The Cemetery Operatives Training Scheme (COTS) is the essential foundation for anyone working hands-on in cemeteries, graveyards, or natural burial grounds. This City and Guilds accredited course doesn’t just teach the job, it elevates it. By combining expert instructions, practical experience, and assessment against the ICCM’s Code of Safe Working Practice, these courses ensure that your team works efficiently, safely, and with the dignity people who have been bereaved deserve.

Students gain more than technical skills, they build confidence, increase awareness of ethical standards, and learn how to maintain professionalism in even the most sensitive of situations. They’ll leave the course equipped with up-to-date best practice, and trained to manage burial preparation with the care and competence that today’s cemetery services demand.

Add to that the opportunity to train on the latest industry equipment and share knowledge with peers in a supportive environment, and it’s easy to see why this is essential for operational teams.


At a glance

All COTS courses are:

  • City & Guilds Accredited
  • Delivered on site
  • Practical with hands on learning
  • Sector Sensitive
  • Charter Aligned
  • Flexible to site needs
  • Safe with a relaxed learning environment
  • Use the most up-to-date equipment in the industry
  • No previous machine experience necessary
  • Based on ICCM codes of practice
  • Programmes are tailored to your site

Course 1 - Health and Safety and the Burial Process

Why this course?

Safety is of paramount importance both legally and ethically and this is only course that truly covers the unique needs of cemeteries, graveyards and natural burial grounds.


Who is this for?

Anyone working in cemeteries, graveyards, and natural burial grounds.


Duration: 1-3 days

Delivery: On-site, in-person


What’s covered?

The first section of this City and Guilds accredited programme involves practical demonstrations with student participation. Course tutor Martin will build on the knowledge of safe working practice already possessed by students to enable them to successfully complete the assessments carried out in the second section of the course.


Students will be assessed on their competence to carry out the following tasks using safe practice:

Initial Preparations -

  • Measuring and marking new grave site(s)
  • Erecting soil box and walk boards
  • Assessing stability of nearby memorials

Excavation –

(Employers will select the type(s) of shoring currently in use in their cemeteries)

  • Excavation and backfilling using Timber shoring
  • Excavation and backfilling using Hydraulic shoring
  • Excavation and Backfilling using Panel & Jack shoring

Preparation for Interment -

  • Grave dressing
  • Providing safe access


SHOUTOUT BOX

Course 2a - Safe Use of the Excavator and Course 2b - Safe Use of the Dumper in the Sensitive Cemetery Environment

Why these courses?

Unlike other excavator and dumper operator’s training courses, the COTS course focuses on the implications, problems and sensitivity specific to the cemetery environment. This gives your operatives the confidence to know exactly what they are doing in your context. Reduction of potential damage to cemeteries is a major benefit to employers and employees alike, not to mention the bereaved people that visit cemetery sites.


Duration: The Excavator course is three days. The Dumper course is two days.

Delivery: On-site, in-person


Who is this for?

Anyone who needs to use these machines in their role and those who supervise them so they can spot when best practices are being missed.


What’s covered?

Training takes the form of hands-on practical sessions, designed to improve the skills and competence of the operative, as well as creating awareness of Health & Safety and Customer Care.


Everyone on the excavator course will enjoy access to a machine each, with a maximum of four per course.


Students can be trained and assessed in the following areas:

  • Pre-start checks and routine machine maintenance
  • Machine controls
  • Moving around the site
  • Manoeuvring into position
  • Protection of turf
  • Protection of memorials
  • Setting and stabilising the machine prior to excavation
  • Safe excavation and backfilling
  • Implications of health & safety legislation
  • Filling and emptying dumpers

Course 3 - Controlling Risks in Cemeteries

Why this course?

Cemeteries are unique work environments that are also emotionally sensitive public spaces creating a need for an equally unique set of risk assessment skills. Tailored specifically for this environment participants will learn both the from the tutors and each other real word lessons in addition to best practice & theory.


Who is this for?

Anyone who is currently involved in the management of, or the day to day running of cemeteries large or small, who has responsibility for the monitoring the Health & Safety and wellbeing of staff, visitors and users of cemeteries. This could include charge hands, supervisors, managers and administrators.


Duration: 2 days

Delivery: On-site, in-person


What’s covered? 

There are two parts to the course:

Part 1 

  • Demonstrations of up to date shoring methods
  • Grave identification
  • All steps up and including interment
  • Group work & discussion
  • Theory utilising real world examples
  • Practical demonstrations
  • Formulating risk assessments
  • Briefing on part 2

Part 2 

Participants use what they have learned to create a bank of risk assessments in specific to their own workplace, looking at current practice and any potential improvements that may need to be made as well as procurement decisions for safety equipment, costs, and suitability to the work environment. To be submitted within 28 days of attending the course for assessment.

Investment:

Please contact [email protected] for a quote

Your Instructor

Martin Clark FICCM

Martin has been associated with the Cemetery Operatives Training Scheme (COTS) for over 24 years, both working for Berkshire College of Agriculture and the ICCM, firstly as a course technician, then progressing to a course instructor, later becoming an NPTC/City & Guilds assessor. His breadth of knowledge gained through running courses throughout the British Isles in every type of ground condition and drawing on a wide experience of examples of good and bad practice is second to none. Martin is in touch with the latest advice from industry professionals, suppliers and receive regular updates from the Health & Safety and Executive as to what they expect from us.