NRSWA Location of Underground Services (LA) & Excavation in the Highway (O2/S2) Training

Price: £170 (ex VAT)
Duration: 1 Day
Location: Portadown, Northern Ireland 

The NRSWA Location of Underground Services (LA) and Excavation in the Highway (Operative O2 / Supervisor S2) qualification equips both Operatives and Supervisors with the essential skills to safely locate buried utilities and carry out compliant excavation activities on public highways.

This course develops a clear understanding of the legal requirements, safe systems of work, utility identification, and correct excavation procedures required under the New Roads and Street Works Act (NRSWA).

Who Should Attend

This course is designed for:

• Operatives responsible for locating underground apparatus and carrying out excavation
• Supervisors overseeing operatives performing utility location and excavation tasks

It is essential for personnel working on:

• Public highways
• Footpaths and verges
• Utility installation and maintenance sites
• Street works environments

Prerequisites

Delegates must:

• Be 16 or over
• Be medically fit in accordance with current industry requirements

No previous NRSWA qualification is required for initial assessment.

Course Aim

This NRSWA training provides Operatives and Supervisors with a thorough understanding of:

• The legal responsibilities under the New Roads and Street Works Act
• The correct procedures for locating underground services
• Safe excavation practices and compliance
• Required documentation, permits, and classification standards

The course ensures delegates understand the safety-critical nature of identifying underground services accurately and working safely around live utilities.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, candidates will be able to:

• Evaluation of risks highlighting the critical need to precisely identify underground utilities.
• Overview of subsurface infrastructure, with guidance on reading and interpreting utility plans and maps, as well as identifying and understanding the function of various street furniture.
• Proper operation of cable locating devices across all settings, along with a clear understanding of their capabilities and limitations.
• Awareness of when manual excavation is necessary, including the process and purpose of digging trial holes.

Assessment Methods

Assessment includes:

• Classroom-based theory training
• Practical demonstrations
• Hands-on excavation exercises, including working with an excavator/banksman around live services

This ensures full understanding of both theoretical knowledge and real-world application.

Certification

Upon successful completion, delegates receive:
NRSWA Accredited Certification (LA & O2/S2 Units)
Certification typically remains valid for 5 years, after which reassessment is required to maintain registration.