On completion the Highways Maintenance Skilled Operative will know and understand the following:

• The principles of health, safety and welfare and how they must be applied in relation to their own work and others
•  The responsibilities under current legislation (including Health and safety at Work Act 1974, Provision and Use of Workplace Equipment 1998, Manual Handling Operations regulations 1992) and official guidance (risk assessments, method statements) to undertake work
• How to work in accordance with the National Highway Sector Schemes, Industry Codes of Practice, the New Roads & Street Works Act and other guidance relevant to the occupation
• Understand the structure of the highway, civil engineering methods, construction technology and have knowledge of different road categories and types, construction materials and working methods
• How to identify, locate and excavate around underground services such as gas and power cables to avoid strikes and loss of service

On completion the Highways Maintenance Skilled Operative will be able to:

• Apply appropriate health, safety and environment procedures when working on the road
• Plan and undertake work practice productively when carrying out repairs to potholes, pavements and kerbs, and laying new surfaces on rural and urban roads
• Read, interpret and work to drawings, specifications and highways information Highways information will include details on the use of safety barriers, cones, traffic flow and safety zones to work within, whilst employed on the highway
• Use underground cable locators to identify buried water, gas, sewer lines or other utility services, and once identified excavate by hand around the line to stop any damage and disruption to services
• Apply safe working practise for moving, storing, lifting and handling of resources
• Excavation and reinstatement of the highway by carrying out maintenance and repairs, including removal of material within the road or road side using hand or power tools and reinstatement of the area using concrete, screeds, sub-base, aggregates or bituminous materials
• Install Street Ironworks (drain access covers and frames and gully gates situated on the road) to given work instructions
• Prepare and operate powered tools or pedestrian plant, machinery or equipment for use on roads. This will include machinery for generator’s, pumps, pedestrian operated plant (e.g. pushed roller), mixers, compressors and self–powered tools (pneumatic drill)
• Prepare, set up and work within temporary traffic management (using cones and barriers to section off elements of the road from vehicles and pedestrians) on urban and rural roads, whilst excavating and re-instating the highway
• Work with other sub-contractors on larger schemes (e.g. traffic management).

On completion the Highways Maintenance Operative will be expected to demonstrate:

• Effective communication: oral, written, listening, the use of signalling, body language, and presentation
• Team work: work effectively with others with limited supervision
• Independent working: take responsibility for completion of their own work
• Logical thinking: use clear and valid reasoning when making decisions to undertake the work instructions
• Working effectively: undertake the work in a reliable and productive manner
• Time management: use own time effectively to complete the work instructions to schedule
• Adaptability: be able to adjust to changes in work instructions
• Assertiveness and confidence: able to resist pressures to work following unsafe practices
• Respect: apply equality, diversity and inclusion in dealing with others
• Commitment to safe working