Now Accepting PayPal, Klarna, ApplePay and GooglePay!

UK wide courses

Training dates weekly

Instant booking online

Transparent pricing

Project Skills Solutions Logo

added to basket View Basket

NRSWA Unit 2 signing, lighting and guarding training course from Project Skills Solutions

NRSWA Unit O1 (was Unit 2) Signing, Lighting and Guarding - Open Course

Who should attend a NRSWA O1 Signing, Lighting and Guarding Open Course?

The NRSWA Unit O1 (previously called the Unit 2 course) is a 1-day course for street works operators who set up signing, lighting and guarding for roadworks. Those who work on the highways need to be qualified to the standard set out by the New Roads and Street Works Act (NRSWA). This Act was set up to protect the safety of both the public and those working on a Streetworks site.

The Signing, Lighting and Guarding unit teaches delegates how to carry out daily tasks in lighting and guarding systems. It will enable you to take adequate measures to minimise any inconvenience to the general public and maintain a safe environment for the public, pedestrians, vehicles and members of the streetworks team.

If you supervise the setting up of signing, lighting and guarding then you will need the NRSWA Unit S1 course.

NRSWA O1 Signing, Lighting and Guarding Open Course - Key Information

NRSWA O1 Signing, Lighting and Guarding Open Course Details

On receiving payment for your NRSWA Operative Signing, Lighting and Guarding Course, an email with your ‘course joining instructions’ is sent to you.

This document includes the following details:

  • The dates of your chosen course (The O1 course runs over 1 or 2 days)
  • Course start times at the venue (This is usually 8am or 8:30am)
  • Address of your chosen venue
  • Details of what to do if you need any special requirements to complete the course, such as a physical disability, or a learning or reading difficulty

You need to bring photographic ID, such as a driving licence or passport with you.

Lunch is not included, so please provide your own.

Course Content Icon

NRSWA O1 Signing, Lighting and Guarding Course Content

Understand how to protect pedestrians, vehicle traffic and site workers

  • State the PPE needed for signing, lighting and guarding activity
  • State how to effectively and safely control the movement of pedestrians vehicles and plant within the confines of the work space
  • Define the distance and dimensions to accommodate advance signing
  • Define the distance and dimensions to accommodate walkways, traffic lanes, safety zones and portable pedestrian crossings
  • State requirements for the installation and use of warning lights

Survey the work site

  • Conduct a site risk assessment to identify hazards and risks
  • Produce an equipment list and plan of the layout for the site location, including any vehicles and plant required for the site so they are working within the guarding
  • Put in place suitable risk control measures for the installation and removal of the signing, lighting and guarding placed to complete the streetworks
  • Identify what is needed on site by assessing the site location and who is using it as well as potential needs for the safe passage of pedestrians
  • Find appropriate ways to minimise the disruption to traffic whilst ensuring their safety

Understand how to protect pedestrians, vehicle traffic and site workers

  • State the PPE needed for signing, lighting and guarding activity
  • State how to effectively and safely control the movement of pedestrians vehicles and plant within the confines of the work space
  • Define the distance and dimensions to accommodate advance signing
  • Define the distance and dimensions to accommodate walkways, traffic lanes, safety zones and portable pedestrian crossings
  • State requirements for the installation and use of warning lights

Protect pedestrians, vehicle traffic and site workers

  • Select PPE which is appropriate for the task being undertaken
  • Create footways, traffic lines and safety zones for: requirements of the site and its location, the safe passage of pedestrians, vehicles and plant within the confines of the space that will be worked in
  • Control the movement of pedestrians vehicles and plant within the confines of the work space
  • Check equipment that is to be used is safe and fit for purpose
  • Position and remove equipment according to a specific sequence

Understand how to, and provide portable traffic signals and Stop/Go traffic control

  • Ensure correct operation of signals through inspection and testing
  • Position signals to meet the requirements of the site’s location and state how the location may affect the positioning of signals
  • Position the signals in the correct sequence and specify the correct sequence for installing, positioning dismantling and removing signals
  • Adjust signal controls and timings to suit the traffic conditions and define how the traffic conditions affect these adjustments
  • Specify the appropriate site conditions for using Stop/Go boards, priority traffic control, give and take and stop work signs and how to install and remove these

Follow safe working practices

  • Follow current relevant H&S regulations, standards and other legislation to do with working practices within the construction environment
  • Follow working practices specific to any practical task that they are required to carry out
  • Identify the current, relevant H&S regulations, standards and other legislation that must be applied in relation to working practices within the construction environment and any practical task that you are required to carry out

Equipment to bring on the day

You will be learning on a live site during your course. Therefore, you will be required to wear protective clothing. Requirements vary by location, and some centres can be more accommodating but typically you are required to bring:

  • Fluorescent Jacket Long-sleeve
  • Overalls/Work Clothes (shorts not allowed)
  • Gloves
  • Safety Boots
  • Waterproof Clothing
  • Goggles
  • Hard Hat

If you do not have access to any of this equipment/clothing please let us know, call or chat with our team and they will be happy to advise you.

You will be asked to provide photo ID on your course, such as a passport or driver’s license, please bring this with you

Certificate Icon

Assessment and Certification

You will complete an assessment consisting of 20 multiple-choice questions with 45 minutes in which to answer them. You will pass the unit if you achieve a score of 80% or more.

Successful completion of the NRSWA Operative Signing, Lighting and Guarding training course results in you gaining a City & Guild, SQA or CABWI (location dependant) certificate and a Street works card or ‘Ticket’ valid for 5 years.
NRSWA training courses are mainly practical, but you will have some written work.

You can prepare for your NRSWA Streetworks course by trying our practice quiz using the link below.

NRSWA Practice Quiz
Entry Requirements

Entry Requirements & Special Considerations

There are no formal entry requirements to complete NRSWA Signing, Lighting and Guarding training. However, you must be literate and able to read and write in English in order to understand the course content and complete the exam successfully.

Different awarding bodies for NRSWA qualifications have different rules about special considerations for delegates:

The delegate must be literate and be able to read and write in English – SQA Awarding Body
The delegate can have a reader this would be the trainer or a member of staff at the training school – City and Guilds Awarding Body

If you have any questions or concerns regarding support during the course, please contact our team.

Courses related to NRSWA O1 Signing, Lighting and Guarding

View other courses below related to the operative signing. lighting and guarding course, including the supervisor equivalent and reassessment courses:

NRSWA S1 Signing, Lighting and Guarding

This course is for Supervisors who will monitor signing, lighting and guarding rather than setting it up.

NRSWA Signing, Lighting and Guarding Reassessment

You need to renew your signing, lighting and guarding qualification every 5 years to be able to work on the highways.

NRSWA LA (Location and Avoidance)

One of the Streetworks key certificates, location and avoidance training is required for anyone excavating highways.

Find a course near you

This NRSWA Unit O1 (was Unit 2) Signing, Lighting and Guarding course is available in 0 location across the UK. Remember, you can always enquire for team training if there's not a location near to you - you may find it a cheaper alternative!

Or select a location below

Frequently asked question

Here are some of the questions we frequently get asked about our NRSWA training courses.

Are there age restrictions to the NRSWA course?

You have to be 16 or over to attend an NRSWA course. However if you are 16 or 17, you will need written consent from a parent or guardian to attend the course.

Do I have to complete all of the NRSWA units or can I pick and choose?

You do not have to complete all of the NRSWA units, for example if you only need to complete just unit LA or unit O1 you can book onto this no problem. We generally don't book delegates onto other combinations of units for example units O1-O3 or 1, S1- S4 for example, as this takes the place of a 5-day individual. In many cases it also works out more cost effective for you to book on the full course as you will get the extra units for not that much of an extra cost.

How long does the NRSWA training last for?

The NRSWA certificates and card are valid for 5 years. Once your card has expired, you will need to refresh your training with the re-assessment up to 5 years after your card has expired. We run these courses weekly, UK-wide. To book give our team a call on 0800 0213 263 or book online.  

If I do the NRSWA Supervisor course, can I do the operatives work?

No, if you complete the NRSWA Supervisor training course you can only supervise to make sure that the operative has carried out the work correctly. You are not trained to carry out the operatives work. If you wish to be able to do both roles, you will need to complete both courses (you can not be an operative and a supervisor on the same site or supervise your own work).

I have done the NRSWA Operative course, but now I need the Supervisors course.

If you have previously completed the NRSWA Operative course and it is still in date, you can then complete the NRSWA Supervisors course, you will then receive a white card. You have to be either an operative or a supervisor on site, you can't be down as both as you can't be the operative then supervise yourself, but you can hold both qualifications. You won't have to re-sit unit 01 or LA (as these are the same for both operatives and supervisors) so when booking on, let us know that you have previously completed these units. You will need to bring your existing card along to the course with you.

What NRSWA course do I need?

Operative or Supervisor? Full course or individual unit? We want to make sure you book the course that you need, if you are unsure what course you need, click here to find out.

My card has expired

If your card has expired and you live in England, you will need to take a re-assessment course, you can take a re-assessment course up to 5 years after your card has expired. If your card has been expired longer than 5 years, you will have to take a full streetworks course again.
Brochures for NRSWA Unit O1 (was Unit 2) Signing, Lighting and Guarding

Please download the course overview brochure below, easy to print and email if you need to share course information with a manager or colleague.

NRSWA Unit O1 Overview

Download PDF

Streetworks Update Sheet 2017

Download PDF

Code of Practice (Gov)

Download PDF

NRSWA Brochure

Download PDF

Avoiding Danger from Underground Services (HSE)

Download PDF

Request a callback

Selected course details: Open courses - NRSWA Unit O1 (was Unit 2) Signing, Lighting and Guarding