While excavating with a mini digger near to identified underground services, do we have to use a Banks man / Lookout and if so does he need any sort of ticket to show competency ?

It's certainly good practice to have someone looking out for buried services especially if they are known to be in the vicinity of the dig. The operator of the plant is not always in the best position to see buried services. The normal practice is to identify buried services prior to the dig via a CAT scan, service drawings, etc, usually with coloured aerosol paint. If the buried services are clearly identified it may not be necessary to have someone looking out for them.

That person does not have to be a banksman per se, but they will need to have had some training/awareness to carry out their task competently. There are recognised courses for banksman/slinger in industry.

I advise that U take note of Ray, Bob & Jim as a plant driver cannot fully see all areas around their kit whilst it is in use