Plant Operations (Construction) (Excavating) (Level 2 Nvq Diploma) (Online & On Site)

This qualification is for Plant Operatives on construction sites, carrying out specific activities, using specific machinery (see full lists below). Certain units of the qualification also have endorsements, as shown in the table below. This allows prospective employers to see the particular role the learner is qualified to carry out, the particular machinery they can use, and the context in which they can use it. This qualification is not a licence to practice, but can be used as a component of achievement of the Construction Plant Competence Card Scheme which is recognised by many employers in the UK. This qualification offers a unique set of pathways and endorsements when compared to the Pearson Edexcel Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Plant Operations (Construction). The NVQ Certificate is also available for Plant Operators, but covers pathways for different machinery and/ or activities and provides endorsements on different types of machinery for people working in different contexts. Learners should chose the appropriate Plant NVQ according to the machinery, role and context in which they are presently working, or intending to work in.

What does this qualification cover?

This qualification is based on the latest National Occupational Standards for Plant Operations.

This qualification is for operatives working with specific machinery which requires a greater amount of learning time and therefore credit: The Pearson Edexcel Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Plant Operations (Construction) (QCF) is available for those using machinery which requires less time to become competent and therefore a smaller qualification. It is written to the agreed national occupational standards for competence in plant operations in construction, and is entirely vocationally-related in its content. As an NVQ, all units within the qualifications are derived from these occupational standards directly, and evidence of knowledge, skill and understanding will be gained from a workplace or a realistic workplace situation.

This qualification offers pathways for the following job roles:

Crane Operative and Specialist Lifter in Construction Plant (using crawler cranes above 10 tonnes, tower cranes, mobile cranes and crawler-tractor side booms);

Extracting Operative in Construction Plant (using excavators and crawler tractor/ dozers);

Excavating Operative in Construction Plant (using large draglines, excavators, and other heavy equipment);

Construction and Forming Plant Operative (operating dozers or using graders to shape and form loose material)

Load Transportation Operative in Construction Plant (receiving, pumping and discharging materials using truck-boom mounted concrete pumps to receive, transport and discharge loads);

Laying and Distributing Operative in Construction Plant; using tractor dozers or soil stabilizers to lay and distribute material

Road/rail and Attachment Operative in Construction Plant (excavating with 180° or 360° excavator cranes, tracked loading shovels or crawler tractor dozers);

In-shore marine Construction Plant Operator;

Construction Plant Machinery Erector and Dismantler and

Road Plant Machinery Operative in Construction

There are two mandatory units, these are Conforming to General Health, Safety and Welfare in the Workplace and Conforming to Productive Working Practices in the Workplace.

Learners must then select a pathway from the above and complete a minimum of 40 credits from the optional units available.

Occupational role:

Construction Plant Excavation Operative

Machinery Usage / Work Context Endorsement:

Operate Crawler Tractor Dozer to Extract, Excavate,

Construct/form, or Lay/distribute

Excavator 360° below 10 tonne tracked

Excavator 360° below 10 tonne wheeled

Excavator 360° above 10 tonne tracked

Excavator 360° above 10 tonne wheeled

How is this qualification assessed?

This qualification is assessed through a portfolio of evidence gathered from a range of sources including workplace activities and realistic work environments, professional discussions, questioning and observation of performance.

Potential job roles for those working towards this qualification are:

• Construction Plant Excavation Operative

Who supports this qualification?

It is approved by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and their employer groups, as it is an approved qualification based on the occupational standards they have devised. This qualification is highly valued and supported by Professional Bodies the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE) and The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).

This qualification is for all learners aged 16 and above who are capable of reaching the required standards and have opportunity to demonstrate practical skills in a realistic construction working environment. Learners do not need any prior qualifications, knowledge or experience before starting the qualification.

Although this qualification is part of the Intermediate Apprenticeship in Construction Civil Engineering (Plant Operations) it is also suitable for learners who may need or wish to take the qualification on its own. For example, learners, working full, part-time or on a voluntary basis, or those who are not new to the role but need to upskill and demonstrate competency in the areas covered by the qualification.

Learners can use the qualification to progress in their job roles to become fully competent plant operatives. They may progress further to supervisory qualifications such as site supervision, or occupational work supervision, if their job roles develop accordingly.