Thirteen units make up this qualification, each individually assessed and credited:
5001 Roles and Responsibilities of the Excavator Operator; Use of the Operator’s Manual
5002 Names, Components and Functions of the Excavator
5003 Correctly Mount and Dismount the Excavator
5004 Dangers of Underground Services, Overhead Cables and Other Site Hazards
5005 Pre-use Checks, Functional Checks and Correct Shutdown Procedures
5006 Locate and Identify the Controls and Their Function; Prepare for Site and Road Travel
5007 Configure and Travel the Excavator Across Various Terrains in Open and Confined Spaces
5008 Carry Out All Necessary Safety Checks in the Work Area
5009 Set the Excavator Up in Readiness for Excavating Tasks
5010 Carry Out Various Excavating Tasks
5011 Backfilling Excavations, Spreading and Grading Ground
5012 Loading Materials into Transport Vehicles
5013 Changing Buckets and Attachments for Specific Activities (Including Quick Hitches)
Theory assessment
40-question written theory test, pass standard 80% (32 of 40). Answered in the candidate’s own handwriting, covering:
Roles, responsibilities and the law: the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, PUWER 98 regulation 9, LOLER 98
Machine components, controls and the Operator’s Manual
Pre-use inspection, functional checks, mounting and dismounting
Underground services, overhead lines and other site hazards
Travel, slew and stability on open, confined and sloped ground
Excavating to line and level, trench support and backfilling
Loading transport vehicles, and changing buckets and attachments
Shutdown, parking, thorough examination, and public highway or transport rules
The following are safety-critical and must be answered correctly regardless of the overall score:
Underground services check before digging (HSG47)
Overhead line minimum clearance distances
Action on contact with a live overhead line
Slew radius danger area and exclusion zone
Minimum standing or travel distance from an open trench or excavation
Quick hitch engagement checks when changing buckets
Precautions when loading a road vehicle, without slewing over the cab
Danger of removing a hot radiator or expansion cap
Considerations before public highway travel or transporting the machine
Practical assessment
Structured exercises, each marked against observed performance criteria. Every criterion must reach competent; any dangerous act terminates the assessment.
Pre-use inspection to the manufacturer’s specification: undercarriage, pins and hoses, cab checks, quick hitch, correct mounting and dismounting, functional checks, defects recorded and reported
Safety checks and work-area set-up: exclusion zone for the full slew radius, services check completed before digging, overhead clearances confirmed, machine stance relative to the excavation, spoil position planned, signals agreed with the banksman
Travel across open, confined and sloped ground: correct travel configuration, controlled speed, confined-area manoeuvring with counterweight clearance managed, correct gradient technique, effective observation and banksman use
Excavate to line and level: sets up square, digs in controlled passes, works to the required line, level and depth, trench sides to the specified batter or support, no persons in the trench during operation, spoil placed as planned
Backfill, spread and grade: confirms the excavation is clear before backfilling, places fill in layers, spreads and grades to level, maintains machine stability on worked ground
Load a transport vehicle: vehicle and driver position agreed so the machine does not slew over the cab, controlled loading cycle with gentle discharge, even load distribution, communication maintained throughout
Bucket and attachment change: safe manual or quick-hitch change procedure, both pins fully engaged with the safety pin fitted where required, test curl or ground test performed before work, correct de-pressurisation and PPE
Park and shutdown: parks safely off routes with bucket and blade grounded, controls neutral and safety lever up, cool-down, key out and isolated, post-use checks completed and condition reported
The assessor deemed Fred Bloggs competent within the stated scope, and the qualification was awarded in August 2026.
The legal position
No UK government body issues a licence to operate a 360 excavator, and no statute requires one. The duty to train and assess competence sits with the employer, under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 section 2(2)(c) and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 regulation 9.
HSE Approved Code of Practice L22 sets out the training standard under PUWER 1998 regulation 9, and HSE guidance HSG47 sets out the standard for checking for underground services before digging starts. An exclusion zone is kept clear of the machine while it slews, and the quick hitch is secured before an attachment is used. Where the excavator is used for lifting or object-handling duties, LOLER 1998 applies, with thorough examination of the lifting accessories and a planned lift.
The full site evidence statement sets out the basis of the qualification, the assessment decision and the audit trail, for presentation to site management and health and safety personnel.
The full site evidence statement is issued with the operator’s pack.