180 Degree Excavator Operations

Course details

Quarry Skills Certification Scheme (QSCS)

The plant training and assessment programme enables experienced quarry plant operators to gain recognition for their achievements by the way of certification, and provide an opportunity for participants to demonstrate their skills, knowledge and attitudes associated with plant operations, which provides suitable certification.

Candidate Criteria

Candidates for this programme must:
•Have at least six months full time quarry experience operating 180 excavators in accordance with the 1st Schedule of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Quarries) Regulations 2008 – S.I. No. 28 of 2008. The six months experience must be within a two year period.
•Has undertaken Safety Awareness Training including the following: Employees duties/responsibilities, Health and Hygiene, traffic management, site specific hazards / safety
•Be at least 18 years of age

Course Content

Corrective Training
Candidates will undertake a 3 hour corrective training session with the course instructor. Corrective training cannot give skills and knowledge not held, but allows the experienced operator to eliminate ‘bad habits’ gained on site.
Please note that the instructor has the right to refuse the candidate access to the test if they have dangerous operating skills that contravene any part of the Safety, Health and Welfare regulations.
Theory Test
On completion of any corrective training, candidates are allowed 45 minutes to undertake a multi-choice question paper. Questions will be based on subjects about:
Legislation and regulations
Employer and employee responsibilities
Safe working practices
Machine components and functions
Correct operating techniques
Pre-use checks and basic maintenance
Road travel (where permitted)
Types and characteristics of materials and loads
Site safety
Shut down and securing procedures
Subjects that the questions will be based on will be covered during the corrective training.
To be successful on the theory test, candidates must achieve a minimum of 70% of the total available marks. Candidates who achieve a minimum of 85% will be awarded a credit.
Practical Test
On the test the candidate will demonstrate tasks with the excavator.
The grading sheet is divided into essential items and scored marks. Scored marks allow a limited number of minor errors to be made. To succeed, the candidate must achieve all essential items and not exceed the maximum score. Candidates who score no marks as well as all the essential marks will be awarded a credit.
The practical has a maximum time that all tasks must be completed within.