NZQA registered unit standard
17310 version 3
Page 1 of 4
Title
Operate a hydraulic excavator on infrastructure works sites
Level
3
Credits
20
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to: prepare for
on-site operations; manoeuvre and control excavator on site;
load and place materials; excavate, strip, and trim materials;
and refuel, park, and inspect hydraulic excavator.
Classification
Infrastructure Works > Civil Plant Operation
Available grade
Achieved
Explanatory notes
1
The following legislation and regulations must be complied with: Health and Safety in
Employment Act 1992; and Health and Safety in Employment Regulations 1995.
2
Assessment against this unit standard must take place in a workplace environment.
Assessment parameters will depend on company and site specific equipment,
procedures, and practices. Practices must reflect industry best practice and comply
with legislative requirements.
3
The following code of practice must be complied with: Approved Code of Practice for
Safety in Excavation and Shafts for Foundations (Wellington: Department of Labour,
1995) available from Worksafe New Zealand, http://www.business.govt.nz.
4
Definitions
Company requirements include the policy, procedures, and methodologies of the
company. They include legislative and regulatory requirements applicable to the
company or a specific site. Requirements are documented in the company’s health
and safety plans, traffic management plans, contract work programmes, quality
assurance programmes, policies, and procedural documents.
Contract specifications include plans, diagrams, and special technical conditions.
They do not include special administrative conditions.
Manufacturer’s instructions may include specifications, installation, handling, use and
maintenance instructions, and safety data sheets.
Job instructions are those given to the operator prior to undertaking a job. They may
include site safety instructions, contract drawings, and written memos.
Walk round means to walk around the machine inspecting it and its environment for
hazards and removing hazards that may impair start-up.
Infrastructure ITO
SSB Code 101813
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
17310 version 3
Page 2 of 4
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Prepare for on-site operations.
Evidence requirements
1.1
Job instructions are confirmed in accordance with company requirements
1.2
Walk round is completed prior to starting work in accordance with company
requirements.
1.3
Machine operation is checked prior to starting work in accordance with
manufacturer’s instructions.
Range
visibility, seat belt, engine controls and gauges, throttle position,
hydraulic controls;
check controls and gauges after warm-up.
Outcome 2
Manoeuvre and control excavator on site.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Excavator is manoeuvred on site with adequate clearances in accordance with
job instructions.
Range
slew and working clearances include but are not limited to –
overhead wires, underground services, proximity of people and
plant, trenching works, working a face, handling loads.
2.2
Machine control levers are used to produce smooth movement of bucket
through all positions.
2.3
Excavator is controlled on slopes in accordance with company requirements.
2.4
Machine production is maintained at maximum usage relative to the task and
the safety of the operator.
Range
2.5
Sequence and work methods are chosen to ensure safety of people and plant.
Range
2.6
placement of vehicle being loaded.
may include – road traffic.
Sequence and work methods are selected in accordance with achieving job
requirements in allotted time.
Infrastructure ITO
SSB Code 101813
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
2.7
17310 version 3
Page 3 of 4
When manoeuvring excavator, items in the vicinity are preserved at all times.
Range
may include – survey pegs and settings, road furniture, roadside
amenities, structures, adjacent property, and protected trees.
Outcome 3
Load and place materials.
Evidence requirements
3.1
Communication is maintained with load vehicle driver at all times during loading
operations.
Range
giving directions for the positioning of load vehicles.
3.2
Excavator is positioned strategically and material is placed in load vehicle in
accordance with company requirements.
3.3
Materials are placed with minimal spillage in accordance with job instructions.
Outcome 4
Excavate, strip, and trim materials.
Evidence requirements
4.1
Topsoil is stripped to contour and depth in accordance with job instructions.
4.2
Area for specified job is excavated to the depth and level in accordance with job
instructions.
4.3
Materials are carried in safe load position and with operator showing awareness
of the operating environment at all times.
Range
includes but is not limited to – reversing, working on slope.
Outcome 5
Refuel, park, and inspect hydraulic excavator.
Evidence requirements
5.1
Hydraulic excavator is refuelled and oil checked in accordance with company
requirements.
5.2
Hydraulic excavator is parked, shut down safely, and secured in accordance
with company requirements.
5.3
Hydraulic excavator is inspected and any faults are reported in accordance with
company requirements.
Infrastructure ITO
SSB Code 101813
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
Planned review date
17310 version 3
Page 4 of 4
31 December 2019
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
30 May 2000
31 December 2014
Review
2
25 September 2006
31 December 2016
Review
3
19 February 2015
N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0101
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The
CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing
to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors
and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact the Infrastructure ITO qualifications@infrastructureito.org.nz if you wish to
suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
Infrastructure ITO
SSB Code 101813
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016