Introduction

Fault finding in telecoms is critical to keeping the digital infrastructure running smoothly. It requires skill, acute attention to detail and deep knowledge and understanding of health and safety. To fault find, operators must carry out maintenance excavation - a multifaceted operation requiring tracing and locating techniques, ground excavation to specified dimensions, installation of prefabricated joint boxes, roping and backfilling skill and understanding to complete the tasks safely and effectively.

Operators working on the Openreach network must hold the relevant qualifications and certifications to do so in the UK. The Q Modules are a range of training courses approved by Openreach to ensure their workers are operating to the correct standards and safety methods.  

Course Outline

Through a mix of practical and classroom-based exercises and tutorials, delegates will cover legislative and administrative knowledge and awareness while taking part in practical tuition, focusing on excavation and fault finding. 

The course reflects national standards and industry best practices and is fully accredited in line with regulations. In addition, choose to learn with Citrus, and delegates benefit from training in our custom-built training facilities and customer-first approach to how we do business.

Our occupationally and technically-experienced trainers will coach delegates in this one-day course at a 1:4 delegate ratio, awarding successful delegates a Citrus Training and Openreach certificate following an end-point assessment (EPA). 

Course Programme

This training is essential for operators to refresh their safe dig, plant protection and operations knowledge and expertise. Delegates will review legal requirements, ensure safety compliance, and understand procedures and appropriate documentation and classifications. 

The course content includes:

Maintenance excavations theory 

• Site surveys  
• Policies and legal requirements  
• Safe dig practice  
• Selecting the correct materials and equipment  
• Required safety and operational checks  
• Openreach specifications  
• Joint box identification  
• Theory test

Practical Assessment  

• Survey, investigation and tracing practice and technique  
• Markouts  
• Guarding and safe digging   
• Exposure and plant protection 
• Installation of two prefabricated Joint Boxes
• Rodding and Roping
• Backfilling to Openreach specifications

Operators must demonstrate the ability to complete maintenance excavations to the standards and specifications set out in the training to pass.

On Completion

At the end of the training, successful delegates will be able to complete maintenance excavations on Openreach UG networks.

For operators not employed by Openreach, this module is also accepted on all other networks.

The Q028 Maintenance Excavation Certification is valid for three years from the date of completion.  

Who Should Attend?

This Citrus certification is aimed at operatives working on the Openreach underground network and other third-party-owned UG telecom networks completing investigation and fault excavations.

Course Duration

• One-day EPA course (highly experienced only) 
• Two day, training delegates to understand the challenges, processes and protocols of maintenance excavations in telecoms including small JB installs, with day two for theory and practical EPA. 

Why Citrus?

Quality and the customer experience are paramount to us here at Citrus. We strive to provide exemplary service to our clients and produce excellent results from our delegates. As a result, we are the leading UK-based provider of health, safety, and technical training and assessment services to the Built Environment and Utility sectors.

We proudly work with 85 of the country’s top 100 building services companies providing courses nationwide. As an approved NOPS and Openreach training provider, we deliver Telecoms Training qualifications through our accredited centres in our custom-built, real-world training facilities, offering safe and realistic training simulations.

Serving the sector for nearly 20 years, our dedicated trainers provide expert knowledge and occupational experience to deliver Telecoms training courses. 

Things You Need to Know

This Citrus-certified course has practical elements. Delegates must inform their trainer if they have any serious health issues, physical problems, special considerations, or take any medication which may require additional support.

Delegates need to hold the Mandatory Safety Accreditation: SA006 - Safe Working in Civils, K008 Hand Rodding, and Mandatory SWQR: Unit LA, Unit O1, Unit O2, Unit O3 to take this training course.