CITY & GUILDS 6159:
WINTER SERVICE OPERATIONS QUALIFICATION

INTRODUCTION

The City & Guilds qualification ensures that staff are assessed to nationally agreed standards. It is relevant to those who operate or who are front line supervisors for Highways gency/contractor winter service vehicles & snow blowers; Local authority/contractor winter service vehicles & snow blowers; and National Assembly for Wales winter service vehicles & snow blowers.

The qualification is divided into various categories of winter service vehicles. In order to qualify for the award, an operative must pass Unit 580: Health& Safety and at least one other unit.

In order to qualify for the award, a supervisor must pass Unit 521: Winter Service Supervision & Monitoring.

SAFETY UNIT

• 580 Winter Service Operations Health and Safety (compulsory for operatives)

OPERATIVE UNITS

• 511 Prepare and operate winter service vehicles up to 3500kg (Inc tractors)
• 512 Prepare and operate winter service vehicles 3500kg to 7500kg
• 513 Prepare and operate winter service vehicles over 7500kg Large LGV
• 515 Prepare and operate Highways Agency dedicated winter service vehicles
• 540 Prepare and operate National Assembly for Wales dedicated winter service vehicles
• 550 Operate snow blower (Rolba 400 or 1000) – Highways Agency/National Assembly for Wales
• 560 Operate snow blower – dedicated
• 570 Operate snow blower – demountable

ENDORSEMENTS FOR UNITS 011, 012 & 013 ONLY

• 111 Spreader fixed
• 212 Spreader towed
• 313 Plough angle blade/Vee blade

SUPERVISOR UNIT

• 521 Winter Service Supervision and Monitoring

IMPORTANT

Staff qualified in a higher category vehicle are not automatically qualified to drive lower category vehicles. Staff should be assessed for each category of winter service vehicle they are expected to operate.

Practical assessments must be completed within 12 months of successful completion of unit 580. Where this timeline has been exceeded a candidate must re-take unit 580 again before any practical assessment. Any units added to a full qualification prior to the 5 year expiry period will not require the candidate to re-take unit 580.

LICENCING

On successfully completing the assessment process, delegates will be awarded a City & Guilds certificate and/or a certificate of unit credit. Those operating Winter Service vehicles on behalf of the Highways Agency are also required to be registered with the North East Regional Employers Organisation (NEREO) for a Winter Maintenance Licence. The licence is available as an option to all staff operating other categories of Winter Service vehicles.