Who this course is for
- Operators who run a tracked excavator on construction, mining or civil sites
- Pipeline, foundation and trenching crews working below grade
- Plant hire operators who move between machine sizes and attachments
- Supervisors who have to appoint competent excavator operators
What you will be able to do after this course
- Carry out pre-operation and daily inspections on a tracked excavator
- Track, position and set the machine up safely for the dig
- Dig, trench, load and level accurately using correct boom and bucket technique
- Work safely near underground services, people, edges and other plant
What the course covers
The course works through the safety regulations that apply to earthmoving plant, then through the excavator and the techniques that keep both the machine and the people around it safe.
Learners cover machine components and controls, pre-operation and daily inspections, tracking and positioning, slew and counterweight awareness, digging and trenching technique, loading trucks, levelling and battering, trench collapse and edge protection, working near underground and overhead services, spotter and banksman signals, and correct shutdown and parking. The operating work is assessed practically on the machine.
How you are assessed and what you receive
Assessment covers a written knowledge test and a practical on the machine, where the learner inspects the excavator and then digs, loads and levels under supervision. On successful completion the learner is certificated against SAQA unit standard 262744, and the certificate can be downloaded from the Fundza portal as well as issued directly.
What this certificate is worth
Excavators work close to people, services and open excavations, which is why this is one of the certificates site inductions and client auditors check most carefully. It proves the operator is competent in terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Learners can download the certificate from the Fundza portal at any time.
Duration, dates and fees
| Option | Duration | Fee | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full course | 5 Days | R9,295 | First-time certification |
| Refresher | 1 Day | R5,258 | Already certified, renewing |
On-site delivery at your own operation is available and is usually the better option for a crew, because the practical work is done on your own machine class, attachments and ground conditions. For group bookings, tell us how many people need certifying and where they are based.
Where and how the training runs
Training runs at the Fundza Training Institute centre in Mokopane, and on site at your own operation. On-site delivery is generally better for a civils crew, since trench depth, soil type and service routes differ by site and are the things that make the work risky. For a group booking, tell us how many people need certifying and where they are based, and we will come back with dates and a quotation.
Excavator and backhoe loader: how they differ
| Excavator (this course) | Backhoe loader (TLB) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it certifies | Tracked 360-degree excavator | Wheeled machine with loader and backhoe ends |
| Unit standard | SAQA 262744 | SAQA 262727 |
| Best at | Deeper trenching, bulk digging, slewing | Light digging plus loading, road-legal mobility |
| Typical site | Pipelines, foundations, bulk earthworks | Municipal, plumbing, small civils |
A TLB is the more flexible machine on a small site. An excavator is the right machine once the digging gets deep or the volumes get large.
Where this course can take you
Excavator operation sits inside the earthmoving stack at Fundza. Operators commonly add Operate Backhoe or Loader, Front-end Loader or Operate Track Dozer to widen the range of machines they can be placed on. Browse the full range of earthmoving machinery training.
Enquire about this course
Tell us how many people need certifying and where they are based, and we will come back with dates and a quotation.