Site Preparation
Site preparation is the first domain the assessment tests: the sequence of survey, service location, stripping, drainage and formation that lets a tractor or dozer work without damaging what lies beneath or around it.
Survey and services
- Confirm induction, permit, drawings and survey limits before tracking. Use a cable avoidance tool and trial holes before blades or rippers enter ground.
- Mark overhead lines and underground services with barriers; keep the machine's tallest point and attachment clear of lines.
Strip and stockpile
- Strip topsoil separately from subsoil; stockpile on firm, drained ground, away from watercourses and root protection areas.
- Keep stockpiles stable, access-controlled and labelled; never mix contaminated material with clean arisings.
Formation and drainage
- Establish haul routes and drainage before bulk earthworks; silt traps and settlement ponds protect watercourses.
- Bench or batter cut faces to design; compact formation in layers and verify level before placing stone.
Worked example: A dozer must strip 300 mm of topsoil over a proposed pad. Reasoning: first confirm services and survey limits, then strip to the stated depth and keep topsoil in a separate stockpile. Check for soft spots before formation. If a drain crosses the pad, install it before bulk fill, otherwise the formation will rut and need rework.
Traps: stripping both layers into one heap, cutting near an unmarked service because the drawing looked clear, and leaving stockpiles blocking drainage or access.
Key points
- Services located and marked before ground penetration.
- Topsoil and subsoil stockpiled separately.
- Drainage installed before bulk earthworks.
- Stockpiles stable and clear of watercourses.