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Operative refresher assessment scheme (ORAS)

We have doubled the grant rates for short course tiers 1 – 3. To address rising costs, you can now receive higher rates on course achievements from 1st April 2023

Grant Tier

Achievement date before 1 April 2023

Achievement date on or after 1 April 2023

Grant Tier 1

Grant Tier 1 Refresher

£30

£15

£60

£30

Grant Tier 2

Grant Tier 2 Refresher

£70

£35

£140

£70

Grant Tier 3

Grant Tier 3 Refresher

£120

£60

£240

£120

Overview

The purpose of this standard is to provide the candidate with the knowledge and skills to ensure the learner has contemporary knowledge and understanding of road marking operations as relates to level 2 pavement marking manual or road studs.

Duration

60 hours

Purpose/scope

The purpose of this standard is to provide the candidate with the knowledge and skills to ensure the learner has contemporary knowledge and understanding of road marking operations as relates to level 2 pavement marking manual or road studs. ORAS is a requirement under National Highways Sector Scheme: No 7, with the primary aim of mitigating operative skills fade. ORAS is administered by the National Highways Academy Accreditation Service (NHAAS).

The scope of this standard covers:

  • application of road markings and road studs to a road surface
  • hazards, risks, and controls associated with working on the highway, plant equipment, LPG, hot tools and high temperature molten materials
  • emergency responses for: vehicles, machines, gas torches, LPG bottles and spills
  • introduction to ADR exemptions relating to the use of road marking vehicles on the highway
  • introduction to vehicle, plant and equipment pre-use checks
  • how to operate a large road marking vehicle safely
  • how to safely manoeuvre a large vehicle safely with the use of a banksman
  • main legislation, codes of practice, and/or standards, including road marking standards as described in Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016
  • setting out of road markings and road studs to the required standards
  • how to safely apply molten thermoplastic road marking material
  • how to remove thermoplastic road markings using hand held equipment
  • planned preventative maintenance of road marking equipment
  • demonstrate, on a live site, operatives have the required safety and practical knowledge to undertake road marking activities.

Occupational relevance

Training delivered against this standard would be relevant to the following occupational group(s):

  • operative and craft - as defined under National Highways Sector Scheme No.7 and level 2 pavement marking manual or road studs.

Candidate pre-requisites

Candidates must have a valid level 2 diploma in construction operations and civil engineering services - roadbuilding (construction) - pavement marking - manual operations or road studs.

Candidates must successfully complete ORAS on the fourth anniversary of the VQ achievement and every four years after.

Instruction/supervision

As a minimum, course instructors must be able to demonstrate that, in relation to this standard, they have:

  • a train the trainer or instructional techniques course certificate
  • successfully completed training to this standard 
  • at least 2 years relevant industrial experience
  • a verifiable CV
  • a valid instructor certificate in line with NHAAS requirements.

Delivery

The following methods may be used in the delivery of this standard:

  • on the job in a safe environment
  • classroom

All materials and equipment must be of a suitable quality and quantity for candidates to achieve learning outcomes and must comply with relevant legislation.

The class size and candidate/instructor ratio must allow training to be delivered in a safe manner and enable candidates to achieve the learning outcomes.

Delivery is by providers registered with the NHAAS.

This standard is considered to contain 51% or more practical training.

Assessment

For the successful completion of training, candidates must complete an end of course practical assessment and knowledge test that measures the learning outcomes and has a pass or fail criteria.

Quality assurance

Quality assurance against this standard will require initial approval of the training organisation and their content mapped to the standard. 

CITB will also conduct an approval intervention, either desk-based or centre visit, to ensure the training organisation can meet the requirements of the training standard. 

Approved training organisations (ATOs) will be required to present information on records of training and assessment upon request to CITB for desk based analysis. They will also be visited annually by the CITB quality assurance team.

Renewal/refresher

Mandatory renewal - legislation in this area demands the candidate carries out a full renewal of this standard every 4 years.

Approval date

November 2018

Review cycle

Either on request or in 3 years from approval date.

Learning outcomes

The candidate will be able to:

  • Describe hazards and risk associated with the application of road markings.
  • Find and interpret health and safety information relevant to working with high temperature equipment and materials on the highway.
  • Describe suitable emergency response and 1st aid methods.
  • Complete an ADR mixed load calculation.
  • Demonstrate pre-use checks on vehicles, plant and equipment.
  • Describe the use of correct approved hand signals when assisting in manoeuvring road marking vehicles.
  • Describe safe and professional driving practices.
  • Demonstrate how to use chapter 5 and TSRGD to extract technical information relating to road marking measurements.
  • Describe thermoplastic road marking material, types, uses, hazards, benefits and issues.
  • Demonstrate correct techniques for setting out road markings.
  • Demonstrate techniques for preparing the road surface prior to the application of road marking material.
  • Demonstrate safe setting up and use of diesel and LPG powered road marking equipment.
  • Demonstrate how to safely prepare and use high temperature molten thermoplastic road marking material.
  • Safely remove road markings using hand held equipment and methods.
  • Demonstrate safe techniques relating to site cleanliness and correct waste disposal.

Additional guidance to support learning outcome

  • Classroom presentations
  • Course handouts
  • Practical and knowledge test.

Additional information

Health & Safety Executive (HSE)

Gas torch safety from the HSE

Legislation

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/

  • The PPE at Work Regulations 1992
  • Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER ) (1998 UK 1999 NI)
  • The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
  • The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
  • The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
  • Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996
  • Fire Precautions and Workplace Regulations 1997
  • Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR ) 1995

Standards

https://www.bsigroup.com/

  • BS EN 1436:2007+A1:2008 Road marking materials. Road marking performance for road users
  • BS EN 1424:1998 Road marking materials. Premix glass beads
  • BS EN 1423:2012 Road marking materials. Drop on materials. Glass beads, antiskid aggregates and mixes
  • BS EN 1463-1:2009 Road marking materials. Retroreflecting road studs. Initial performance requirements
  • BS EN 1463-2:2000 Road marking materials. Retroreflecting road studs. Road test performance spec’ns
  • BS EN 1463-3. Road marking materials. Part 3. Active road studs
  • BS EN 1790:2013 Road marking materials. Preformed road markings
  • BS EN 1871:2000 Road marking materials. Physical properties
  • BS EN 1871. Road marking materials. Paint, thermoplastic and cold plastic materials. Specifications
  • BS 3262-3:1989 Hot-applied thermoplastic road marking materials. Specification to apply to road surfaces
  • Traffic Signs Manual Chapter 5. Road Marking and Road Studs
  • National Highways Sector Scheme No 7
  • National Highways Sector Scheme No 12d
  • ADR 2017