NPORS N027 Curs pentru coordonator de lucrări de excavare – personal de supraveghere
NPORS N027 Curs pentru coordonator de lucrări de excavare – personal de supraveghere
The NPORS N027 Excavation Marshal – Banksperson Course provides practical training and assessment for people responsible for supporting and controlling work around excavations.
Candidates learn how to complete pre-excavation checks, work with plans and permits, communicate with the machine operator and maintain a safe position with a clear view of both the machine and the excavation.
The course also covers underground services, safe digging practices, exploratory work and the action required if a cable, pipe or other service is damaged.
Training can be arranged at our centre near Wellingborough or at a suitable customer site elsewhere in the UK.
Tell CPTS about the candidates’ experience, the type of excavation work involved and the proposed training location. We will confirm the appropriate course arrangements and NPORS registration route.
What Is the NPORS N027 Course?
N027 is intended for people who work alongside excavation plant and help ensure that digging work follows the agreed safe system.
The excavation marshal or banksperson acts as a link between the machine operator and the wider excavation team. The role requires continuous observation, clear communication and an understanding of the hazards created by both the machine and the excavation.
Duties may include:
- reviewing the information provided for the excavation;
- checking the proposed digging area;
- confirming that the required controls are in place;
- agreeing signals with the machine operator;
- monitoring the excavation as work progresses;
- maintaining exclusion zones and barriers;
- identifying signs of underground services;
- stopping work when conditions differ from the plan;
- supporting appropriate emergency procedures.
The role does not replace the responsibilities of the machine operator, excavation supervisor, temporary works team or person controlling the permit-to-dig system.
Who Should Take the N027 Course?
The course may be suitable for:
- groundworkers;
- utility workers;
- excavation bankspersons;
- civil engineering operatives;
- drainage and ducting teams;
- highways workers;
- site operatives supporting excavator work;
- employees involved in locating or exposing services;
- workers responsible for observing mechanical excavation;
- experienced personnel who require formal assessment.
No previous N027 registration is normally required for appropriate novice training.
The amount of instruction required will depend on the candidate’s excavation experience, knowledge of underground services and familiarity with site documentation and communication procedures.
What Does the N027 Course Cover?
The course combines underpinning knowledge with practical excavation-marshalling exercises.
Content normally includes:
- the responsibilities and limitations of the excavation marshal;
- relevant legislation and industry guidance;
- risk assessments and method statements;
- permits to work and permits to dig;
- available service plans and drawings;
- pre-excavation checks;
- underground electricity, gas, water, drainage and communication services;
- service markings and site information;
- cable avoidance equipment and its limitations;
- tools and equipment used during exploratory work;
- agreed hand signals and communication methods;
- emergency procedures;
- safe positioning around plant and excavations;
- isolation of plant when the excavation must be inspected;
- exclusion zones and pedestrian controls;
- safe access and egress;
- excavation collapse and falling-material hazards;
- trial holes and safe digging practices;
- recognising unexpected services or ground conditions;
- procedures following a service strike;
- end-of-work checks and safe storage of equipment.
The exact exercises will reflect the workplace, available equipment and duties agreed before the course.
Pre-Excavation Planning and Checks
Excavare work should not begin until the available information has been reviewed and the required controls are in place.
The excavation marshal may need to understand and work with:
- risk assessments;
- method statements;
- permits to work or dig;
- utility plans and drawings;
- site markings;
- cable-avoidance survey results;
- planned trial-hole locations;
- exclusion-zone arrangements;
- emergency contact information.
The work area should also be checked for visible hazards, changes in ground conditions, nearby structures, overhead services, vehicle routes and members of the public.
Information on a drawing should not be treated as proof of the exact position or depth of a service. Site information, locating equipment and safe excavation methods must be used together.
HSE describes planning, locating underground services and safe excavation as the three basic elements of a safe system of work near buried services.
Underground Services
Buried services can include:
- electricity cables;
- gas pipes;
- water mains;
- telecommunications;
- drainage and sewers;
- street-lighting supplies;
- private or unidentified services.
Each type of service can create different risks.
Impact on Electricity Cable results to electric shock, burns, fire, or arc flash explosion. Impact on Gas Pipe leads to fire, explosion, or asphyxiation. Impact on Water Main causes flooding, ground failure, or injuries from the water pressurized by the force applied.
The absence of a service from a drawing does not confirm that the area is clear. Older, abandoned, private or incorrectly recorded services may still be present.
Work should stop where the information, equipment readings or physical evidence do not agree.
Cable Avoidance Equipment and N304 Training
The N027 course covers the role of cable-avoidance information within pre-excavation checks and safe digging.
Candidates should understand that a Cable Avoidance Tool cannot guarantee that every buried service has been located. Results can be affected by the type of service, operating mode, site conditions, equipment condition and the competence of the user.
N027 should not automatically be treated as a replacement for the dedicated Curs de instrumente pentru evitarea cablurilor NPORS N304.
Candidates who will personally operate a CAT and signal generator may require separate N304 training or other evidence of competence, depending on the employer and safe system of work.
Communication and Safe Positioning
The excavation marshal and machine operator must agree how they will communicate before excavation begins.
Communication may involve:
- recognised hand signals;
- radio instructions;
- verbal commands;
- an agreed emergency-stop signal.
Only clearly understood instructions should be acted upon.
The marshal should stand where they can monitor both the excavation and the machine while remaining visible to the operator. They must stay outside the machine’s travel path, slew radius, attachment movement and other crush or trapping zones.
The operator should stop if:
- visual contact is lost;
- an instruction is unclear;
- another person enters the controlled area;
- an unexpected service is found;
- ground or excavation conditions change;
- the marshal gives the stop signal.
Where the marshal needs to approach or examine the excavation, the machine should be placed in a safe condition and isolated against unintended movement in accordance with the agreed procedure.
Excavation Hazards and Work-Area Controls
The excavation itself can create risks that are separate from underground services.
These can include:
- collapse of unsupported sides;
- people or equipment falling into the excavation;
- spoil or materials falling from the edge;
- plant loading the sides of the excavation;
- water entering the excavation;
- instability near structures;
- restricted access and egress;
- hazardous atmospheres;
- contamination and biological hazards.
The excavation marshal must recognise when the agreed controls are missing, damaged or no longer suitable.
Barriers and segregation should be maintained where people could fall into the excavation or enter the plant operating area.
Plant, spoil and other heavy loads should not be positioned close to an excavation edge unless the planned system confirms that it is safe. Additional loading can increase the risk of the sides collapsing.
N027 does not qualify a candidate to design shoring, approve temporary works or complete statutory excavation inspections. These responsibilities must remain with appropriately competent and authorised personnel.
Exploratory Work and Safe Digging
Exploratory work may be needed to establish the position, direction and depth of an underground service.
Depending on the safe system of work, this can involve:
- reviewing plans and surface features;
- repeating cable-avoidance scans;
- identifying inspection chambers or service entries;
- marking the likely route of a service;
- digging trial holes;
- using suitable insulated or non-powered tools;
- using vacuum or other non-destructive excavation methods;
- supporting the machine operator as the service is exposed.
Services should be assumed to be live unless reliable information confirms otherwise.
Mechanical excavation should not continue where the service position is uncertain or where the planned method requires the service to be exposed by another technique.
The marshal must remain alert to warning tape, ducts, changes in backfill, concrete protection, pipework and other signs that a service is present.
Emergency Procedures and Service Strikes
Emergency arrangements should be agreed before work starts.
If a service is struck or damaged, the excavation marshal should follow the site-specific emergency procedure and avoid actions that could expose people to further danger.
Depending on the service involved, this may include:
- stopping the work;
- warning people in the area;
- keeping others away;
- contacting the appropriate emergency service or utility owner;
- preventing ignition sources near a suspected gas escape;
- avoiding contact with the machine after an electrical strike;
- reporting the incident through the required procedure.
Candidates are taught the principles of responding to an emergency, but the actual procedure must reflect the site, service owner and information provided for the work.
Formare practică și evaluare
The practical element allows candidates to apply the agreed excavation controls in a representative work area.
Exercises may include:
- reviewing the available documentation;
- checking the excavation area;
- identifying potential service hazards;
- establishing barriers or an exclusion zone;
- agreeing signals with the operator;
- selecting a safe marshalling position;
- directing or supporting controlled excavation;
- monitoring plant and pedestrian movements;
- recognising when work must stop;
- demonstrating safe exploratory techniques;
- responding to an emergency scenario;
- completing end-of-work procedures.
Candidates complete the relevant NPORS knowledge and practical assessments.
They must demonstrate that they can communicate effectively, remain safely positioned, recognise excavation and underground-service hazards and work within the agreed safe system.
Course Duration and Entry Requirements
Course duration depends on:
- the candidate’s previous experience;
- the number of people attending;
- the practical arrangements;
- the excavation and equipment available;
- whether novice, refresher or experienced-worker training is appropriate;
- the selected NPORS registration route.
CPTS will confirm the timetable after reviewing the candidates and training requirements.
Candidates should:
- have sufficient spoken and written English to understand the documentation, instructions and assessment;
- provide the identification stated in their joining instructions;
- be medically fit to take part in the practical exercises;
- wear suitable clothing and the required PPE;
- follow the instructor’s safety directions;
- provide details of previous excavation or utility experience.
Tell CPTS about any learning, language or accessibility requirements before the course.
Cardul NPORS și opțiunile de înregistrare
The appropriate NPORS registration route should be confirmed before training.
Because N027 is commonly required for construction and utility work, candidates may need an NPORS card carrying the CSCS logo to meet site requirements.
Available products may include:
- NPORS Traditional registration;
- NPORS/CSCS Trained Operator Card;
- NPORS/CSCS Competent Operator Card.
Traditional registration may be issued for three or five years where the non-CSCS route is appropriate.
The NPORS/CSCS Trained Operator Card is normally valid for two years and is intended for candidates who have not yet achieved the applicable vocational qualification.
The NPORS/CSCS Competent Operator Card is normally valid for five years and requires the relevant qualification and scheme conditions to be met.
CPTS will confirm the suitable route and evidence required before booking.
N027, N304, N133 or N403 – Which Course Do You Need?
The correct course depends on the candidate’s duties.
N027 Excavation Marshal – Banksperson
N027 focuses on supporting excavation work, underground-service hazards, safe digging, communication and monitoring the excavation.
N304 Cable Avoidance Tools
N304 is the dedicated category for people who operate a Cable Avoidance Tool and signal generator to locate underground services.
N133 Plant Machinery Marshal
N133 is intended for people directing broader construction plant and vehicle movements around a worksite.
N403 Șerif vehicule
N403 focuses on directing workplace vehicles, including reversing and manoeuvring.
Someone working around an excavation may require more than one category. Tell CPTS exactly what the candidate will do so that the appropriate course or combination of courses can be identified.
Course Locations and On-Site Training
N027 formare can be delivered at a suitable customer site.
For on-site training, the customer will normally need to provide:
- a suitable classroom or briefing area;
- an appropriate practical excavation area;
- representative plant and an authorised operator;
- relevant plans, permits and site documentation;
- suitable barriers and signs;
- appropriate tools and locating equipment;
- a segregated training area;
- site risk assessments and emergency arrangements;
- welfare facilities.
The practical area and equipment should remain available throughout the agreed training and assessment period.
Training may also be arranged at the CPTS centre near Wellingborough, subject to the required equipment and practical facilities being available.
Why Book with CPTS?
CPTS provides NPORS training for individuals, contractors, utilities teams and employers across the UK.
Before confirming N027 training, we review the candidates’ experience, intended duties, practical area, equipment and registration requirements.
This helps ensure that the course reflects the actual excavation work and does not duplicate or replace a different category that the candidate may need.
Book an NPORS N027 Excavation Marshal – Banksperson Course
To request dates and a quotation, send CPTS:
- the number of candidates;
- details of their excavation experience;
- the type of work involved;
- the plant and equipment available;
- your preferred training location;
- whether CAT and Genny duties are included;
- your preferred dates;
- the NPORS registration or card required.
We will confirm the appropriate training route, expected duration and practical requirements.
Apel CPTS la numărul 01234 604 151 sau folosiți formularul de solicitare de informații despre curs pentru a afla datele și prețurile actuale.
FAQ - NPORS N027 Excavation Marshal - Banksperson Course
What is the NPORS N027 Excavation Marshal - Banksperson Course?
The N027 course provides training and assessment for people who support and monitor excavation work. It covers pre-excavation checks, underground services, safe positioning, communication, exploratory work, safe digging and emergency procedures.
What does an excavation marshal or banksperson do?
The excavation marshal monitors the work area, communicates with the machine operator and helps ensure that excavation follows the agreed method, permit and service information. They must stop the work if conditions become unsafe or differ from the plan.
Who should take the N027 course?
The course may be suitable for groundworkers, utility operatives, excavation bankspersons, drainage teams, highways workers and other personnel who support mechanical excavation or help expose underground services.
Is N027 the same as CAT and Genny training?
No. N027 covers how cable-avoidance information supports safe excavation, but it should not automatically be treated as a replacement for the dedicated NPORS N304 Cable Avoidance Tools Course.
What is the difference between N027 and N133?
N027 focuses on excavation safety, underground services, exploratory work and communication during digging. N133 Plant Machinery Marshal covers directing broader plant and vehicle movements within a controlled worksite.
Does N027 qualify me to inspect excavations or design shoring?
No. The course helps candidates recognise excavation hazards and missing controls, but it does not qualify them to design temporary works, approve shoring systems or complete statutory inspections unless they hold the separate competence and authority required.
Does N027 include slinging or lifting operations?
No. N027 focuses on excavation and underground-service safety. Candidates who attach or control suspended loads may require NPORS N402 Slinger/Signaller training, while the machine operator may need the relevant lifting category.
What should happen if an unexpected service is found?
Work should stop and the discovery should be reported through the agreed site procedure. Excavation should not restart until the service has been identified, the information and risks reviewed and a safe method confirmed.
What should happen if the operator loses sight of the banksperson?
The operator should stop the machine. Work should not restart until visual contact or the agreed communication method has been restored and both people understand the next instruction.
Do I need previous excavation experience?
No previous N027 registration is normally required for suitable novice training. The appropriate route and duration will depend on the candidate’s excavation experience, knowledge of services and familiarity with site documentation.
What does the NPORS N027 assessment involve?
The assessment checks the candidate’s knowledge and practical ability. It may include reviewing documentation, checking the work area, identifying service hazards, agreeing signals, selecting a safe position and responding to changing conditions.
How long does the NPORS N027 course take?
The duration depends on candidate experience, group size, the training route and the practical arrangements. CPTS will confirm the timetable after reviewing the candidates and proposed training location.
How long is an NPORS Excavation Marshal registration valid?
Traditional NPORS registration may be issued for three or five years. NPORS cards carrying the CSCS logo have separate qualification and validity requirements, so the correct route should be agreed before booking.
Can N027 training be delivered at our workplace?
Yes. On-site training can be arranged where suitable plant, documentation, equipment and a segregated excavation area are available. CPTS will review the proposed facilities and practical arrangements before confirming the course.
How much does the NPORS N027 course cost?
The price depends on candidate numbers, previous experience, location, equipment and practical arrangements. Send CPTS these details to receive an appropriate quotation.
