CSCS Tractor/Dozer study plan

Explain how a site survey, cut-and-fill plan and setting-out marks translate into a dozing sequence, and describe what you would verify on the ground before tracking in

Distinguish topsoil, subsoil, cohesive and granular material by simple field tests (ribbon, ball, hand-texture) and state the handling implication for each

Identify the main components of a tracked dozer - undercarriage, final drives, blade, ripper, hydraulic circuit, ROPS/FOPS, seat belt - and describe the function of each

Write a pre-use inspection checklist covering tracks and track tension, sprocket and idler wear, hydraulic hoses, fluids and leaks, guards, lights, horn, and fire extinguisher

Describe how to strip, stockpile and respread topsoil so it stays viable, including stockpile height and separation from traffic routes

Explain how ground bearing pressure changes with track width, machine weight and soil moisture, and predict where a dozer will bog down

Define the stability envelope: centre of gravity, slope limits, counterweight effects and how a raised blade or load shifts the tipping line

Outline how to form and maintain a stable working platform and haul route on soft or wet ground

State the safe operating rules for working on and near slopes: maximum cross-slope practice, upslope versus downslope dozing, and turning discipline on a gradient

Explain exclusion zones around a dozer - blade sweep, counterweight swing, blind spots, and the distance needed for a person on foot to be seen

Describe the roles of a banksman/slinger and the agreed signals, and when a dozer must stop for a person entering the zone

Identify the hazards of working near excavations, spoil edges, services and overhead lines, and the control for each

Carry out a supervised or simulated walk-around inspection and record every defect found using the correct severity wording (stop / monitor / rectify)

Explain daily and weekly checks: track tension adjustment, fluid levels, greasing points, air filters, and what a worn cutting edge or loose track tells you

Describe machine capability limits: what a given dozer can push, when ripping is needed instead of dozing, and how productivity falls with push distance

Explain load charts and rated capacity in principle - why a dozer is not a crane and what must never be lifted from the blade

Describe the main attachment types (straight blade, angle blade, universal/patrol blade, ripper, winch) and match each to a task

Explain the dozing cycle - slot, push, roll, backdrag - and how to keep a cut level and a stockpile shaped

Describe benching and slot-dozing techniques on side slopes and the risks each technique controls

Explain how to judge when to rip rather than push, including spacing and depth of tines relative to material

Explain the permit-to-work and isolation steps before maintenance on a dozer, including parking on firm level ground, blade and ripper lowered, and pressure release

Describe refuelling controls: engine off, no ignition sources, bonding where required, spill kit present, and correct disposal of rags and filters

Explain how to report a defect so it is actionable - description, location, when noticed, severity, and who is informed

Describe the daily maintenance routine and how to record it, plus what makes a machine unfit to return to work

Describe dust suppression methods on a dozing operation - water carts, speed limits, wind awareness, and when to stop pushing dry material

Explain noise controls: machine silencing, reversing alarms, hearing protection zones, and communicating without shouting over the machine

Outline spill prevention and response: bunded storage, drip trays, spill kit contents, and the first three actions on a hydraulic hose burst

Explain how to protect watercourses, drainage and boundaries during earthworks, including silt traps and stockpile siting

Answer a full set of mixed practice questions across all seven domains under timed conditions and score each domain separately

Re-teach your two weakest domains from your own notes and checklists, then re-test them

Recite the critical safety rules from memory: exclusion zone, slope discipline, blade and ripper lowered when parked, defect stop rule

Walk through two full scenario questions aloud - one on soft-ground stability, one on working near others - in exam-style structured answers