CPCS A10 Excavator 180° Below 5 Tonnes

Course Overview

The CPCS A10 Excavator 180° Below 5 Tonnes course provides operators with the essential skills to safely use compact 180° excavators for excavation, loading and grading tasks. Training covers machine preparation, pre‑use checks, safe travel and manoeuvring, correct bucket attachment, excavating to specification, loading vehicles, and reinstating ground. Learners also develop awareness of site hazards, underground and overhead services, environmental responsibilities and effective communication on site. This course is ideal for those needing a CPCS qualification to operate small 180° excavators in construction, utilities and groundwork environments.

Course Objectives / Learning Outcomes

• Work safely and legally, applying key health and safety requirements, identifying hazards, using correct PPE, and following safe access/egress procedures.
• Prepare the excavator for work, including pre‑operational checks, defect reporting, machine configuration, and ensuring visibility and stability.
• Operate and manoeuvre the machine safely, travelling across different terrains and gradients, maintaining control, and working within restricted areas.
• Carry out excavation and loading tasks, setting up correctly, excavating to specification, managing spoil placement, and loading vehicles safely and efficiently.
• Use attachments correctly, fitting and removing buckets using quick‑hitch systems and ensuring secure, safe attachment.
• Conduct onsite safety checks, establishing exclusion zones, identifying ground conditions and proximity hazards, and communicating effectively with other workers.
• Reinstate and finish ground, using correct grading, levelling and compaction methods.
• Apply environmental best practice, reducing emissions, preventing pollution and managing waste responsibly.
• Load/unload the machine for transport, following safe ramp procedures, communication protocols and working‑at‑height controls.
• Shut down and secure the machine, isolating equipment and parking safely to prevent unauthorised use.

Pre-requisites

• Novice: The candidate does not hold a current industry recognised card within the plant category and/or has limited or no demonstrable practical experience of operating the category of plant in a construction environment. Experience of working on site and a basic knowledge of construction terminology would be beneficial.
• Experienced: The candidate holds a current industry recognised red card within the plant category or has equivalent experience. The trainer must decide and be able to demonstrate a thorough initial assessment and document their decisions for choosing the experienced route based on the candidate s knowledge and skills through a documented profiling approach.

Assessment Methods

For the successful completion of training, candidates must complete an end of course practical assessment and knowledge test that has a clear pass or fail criteria as set out by the CPCS scheme.

Additional Information

Candidates must be at least 18 years of age, in good physical health, and capable of meeting the demands of practical training. An adequate level of English literacy is also required to fully engage with the course content and assessments. This course can also be offered as an in-house COTS Certification.