Highways Maintenance Skilled Operatives work for a variety of companies within the private sector (Utilities Companies, such as Electric, Gas and Water firms) and the public sector (Local Authorities, County Councils and Highways England).
As a Highways Maintenance Skilled Operative, you will work as part of a team on rural and urban roads (not including motorways) to repair damaged surfaces, using hand and power tools and pedestrian plant machinery. You would be required to interpret and work to drawings and specifications when carrying out repairs to the highway. This work could include repairs to potholes, replacement and reinstatement of pavements and kerbs, installing street ironworks and laying new surfaces, to ensure roads and pathways are suitable for driving of vehicles or pedestrians to walk safely on. You will also use equipment to locate buried water, gas or sewer lines, and once identified excavate by hand around the line to stop any damage and disruption to services. You will also prepare, set up and work within Temporary Traffic Management on rural and urban roads, which allows for the movement and flow of traffic and pedestrian restrictions.
This apprenticeship standard covers the core skills, knowledge and behaviours to demonstrate competency of a Highways Maintenance Skilled Operative and covers key requirements to include:
- 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
- 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
- Prepare and operate powered tools or pedestrian plant, machinery or equipment for use on roads.
You will develop your skills, knowledge and behaviours through on and off-the-job training and are expected to attend College on a block release basis.
