Smart Awards SA006 Safe Working in Civils Course
The Smart Awards SA006 Safe Working in Civils Course provides practical safety training for telecommunications, fibre and civils operatives working around underground infrastructure and streetworks environments. Delegates develop competence in hazard awareness, safe work-area preparation, atmospheric gas testing, chamber cover lifting, PPE and recognised safe systems of work. The course includes knowledge-based and practical assessment and is delivered at our specialist training centre in Crewe, Cheshire.
The Smart Awards SA006 Safe Working in Civils Course provides practical safety training for telecommunications and infrastructure operatives working in civils and streetworks-related environments. The course combines technical knowledge with hands-on activities covering underground hazards, chamber access, gas testing, cover lifting and safe preparation of the work area.
Delegates learn how to recognise hazards, select and use appropriate equipment, prepare the work area correctly and apply safe working procedures before and during civils activities. Training focuses on practical competence as well as hazard awareness and safe decision-making.
Training is delivered at our specialist centre in Crewe, Cheshire, using realistic underground and civils training scenarios.
About this course:
The Smart Awards SA006 Safe Working in Civils Course is designed to give telecommunications and infrastructure operatives the knowledge and practical competence required to work safely in civils environments. The course focuses on the hazards, checks, equipment and working practices associated with underground infrastructure, chambers, access points and streetworks-related activities.
Delegates develop practical skills in recognising civils hazards, preparing and controlling the work area, using appropriate PPE, carrying out atmospheric gas testing, lifting chamber covers safely and identifying unsafe conditions before work begins.
Training combines technical instruction with practical exercises so delegates can apply the required procedures in realistic civils and underground network scenarios. The emphasis is on hazard awareness, correct use of equipment, safe working practices and recognising when conditions require work to stop or be escalated.
Training is delivered at our specialist centre in Crewe, Cheshire, where delegates complete the required knowledge-based and practical assessment activities for the Smart Awards SA006 Safe Working in Civils qualification.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of the Smart Awards SA006 Safe Working in Civils Course, delegates will have developed the knowledge and practical competence required to work safely in telecommunications and utility civils environments.
Delegates should be able to:
✓ Recognise common hazards associated with civils and underground infrastructure work
✓ Understand the risks linked to chambers, access points and streetworks environments
✓ Prepare and maintain a safe working area before civils activities begin
✓ Understand the purpose of atmospheric gas testing
✓ Use gas detection equipment correctly and interpret results appropriately
✓ Recognise unsafe atmospheric conditions and know when work should not proceed
✓ Understand the hazards associated with chamber covers and access points
✓ Apply safe methods when lifting and replacing covers
✓ Use appropriate cover-lifting tools and equipment
✓ Recognise manual-handling risks associated with civils activities
✓ Apply appropriate personal protective equipment requirements
✓ Follow safe systems of work and site procedures
✓ Identify unsafe equipment, infrastructure or site conditions
✓ Understand when work should stop and be reported or escalated
✓ Demonstrate the practical competence required during Smart Awards SA006 assessment activities
Suitable for:
The Smart Awards SA006 Safe Working in Civils Course is designed for telecommunications, fibre, utility and civils operatives who need to work safely around underground infrastructure, chambers, access points and streetworks environments. Delegates must already hold Smart Awards SA002 Underground Safety before progressing to SA006.
This course is suitable for:
✓ Telecommunications engineers and operatives working in civils environments
✓ Fibre and broadband installers working around underground infrastructure
✓ FTTP deployment engineers
✓ Civil engineering operatives involved in telecoms or utility projects
✓ Contractors working around chambers, ducts and access points
✓ Openreach PIA operatives progressing into civils-related work
✓ Experienced personnel who need recognised SA006 competence
✓ Operatives who need practical gas-testing and chamber cover-lifting skills
✓ Organisations requiring consistent civils safety standards across field teams
Course modules:
The Smart Awards SA006 Safe Working in Civils Course is structured around the knowledge and practical skills required to work safely in telecommunications and utility civils environments. Delegates combine technical instruction with hands-on exercises covering hazard awareness, safe work-area preparation, atmospheric gas testing and chamber cover lifting.
Safe Working in Civils
✓ Recognising common hazards in civils and underground environments
✓ Understanding responsibilities when working around chambers, access points and utility infrastructure
✓ Preparing and maintaining a safe working area
✓ Applying appropriate personal protective equipment requirements
✓ Following safe systems of work and pre-task checks
✓ Recognising conditions where work should not proceed
✓ Knowing when unsafe conditions should be reported or escalated
Gas Testing
✓ Understanding the purpose of atmospheric gas testing
✓ Recognising hazards associated with unsafe underground atmospheres
✓ Correctly using gas detection equipment
✓ Carrying out atmospheric checks before work begins
✓ Interpreting gas detector readings correctly
✓ Recognising when conditions are unsafe
✓ Responding appropriately to unsafe atmospheric conditions
Cover Lifting
✓ Recognising hazards associated with chamber covers and access points
✓ Selecting suitable cover-lifting tools and equipment
✓ Applying safe positioning and lifting techniques
✓ Understanding manual-handling considerations
✓ Removing and replacing chamber covers safely
✓ Maintaining control of the work area during lifting activities
Practical Assessment and Safety Application
✓ Completing practical atmospheric gas-testing exercises
✓ Demonstrating safe chamber cover-lifting techniques
✓ Identifying unsafe equipment, infrastructure and site conditions
✓ Preparing and controlling a safe civils work area
✓ Applying safe civils working procedures in realistic telecommunications scenarios
✓ Demonstrating the practical competence required during Smart Awards SA006 assessment activities
Certification Information:
On successful completion of the required knowledge and practical assessments, delegates achieve the Smart Awards Level 2 SA006 Safe Working in Civils qualification.
The qualification demonstrates that the delegate has been assessed in the knowledge and practical skills required to work safely in telecommunications and utility civils environments. This includes hazard identification, safe work-area preparation, atmospheric gas testing, chamber cover lifting, manual-handling awareness, PPE requirements and recognised safe systems of work.
Delegates must successfully complete all required knowledge-based and practical assessment activities to achieve the SA006 qualification.
The Smart Awards Level 2 SA006 Safe Working in Civils qualification is valid for three years from the certificate issue date.
Entry Requirements
Delegates must hold a valid Smart Awards SA002 Underground Safety qualification before attending the Smart Awards SA006 Safe Working in Civils Course.
The course is intended for operatives who already have the required underground safety competence and are progressing into civils-related telecommunications activities. Delegates should be able to take part in practical training involving underground access points, atmospheric gas testing, chamber cover lifting and preparation of the work area.
Delegates must be prepared to follow safe working procedures and complete both knowledge-based and practical assessment activities.
Any additional employer, site-specific or role-specific requirements remain separate from the SA006 qualification.
Career Progression:
Completing the Smart Awards SA006 Safe Working in Civils Course can support progression into more advanced underground, civils and fibre infrastructure roles. The course builds on SA002 Underground Safety competence and provides a practical safety foundation for operatives progressing into surveying, cabling, fibre installation and wider telecommunications infrastructure work.
Recommended progression routes include:
✓ Fibre Optic Outside Plant Level 3 – for delegates progressing into external fibre installation, jointing, testing and outside-plant infrastructure work
✓ Openreach PIA S6 Underground Surveying – for personnel progressing into underground route surveying and planning
✓ Openreach PIA S7 Underground Cabling – for engineers progressing into underground cable and sub-duct installation within the Openreach PIA network
✓ Further fibre installation, OTDR testing, fault-finding and network planning training for delegates progressing into wider telecommunications infrastructure roles
These progression routes can help delegates build on their SA006 civils competence and move into underground fibre deployment, surveying, cabling and infrastructure roles.
Price:
£250.00 + VAT
Duration:
2 Days
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Smart Awards SA006 Safe Working in Civils course?
The Smart Awards SA006 Safe Working in Civils course is designed for telecommunications, utility and civils operatives who need to work safely around underground infrastructure, chambers, access points and streetworks-related environments. The course combines safety knowledge with practical training in gas testing, chamber cover lifting and safe civils working procedures.
Who is the SA006 Safe Working in Civils course suitable for?
The course is suitable for telecommunications engineers, fibre installers, broadband and FTTP operatives, civils workers and contractors who already hold the required underground safety competence and need recognised training for civils-related telecommunications work.
What are the prerequisites for the SA006 course?
Delegates must hold a valid Smart Awards SA002 Underground Safety qualification before attending the Smart Awards SA006 Safe Working in Civils Course.
What does the SA006 course cover?
The course covers safe working in civils, underground hazards, atmospheric gas testing, chamber cover lifting, work-area preparation, PPE, safe systems of work, manual-handling considerations and recognising conditions where work should not proceed.
Does SA006 include gas testing?
Yes. Atmospheric gas testing is a key part of the course. Delegates learn why testing is required, how to use gas detection equipment correctly, how to interpret readings and what action to take if unsafe conditions are identified.
Does SA006 include chamber cover lifting?
Yes. Delegates learn the hazards associated with chamber covers and access points, how to select suitable cover-lifting equipment and how to remove and replace covers using safe working techniques.
Does SA006 include practical training?
Yes. The course includes hands-on practical exercises as well as knowledge-based learning. Delegates complete supervised activities involving gas testing, chamber cover lifting, work-area preparation and safe civils working procedures.
How is the SA006 course assessed?
Assessment includes both knowledge-based and practical activities. Delegates must demonstrate the required standard in hazard awareness, atmospheric gas testing, cover lifting and safe civils procedures to successfully achieve the qualification.
What qualification will I receive?
On successful completion of the required assessments, delegates achieve the Smart Awards Level 2 SA006 Safe Working in Civils qualification.
How long is the SA006 qualification valid for?
The Smart Awards SA006 Safe Working in Civils qualification is valid for three years from the certificate issue date.
Is SA006 relevant to fibre broadband and FTTP projects?
Yes. SA006 is relevant to fibre, broadband and FTTP infrastructure projects where operatives may need to work around underground chambers, ducts, access points and civils environments.
What courses can I take after SA006?
Useful progression routes can include Openreach PIA S6 Underground Surveying, Openreach PIA S7 Underground Cabling, Fibre Optic Outside Plant Level 3 and further fibre installation, testing, OTDR and fault-finding training.
What jobs can SA006 support?
SA006 can support progression into roles involving telecommunications civils, underground fibre infrastructure, duct installation, network construction, fibre deployment and underground survey or installation activities.
Where is the Smart Awards SA006 training delivered?
Training is delivered at our specialist training centre in Crewe, Cheshire, where delegates complete both knowledge-based and practical activities in a controlled civils and underground network training environment.
What Smart Awards SA006 course dates are available?
Please contact our training team for the latest Smart Awards SA006 Safe Working in Civils course dates and availability. Corporate and group bookings can also be arranged by request.