STRUCTURAL

CONSTRUCTION
WORKS
LEVEL – III

Learning Guide
#03
Unit of Competence: Monitor Excavation
Module Title: Monitoring Excavation

LG Code: EIS SCW3 M3 LO1-LG-3

TTLM Code: EIS SCW W3 M3 TTLM 1022v1

LO 1: Plan and prepare

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the module “: MONITORINGEXCAVATION”. This learner’s guide was

prepared to help you achieve the required competence in “Level 3”. This will be the
source of information for you to acquire knowledge and skills in this particular
occupation with minimum supervision or help from your trainer.
Summary of Learning Outcomes
After completing this learning guide, you should be able to:
Lo1. Plan and prepare work
Lo2. Locateexcavation site &erect safety equipment
Lo3.dig excavation
Lo4.clean up
How to Use this TTLM
o Read through the Learning Guide carefully. It is divided into sections that
cover all the skills and knowledge that you need.
o Read Information Sheets and complete the Self-Check at the end of each
section to check your progress
o Read and make sure to Practice the activities in the Operation Sheets. Ask
your trainer to show you the correct way to do things or talk to more
experienced person for guidance.
o When you are ready, ask your trainer for institutional assessment and
provide you with feedback from your performance.
 INFORMATION SHEET – one
Plan/working drawing interpretation
Before anyone can actually start to erect a building, a number of preliminary steps must be
completed. The very first step is the preparation of the plan.
PLAN
The plan, also called the drawing, is a layout of a building drawn on paper. It contains all the
information necessary to erect the house. The data and measurements given in the plan are
essential for the builder to be able to construct the building so that it satisfies the customer's
demands (Figs. 1 & 2).
PLOT AND SITE CLEARING
A plot is an area of land containing one or more sites. It is determined and limited by
boundaries.
The site is that area of land within the plot which is actually used for construction.

With the location plan in hand, the builder can prepare both plot and site for the construction
of the building. The location plan tells him exactly where the trees and bushes have to be
removed so that they don’t interfere with the work. This preparation includes cutting the
grass, and leveling the surface of the ground.

The builder must pay special attention to the roots of trees which are on the site or very close
to it. These must be completely removed. If some roots, such as those of the tree, remain in
the ground, they can grow again and damage the structure.

SITE ORGANIZATION
When the land clearing is completed, the building materials can be brought in to the building
site. Temporary work-sheds and stores may be erected in suitable places.The builder must
ensure that, there is an adequate supply of clean water. Without water no building can be
constructed (Fig. 3).

Personal safety, working clothes and shoe

Various forms of accidents occur at various stages of construction and in various operations.
In order to avoid these accidents, we should have to follow the following safety precautions.
Precautions:
1. Some of the tools and materials are sharp and dangerous; please observe standard safety
of works.
2. Place the tools and materials in safe and proper location when it is not in use.
3. Observe proper use of the tools and materials to avoid accident during layout.
4. Wear proper dress code during the activity.
 QUALITY REQUIREMENTS
QUALITY CHECKS FOR EXCAVATION&FILLING

 Recording initial ground level and check size of bottom.

 Disposal of unsuitable material

 Stacking suitable material for backfilling.

 Dressing bottom and sides of pits as per drawing with respect to centerline.

 Necessary safety measures observed.

 Sample is approved for back filling.

 Necessary marking/ reference points are established for final level of backfilling.

 Back filling is being carried out in layers (15cm to 20cm).

 Required watering, compaction is done.

 Required density is achieved.

 Interpretation of the given plan

Safety rule in excavation

 The preliminary site works for construction project usually begin after the site
facilities are set up. Clearing the site is essential. First, all Vegetation such as
bushes should be removed. The roots of trees and bushes must be dig out and
cleared away.
 The building site and surrounding areas should be studied for termites as part of
the process of clearing the site.
To work safely, you should always: -
1. Wear a hard hat to protect your head in case something is accidentally thrown or
dropped in to the hole.
2. Put supports against the sides of the excavation so that the soil cannot fall on you.
Types, characteristics and uses of Excavation tools and equipment
1. Excavation tools
Pickaxe and mattock
Pickaxe:-it is a tool for excavation, to loosen stony materials, mostly in dig out, for digging ditches in
hard soil. It is usually weighs from 2.7 to 3.6kg.it is a doubly striking tool, thus it is necessary to have a
straight handle with an ellipticalshape. Its handle has a raised safety grip to prevent the handle slipping
out of the workers hands.
Mattock:-it is used to loosen firm soil which cannot be dig by a hoe. It is also used to cut roots, in
sloping the side drains because it has a wider cutting edge than the pickaxe. Its weight ranges from 1.8
to 2.7kg. Its handle has a raised safety grip to prevent the handle slipping out of the workers hands.
Shovels and spades
Shovel: - it is used for scooping up materials and throwing it on to a trailer, truck, wheel barrow, or
directly to where the material is needed. It has a curved or pointed blade. It is used for loose soil.
Spade:-it has a square shaped blade which is stronger than a shovel. It is used to loosen soil. It is more
useful for harder soils, since the blade doesn’t bend.
The handle for both tools should be long enough to allow the worker to throw the soil with little effort.
For workers with an average height a length of 65 to 70 cm is recommended.
Sledge-hammer:-it is double –faced head hammer having oval shaped eye. For a doubly faced striking
tool, it is necessary to have a straight handle with an elliptical cross-section .its handle is provided with a
raised safety grip at the end. This tool is used for breaking large boulders or rock. The worker should
wear goggles to protect the eyes
2. Excavation equipment
Grading equipment’s
They are used for leveling and smoothing the earth work and for spreading and leveling the
base courses in road construction. They also undertake large scale waterway and trenching
work in irrigation schemes.

They may be towed type or motorized type.

Towed type gradersare drawn with a tractor and are of small size. Motorized type graders are
self-propelled or pushed, power drive.
The blade of the grader can be turned through 360 0 in horizontal plane clockwise or
anticlockwise.
Grader can be used on the following types of works:
a) Gravel road repairing
b) Ditch filling or digging
 c) Level or sloped ground finish
d) Base course spreading and leveling
e) Material mixing
f) Hard surface cutting
h) Asphalt breaking.
Grading in road construction means destruction and smoothing the road surface and others by
the scraping action of the blade, and includes working operations like, surface skimming, light
duty bulldozing, leveling, spreading.
Examples of excavation or heavy earth moving equipments are:-
Bull dozer excavator Hoes, Shovel and cranes, scrapers, Loaders, Excavators, Excavator loaders etc.
Excavators:-are basically digging machine.
Excavator loaders: -sometimes also known as backhoe loaders are basically digging and loaded machine.
Bulldozers:-used for cutting and pushing the material over relative short distance.
Loaders: - A bucket is attach to the arm and capable of being raised lowered and damaged through
mechanical or hydraulic control.
Crane: - Have wide application in road construction work used for Lifting. (The loads may be
construction materials or machines)

Compaction Equipment
Effective soil compaction is a significant part of the construction process
Vibrating Plate Compactor
For earthwork, asphalt and paving applications, used to repair roads, pipeline and
trench construction.
 Heavy Vibrating Plate Compactor
For Construction of roads, backfills, trench and Sewer line construction, foundations.

Heavy Vibrating Compactor/248k

Tamper
Used in the fields of earthwork and asphalt construction

Excavation requirements
Excavation may be done for the following reasons by different types of excavation equipments.
●To bring the sub grade to the required level, grade and line.
●To remove unsuitable materials from the sub grade or to disperse such materials through the earth mass in
such a manner that they will not be harmful.
●To prevent saturation of soil in a service or if the water cannot be removed to neutralize any bad effects by
the use of appropriate materials that are stable even when saturate.
●To prevent erosion of soils.
●To install bedding materials.
OPERATION TITLE: - plan and preparing
PURPOSE: to know more about plans and how is prepared
Conditions of situation: trainees how to make plan &prepares
TOOLS AND MTERIALS
TOOLS:-Fixer -Drawing board, set square, T- Square
MATERIA:-paper, lead, rapidiography
PROCEDURE: * Prepare drawing board
* Prepare tools used to draw plans that are paper, fixer,
Lead, drawing board, set square, T-square.
* Prepare leads size by size 0.3, 0.5, 0.7
PRECAUTION: *use safety tools and materials.
*put drawing table on the level surface.
 *care from sharp materials of drawing.
QUALITY CRITERIA: the students can evaluate his success in performing the
operation.
 STRUCTURAL
CONSTRUCTION
WORKS
LEVEL – III

Learning Guide
#03
Unit of Competence: Monitor Excavation

Module Title: Monitoring Excavation

LG Code: EIS SCW3 M3 LO1-LG-3

TTLM Code: EIS SCW W3 M3 TTLM 1022v1

LO 2: Locate excavation site &erect safety

equipment
 INFORMATION SHEET – two
SETTING OUT WORKS
Terminology used in setting out work
The following terminology is used in setting out in civil engineering work and the trainee
are advised to learn the terminology thoroughly as he/she across the terms while studying
this chapter.
SETTING OUT: - is the process on operation of laying out engineering projects by
placing pegs on the site of works. Setting out is the opposite of leveling that is data are
transferred from plans to the ground.
PEGS:-are short pointed wooden rods driving in to the ground to mark an excavation,
construction, etcline or a level. A nail driven in top of the peg usually shows the position
of the point.
BATTEN BOARDS (PROFILE BOARD):- A horizontal board 150mm by 25mmcut to
varying length. They are nailed to 100mmx50mmx50mm square post which have been
pointed and driven into the ground. Batten board or profile board located about 0.5-1.0m
outside the limits of foundation wall. The lines defined by nails in the top of the profile
boards are the outside faces.

Fig.1. Setting out

Types and methods Of Setting Out: -

 In setting out simple building we use one of the three methods.
These are: -
1. The 3,4,5 method
2. The builder’s square method
3. Leveling instruments.
Setting out on uneven ground, and particularly measuring distances, requires you to apply
some simple geometry.

When we measure distances in setting out, we are actually looking for the horizontal
distance between two points (Fig. 1, x). We don't measure the distance along a slope,
because the house we want to build will not slope; it will have level floors and walls.

4.

Since the ground is not flat, and the points are at different heights (point A is lower than
point B), the horizontal distance between them has to be measured indirectly.

Fig. 2 shows two men trying to measure the distance between pegs A and B along uneven
ground. Their result cannot be correct because the line they are holding is neither straight
nor is it horizontal (measure "x" and compare it to the length of their line).

5.
The men in Fig. 3 also fail to get the correct measurement. Their line is stretched taut and is
therefore straight, but It is still not horizontal (measure "x" and compare it to the length of
their line).

In order to find the true horizontal length "x", the line or tape measure has to be held
horizontally and stretched taut so it is straight. Both ends of the line are kept vertically
above the pegs A and B by means of plumb bobs (Fig. 4). This method as shown is a good
rough method for short distances.

If a larger distance has to be measured, the work is carried out in intermediate steps of
suitable lengths (Fig. 4).

For very large distances, the use of boning rods can help to make sure that the different
steps are in line and the total length measured is straight (Fig. 5). With the boning rods and
a water level you can also make sure that the whole distance is horizontal.

Use the water level to level between two boning rods; then any points in between can also
be leveled by simply sighting along the boning rods (Fig. 5).

Underground services
Before starting work, the OSHA standard requires youto do the following:
 Determine the approximate location of utilityinstallations sewer, telephone, fuel,
electric, andwater lines; or any other underground installations;
 Contact the utility companies or owners involved toinform them of the proposed
work within establishedor customary local response times
 Ask the utility companies or owners to find the exactlocation of underground
installations. If they cannotrespond within 24 hours (unless the period required
by
 If your excavation work exposes underground installations, requires you to
protect, properly support, or remove them.
 Excavating without checking for underground services is extremely unsafe.
Legislation exists to provide a level of safety for the individual and the assets.
 Before beginning any excavation work, reference shall be made to the details or
plans of the utility or private services in the proposed excavation area.
 The location of underground services provided by a service or utility provider
may not be accurate for many reasons.
OPERATION SHEET# 2
OPERATIONTITLE: Locate excavation site and erect safety equipment
PURPOSE: to know more about identify monitoring excavation.
Conditions of situation: trainees how to make excavation.
Tools and Materials
-Helmet

- Ear protection

- Safety boots etc.

PRECAUTION: *use safety tools and materials.
*put on the level surface.
*care from sharp materials during excavation
STRUCTURAL CONSTRUCTION
WORKS
LEVEL – III
 Learning Guide
#03
Unit of Competence: Monitor Excavation

Module Title: Monitoring Excavation

LG Code: EIS SCW3 M3 LO1-LG-3

TTLM Code: EIS SCW W3 M3 TTLM 1022v1

LO 3: Check excavation

INFORMATION SHEET – Three

Excavation Methods
Excavation work generally means work involving the removal of soil or rock from a site
to Form an open face, hole or cavity using tools, & machinery.
When the depth of excavation exceeds 1.2 meter, and/or the excavation becomes larger,
mechanical methods of soil removal must be employed.

Factors that influence the choice of methods for excavation include:

• Volume of subsoil to be excavated.

 • Nature of the site.

• Type of soil (e.g. stone requires mechanical excavation).

• Time constraints (how much time available for excavation).

• Safety of operatives.

Excavation can be made either manually ormechanically

Hand/Manual / Excavation:
-It is the operation of excavating the ground by using those hand tools like spades,
shovel, pick axes, wheel barrow …etc.
Machine Excavation:

It is the operation of excavating the ground by using Machineries like Excavators,

bulldozers, graders, scrapers, and tractor shovel...…Etc.
Excavation is regarded as one of the most hazardous construction operations. Excavation
failure occurs very quickly, giving a worker virtually no time to escape, especially if the collapse
is extensive and the excavation is a trench. Normally, a slab of earth collapses off the trench face
under its own weight and breaks against the opposite wall of the excavation, burying and
crushing any person in its path. This can result in death by suffocation or internal injuries
Examples of excavation or heavy earth moving equipments are:-
Bull dozer excavator Hoes, Shovel and cranes, scrapers, Loaders, Excavators, Excavator loaders
etc.
Earthwork involves a number of operations and a variety of equipments can be put to use.
The job of earthwork and equipment’s involved (concerned) includes:
1) Clearing and grubbing--------by dozer;
2) Soil excavation-----------------by shovels, scrapers, dozers;
3) Soil transportation-------------by scrapers, dumpers, trucks;
4) Earth spreading----------------by grader, dozer;
5) Watering------------------------by water tanks, pumps and piping system;
6) Compaction---------------------by rollers of different types of compactors.
. Site clearing and excavation
Site clearing
The preliminary site works for a construction project usually begins after the site
facilities are set up.
All vegetation’s such as bushes and scrub; should be removed; the roots of trees
and bushes must be dug out and cleared away. If the new building is to be built on an area
of already existing, the old building has to be demolished, the debris cleared away and
existing services disconnected and removed. Virgin site have to be cleared of grasses,
trees, rocks and old vehicles.
Site clearing used to be carried out using manual labors with pickaxes and spades.
Due to the mechanization of building operations, there are mechanical plants, which can
carry out site clearance operation with comparative ease and safely. These plants are only
medium and large sized firms can afford to own them. Site clearance is therefore largely
done using manual labors (especially for housing projects).
 The building sits area and surrounding areas should be inspected for termites as
part of the process of clearing the site.
 The ground a termite nest is usually treated with toxic chemicals and powders
should be mixed in the open air.
 It is normal practice for any above ground clearance requirements, such as
removal of trees, bushes, walls, slabs, buildings etc. to be shown on a site plan.
This plan may show the position of services, both above and below ground,
allowing these to be cleared if necessary or avoided for safety if to be left alone.
Construction sites vary a great deal, and clearance procedures will, of course, be
different on each one. A Greenfield site out of town may only require soil
removal, whereas a brown field site, having been previously developed, may need
extensive demolition and clearance of concrete slabs etc. before any excavation
can commence.
The topsoil excavation
Top soil should be removed because;
1. The topsoil contains vegetations, which can damage foundations.
2. The topsoil is not firm enough to support a building.
The topsoil should be removed at least 200-300 mm depth. It is to remove the roots of
bushes and trees that are growing with in the boundary of the building; it must have to be
excavated more than 300 mm.
Note: Do not use the soil to backfill holes that are created by excavating roots in the
topsoil.
The soil may settle to a different level in the over site concrete. You should pack hard
core tightly in the holes or use a weak concrete mixture or filler

Fig.Topsoil excavations
 Bulk excavation
After the removal of the topsoil, there should be a firm sub soil that is strong
enough to support the over site concrete and building loads.
1. Use working drawing to see how deep the hard-core bed should be.
 2. Dig down part the topsoil to the recommended level in the sub soil.
3. Inspect the ground to check that the sub soil is firm.
4. Dig out any soft patches of ground and fill with tightly packed hard core.
The working can be done manually with:
 Spades;
 Shovels;
 Pick axes;
 Wheelbarrows.
Mechanical equipment makes the jobs much easier. A bulldozer can quickly push the
topsoil out of the way for later disposal. It is possible to reduce levels with a mechanical
shovel and the excavated material directly onto a tipper truck for removal.

Fig. Bulk excavations

Trench excavations
When to dig deeper into the sub soil to excavate trenches for strip foundation, the depth
of excavation for the trenches will be indicated on the working drawings. Excavation by
hand, using pickaxe, spades and shovels are good method for excavating trenches for the
foundations of small buildings. If you want to achieve more speed than you can use a
 back actor. This is a particular good piece of machinery to use if the trenches are quit
deeper.
Trenches must be excavated for foundations, drainage pipes and services. On small scale
works, such as extensions to houses etc., hand tools such as pickaxes, spades, shovels and
wheelbarrows are used for manual excavation of soil.

There are two methods to check that the excavation is deep enough:
1. Use a leveling instrument to check the depth of the trench against the site datum
Use a boning rod to measure the depth of digging.
2. Use a boning rod to measure the depth of digging.

Fig. Trench excavation

Steps using a boning road
1. Calculate the depth from the top of the profile to the desired level of the excavation.
Use the working drawings and measurements on site.
2. Make a measuring staff called boning rod, which is the same length as the distance
between the top of the profiles and the bottom of the trench.
3. Place the boning rod in the trench.
4. Dig down until the top of the “T” on the boning rod lines up with the top of the
profiles.

Fig. Using boning rod

The deeper the excavation, the more it cost dig and fill with concrete. Although the
concrete will smooth out any differences in depth, it is more economical to be
accurate.
Excavated soil should be removed from the trench. You can use some of the excavated
soil to fill in around the foundation brickwork, but the rest should be removed from the
site. After the excavation is completed, the building inspect may want to check that the
sub soil in the bottom of the trench will support the building load.
Deep excavation
Excavating pit for column or piers
Excavation for the base of a column or pier is called a pit. Pit is usually
square. Mark a position and dig around the central point of the column or pier. You
can dig pits by hand or use a back actor. Any water should removed and the sides of
doubt about their suitability
Digging holes for piles
A short-board pile is usually used for small buildings. They are circular
concrete columns formed in holes in the ground. An auger, which is a spiral-shaped
hand tool, is used to drill a hole in the ground. As it rotates it drills dawn in to the
soil. When you pull out the auger, if brings out the soil with it create a circular hole.
You repeat the process until to support a building load.
Augers can be turned by hand or by machine. Manual augers are usually
suitable for small job s. Bigger and deeper piles require mechanical augers, which to
put in piles, then the ground be soft enough to drill in to with an auger.
Digging in to sloping sites
Most building sites are mot perfectly level. The design for a sloping may have
different floor levels or a basement to cope with the changes in levels. You use the
cut and fill method of excavation.
If you want to keep a level ground floor in spite of a slope. In this method the soil
from the upper part of the slope is cut out and deposited on the lower part of the
slope.
This crate a level base for the construction of the floor. The base must be well packed
so that the building is stable.
 Digging a basement on sloping site you may want to make a basement. In a
house on sloping wall to support the side of the remaining slope, near the
building.
Supporting the side of excavation
The trench support should also be properly designed to take the additional load from any
excavated spoil or other construction materials placed along the trench sides.
The contractors need to assess how long an excavation can safely remain open
without the support for the sides. If the weather is very dry, then the lack of moisture
may cause the soil to shrink, crack, and fill in. If the weather is very hot, then the
sides of the excavation may be unstable. In both cases, it is better to provide timber
support for the sides of excavation wall.

Fig . Supporting the sides of an excavation

As a rule the loosen the soil, the more it needs to be supported.
E.g. excavation in sand & gravel soil should always be supported.

As a rule, the looser the soil, the more it needs to b supported. Excavation on
confined site may also need support in case heavy loads are placed or driven too
close to the edge of trench or pits. The live of the workers digging in the
excavation are at risk unless the contractor takes proper precautions. The timber
struts, which are wedged, between planks support, the side of excavation. These
supports consist of: -
 Poling
 Walling
 Struts
 Wedges
 1. POLING:-which are vertical planks supporting the soil. In sand or gravel, they
should be placed closed enough together to form a continuous timber wall.
Depending on the soil type and working condition they be placed about 900mm
apart. The purpose of poling is to keep the soil on the side of excavation from
falling in.

2. WALING;- Which are horizontal timber strips supporting the poling.

3. STRUT;- Are timber that span across the trench between the waling. The struts
hold the opposite wall of the excavation in place.
4. WEDGES; - Which are pieces of timber used to maintain the pressure of poling
against the soil? If the soil expands or shrinks, while the work is carried out, then
you may need to adjust the wedge again.

OPERATION SHEET Lo#3

OPERATION TITLE:- monitoring excavation
PURPOSE: to know more about excavation works
Conditions of situation: trainees how to create excavation.
TOOLS AND MATERIALS
TOOLS:-. EQUIPMENTS
Spades Bulldozer
Shovels Mechanical shovel
Pick-axes Dump truck etc.
Wheelbarrows
PRECAUTION: *use safety tools and materials.
*care yourself beginning the worked area.
 STRUCTURAL
CONSTRUCTION
WORKS
LEVEL – III

Learning Guide
#03
Unit of Competence: Monitor Excavation

Module Title: Monitoring Excavation

LG Code: EIS SCW3 M3 LO1-LG-3

TTLM Code: EIS SCW W3 M3 TTLM 1022v1
LO 3: CLEANUP

INFORMATION SHEETFOUR
Purpose: work area is cleared &materials disposed of reused or recycle in practice and
job place.
Tools and equipment are cleaned, check, maintained and stored. Clean tools are very
essential to remove loose particles, dust, grass, totally unnecessary things.
Before &after starting the work using some of these clean tools are: brush, broom&
compressed air machine.
The high speed of blast of the compressed air is very dangerous &can be caused serious
injury. This can be attached to power tools used around bench, from safety clothe and
others.
OPERATION SHEET# Lo. 4
OPERATION TITLE: clean up
PURPOSE: trainees how to cleaning the site work, tools and equipment, work shop
CONDITIONS OF SITUATION: trainees how to cleaning the site work, tools and
equipment, work shop
TOOLS AND MTERIALS
Tools material
-Broom, brush - water
- Brush -Lubricate
-shovels
PROCEDURE: *select to clean tools & materials
*clean of the fragment things from tools
*after finishing the work the material has to be stored in the tool kit.
PRECAUTION: - * Use safety tools and materials.
*wear safety shoes, over all cloth, glove, and goggle
QUALITY CRITERIA: the student will be evaluating his success in performing the
operation.