test proceduresLesson 12Preparing for superstructure start: scaffold/edge protection, temporary storage for masonry materials, setting out for wallsDetails preparation for superstructure, including scaffold and edge protection, storage for masonry, and setting out walls. Covers access planning, lifting paths, and coordination with structural and safety requirements in Zambia.
Scaffold design, erection and inspectionEdge protection and fall restraint systemsSetting out wall lines and openingsStaging masonry and structural materialsCoordination with crane and hoisting plansLesson 13Concrete curing and protection: curing compounds, wet coverings, weather protection measuresFocuses on curing methods and protection of fresh concrete from weather, impact, and early loading. Explains curing compounds, wet coverings, insulation, and monitoring temperature and moisture for quality outcomes in Zambia.
Curing time requirements by element typeCuring compounds and application methodsWet curing, coverings and insulationProtection from traffic, impact and vibrationMonitoring temperature and moisture lossLesson 14Foundation bed preparation and blinding: formwork, blinding concrete, vibrators, screedsCovers preparing foundation beds, installing edge formwork, and placing blinding concrete. Explains level control, vibration, screeding, surface finish, and coordination with survey and reinforcement trades for accuracy in Zambia.
Setting out foundation lines and levelsFormwork for footings and padsBlinding concrete mix and thickness controlVibration, screeding and surface finishCuring of blinding and access planning
