Lesson 1Hot works, electrical and lifting safety controls for small sitesThis section outlines controls for hot works, temporary electrical systems, and lifting on small sites, including permits, inspections, equipment checks, and communication to prevent fires, shocks, dropped loads, and 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 like silt fences and sumps, stressing documentation, legal compliance, and waterway protection.
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 exclusion zones, spotters and signals, proximity alarms, and clear communication to prevent struck-by, crush, and rollover incidents on busy 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 plans, barriers, signage, high-vis gear, vehicle routes, spotters, and coordination 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 updates, while logging inquiries, handling complaints, and coordinating fixes for noise, access, and 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 like collapse, falls, and buried services, and covers shoring, benching, access, spoil placement, air testing, and safe digging around utilities and 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, mitigation methods, equipment choice, scheduling, and documentation to protect neighbours, workers, and 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, including burns, skin/eye contact, fumes, and heat stress, and outlines controls, hydration, shade, rest cycles, and first aid for 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 task-based selection, and sets expectations for enforcement, inspections, training, and documentation for 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
