Plan the excavation across the gas main at chainage 262

You are the leading hand on the Elm Street drainage crew.

Simulated workplaceIntermediate missionCAQA Deepridge Resources

What is going on

Work order WO-2026-118 for Wattle Shire Council is a 90 metre stormwater drainage replacement on Elm Street. On Friday 11 September 2026 the trench reaches the gas main crossing at chainage 262. The service plans and the locator survey are on the work order, the main has been potholed by vacuum excavation, and an excavation permit is issued for a 2.1 metre deep trench with a trench shield. The asset owner's conditions require hand or vacuum excavation within the no-go zone and their attendance for any work within 500 millimetres of the main. The company has had no service strikes in twelve months.

Cal Nguyen, Civil Projects Manager
Subject: Elm Street drainage, chainage 262 gas main

Work order WO-2026-118 for Wattle Shire Council reaches the gas main crossing at chainage 262 on Friday. The plans and the locator survey are on the work order, and the main has been potholed. I want you to plan the excavation across the main under the Underground Services Location and Excavation Procedure: no-go zone, hand and vacuum excavation, spotter, trench support and the asset owner's conditions. Update the excavation permit if the depth or method changes and prepare the job hazard analysis with the crew. Nobody has struck a service in twelve months and I want it to stay that way.

Your brief

Plan the excavation across the gas main under the Underground Services Location and Excavation Procedure, prepare the job hazard analysis with the crew, update the excavation permit and the work order, and set out the response if the main is struck.

Work through it

You do not need to do it all. Doing a few of these will show you what the work is like. Your ticks and notes stay on this device.

Read the Underground Services Location and Excavation Procedure and list the requirements that apply at chainage 262.
Review the work order WO-2026-118 notes and confirm the plans, survey and pothole results are recorded; note anything missing.
Define the no-go zone around the main and the methods allowed inside it and outside it, with the spotter's position and the bucket type.
Prepare the Job Hazard Analysis Form for the crossing, including trench support, access and egress, the asset owner's attendance and gas detection.
Update the excavation permit TWB-2026-0141 in the Permit to Work and Isolation Register with the changed controls for the crossing.
Describe the traffic management and public interface controls for the day, including pedestrian access to the properties.
Write the response steps if the excavator contacts the main, and the entry you would make in the Hazard and Incident Register.

My notes: what did I enjoy, and what surprised me?

What someone in this role would produce

No-go zone and excavation method plan
Completed Job Hazard Analysis Form
Updated excavation permit
Service strike response steps

Printing this is a record of what you explored. It is not a certificate or a qualification.