Utility Avoidance
CAT and Genny Training: The Course That Changes How Your Team Works on Site
Not just Genny & CAT equipment operation. The scientific understanding and field-verified habits that eliminate service strikes.
CAT and Genny training is a practical safety course that teaches operatives how to use a cable locator (CAT) and signal generator (Genny) to find buried utilities before excavation. The course covers electromagnetic theory, four detection modes, and hands-on cable locating and service detection on a real site. This course fulfils the HSG47 training requirement for anyone using cable locating equipment near underground services.
21 Years
One Specialism
Underground utility location training is all we do.
70-80%
Increase in Genny Usage
Measured through locator data downloads after Sygma training.
Proven
Strike Reduction Record
Clients report measurable reductions in service strikes.
Who Is This Course For
Designed For
Complete Beginners
Course attendees with no prior experience of Genny or CAT equipment. Takes someone from zero to competent in one or two days.
Site Operatives and Groundworkers
Anyone who needs cable locating and service detection before excavation. If your team breaks ground near underground services, they need this safety training.
Civil Engineers and Supervisors
Those who need to understand the equipment their teams are using, so they can supervise safely and audit survey work on site.
Organisations Introducing Genny-First
Companies across the construction industry transitioning to Genny-First as the workforce-wide method, embedding best practice across every site survey.
Why This Course Exists
The Problem with Standard CAT and Genny Training
Most standard CAT and Genny training teaches operatives to press the on button and walk. They know what the beep means. They do not know why the signal behaves differently in wet or disturbed ground, what happens to accuracy near a joint, or why their passive Power-mode reading is not telling them what they think it is. The result is training courses that hand out certificates without changing how operatives approach CAT and Genny work on site.
The Sygma CAT and Genny training course was built to fix that. You will notice that Sygma says "Genny & CAT" rather than the industry standard "CAT and Genny". That is deliberate. The rest of the industry puts the locator first. We put the signal generator first, because that is the methodology change that reduces service strikes. Start with the Genny, exhaust every connection opportunity, verify what is in the ground before you rely on passive modes. That single change in workflow order is the difference between an operative who finds what is there and one who only confirms what they expected.
This course was designed after years of post-strike investigations. Operatives were technically trained and certificated but had never been taught to start a survey with the Genny, null out nearby underground services, or distrust a clear-looking signal. We address those confirmation biases and build a Genny-First mindset that becomes automatic, using HSE guidelines and industry best practice. Every principle is proved on your own site, on your own buried underground services.
Course at a Glance
Why We Say It Differently
Genny & CAT, Not CAT & Genny
The industry calls it "CAT and Genny training". We call it Genny & CAT. The name reflects the methodology: start with the signal generator, apply a known signal, trace it, verify it. Only then move to passive modes. Every course Sygma delivers follows this order because 21 years of post-strike investigation data tells us the same thing: the majority of preventable utility strikes happen when operatives skip the Genny and rely on passive readings alone.
This is not a marketing exercise. The ProQual CAT1 Plus specification (PP3.3) now requires candidates to "conduct a survey using the transmitter first and exhaust all transmitter connection opportunities before moving to induction." That is the Genny-First methodology formalised into externally audited qualification criteria. Sygma helped write that standard. No other training provider or awarding body has embedded this principle into their assessment criteria.
The Safety Case
Why Cable Avoidance Tool Training Is Not Optional
Thousands of underground services are struck across the UK every year. Cable strikes on electricity cables can cause fatal arc flash injuries; hitting gas mains or high-pressure water puts entire sites at risk. HSE guidelines in HSG47 require anyone locating underground services to be properly trained and assessed as competent, and HSE prosecutions for cable strikes carry significant fines and reputational damage that affects future tender work. Without proper cat and genny training, operatives rely on passive detection modes alone, which miss the majority of buried cables, fibre optic lines, plastic gas pipes and any metallic underground service not carrying a detectable signal. Proper cable locating and service detection starts with the Genny applying a known signal before passive modes are ever used. That is the difference between a strike and a safe dig.
Course Content
CAT and Genny Course Content: Cable Avoidance Training on Your Ground
Classroom: Theory
The full technical and regulatory context
- ›Reasons for using Genny & CAT equipment: HSG47 and the legal, financial and human consequences of service strikes
- ›Legislation and HSE guidance: HSG47, relevant national legislation, HSE guidelines, client and designer responsibilities
- ›Overview of utility networks and underground services: cable and pipe types, materials and connectivity
- ›Buried service plans (STATS): how to interpret plans including inaccuracies and limitations
- ›Calibration requirements: correct storage, functional checks and pre-use inspection
- ›Electromagnetic theory: how a cable locator detects underground services, limitations, and myth-busting
- ›Controls and operation: essential knowledge for correct use of the locator and signal generator in all four cat operating modes (Power, Radio, Genny and Avoidance)
- ›Signal interpretation: locating joints, changes of direction, depth, and safety procedures when readings are ambiguous
- ›Signal distortion and its effects on location accuracy during the survey
- ›Transmitter applications: dual frequency, capacitance technique, earth positioning, blind induction sweeps and nulling out using CAT & Genny equipment
- ›Depth estimation: when and how to take depth readings, testing the results
- ›Data logging (optional): how to use CAT Manager software to collect and analyse data
- ›PAS128 survey levels: understanding different survey types
- ›Permits and paperwork: permits to dig, safe systems of work, industry best practice
Site-Based: Practical
Every principle proved on real underground services
The practical session takes course attendees outside onto a real site to prove every safety procedure and practical skill taught in the classroom. Sygma uses your own site wherever possible, which means operatives are locating underground services on the same ground and the same utility types they will encounter daily.
- ›Reading and using service plans to plan the CAT and Genny survey before any equipment is switched on
- ›Site visual checks: identifying above-ground indicators of buried underground services
- ›Using the Genny to apply a signal via direct connection, capacitance and induction (cat and genny scan technique)
- ›Training in all four cat operating modes with strong emphasis on leading with the Genny at every stage of the cable locating workflow
- ›Locating problem services: street lighting, LV services, small comms cables buried beneath live highway
- ›Locating joints, T-connections and changes of direction using the Genny-First method
- ›Effect of Genny earth positioning: operatives learn why moving the earth changes the locate
- ›Blind induction sweeps and nulling out nearby underground services
- ›Full utility survey methodology: starting from plans and working systematically across the site using CAT and Genny best practice
- ›Individual practical skills assessment: each operative assessed against a documented standard
What You Get
CAT and Genny Certificate and Qualification Routes
Certification depends on the route chosen. The difference across our training courses is the awarding body and the type of ID card or certificate issued -- the Sygma course content is the same across all formats.
EUSR CAT1 Accredited
The industry-standard EUSR CAT1 qualification. On successful completion, your cat and genny certificate is registered on the EUSR database and you receive an EUSR ID card valid for 3 years. Widely recognised across UK construction sites and required by most principal contractors and utility companies.
ProQual CAT1 Accredited
An externally accredited cat and genny qualification through ProQual, with all four EML modes assessed in the practical element. You receive a ProQual CAT1 certificate valid for 3 years. The ProQual CAT1 Plus two-day route includes the Genny-First methodology in its formal assessment criteria.
CITB Approved Training
Sygma Solutions is a CITB Approved Training Organisation (ATO). Every cat and genny training course is delivered to CITB ATO standards for content, assessment and record-keeping. Employers who pay the CITB levy may be eligible for training funding support through the CITB Employer Network, with Sygma providing the documentation required to support funding applications.
Sygma In-House Certified
Sygma's own cat and genny certificate of completion, covering the same comprehensive content as accredited routes but without awarding body fees. Includes written and practical assessment results, a detailed skills record, and personalised pathway guidance on which qualification to progress to next.
Formats Available
Course Formats
| Format | Duration | Max Delegates | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-day in-house (certified) | 1 day | 8 | Written + practical |
| One-day EUSR CAT1 (accredited) | 1 day | 8 | Written + practical |
| One-day ProQual CAT1 (accredited) | 1 day | 8 | Written + practical |
| Two-day in-house (certified) | 2 days | 8 | Written + practical |
| Two-day ProQual CAT1 Plus (accredited) | 2 days | 8 | Written + practical |
| Two-day split - 3 months apart (certified) | Day 1 + Day 2 | 8 | Day 1 training, Day 2 assessment |
The two-day split format is particularly valuable where operatives benefit from applying classroom learning in real working conditions before returning for their assessed practical day. The gap of approximately three months allows behaviours to bed in and any gaps in practical skills to be identified and corrected. This is one of the few training courses in the UK offering this split-delivery model.
All training courses delivered by a CITB Approved Training Organisation.
Site Requirements
What You Need to Provide
Sygma's dedicated training centre at Wigan is available as an alternative venue at no extra cost, with full welfare and catering facilities.
UK Delivery
CAT and Genny Training Across the UK
Sygma delivers CAT and Genny training courses at client sites across the UK. Common delivery regions include London and the South East, Manchester and the North West, Birmingham and the Midlands, Bristol and the South West, Scotland, and across Northern England. Travel is included in the day rate with no hidden extras, so course attendees from anywhere in the UK can book without worrying about additional costs.
Our training centre in Wigan is available as an alternative venue at no cost, with full welfare facilities for delegates travelling in.
CITB Funding
CITB Approved Training Organisation
Sygma Solutions is a CITB Approved Training Organisation. Employers who pay the CITB levy may still be able to access training funding support through the CITB Employer Network.
Contact your CITB adviser for current eligibility and funding options. Sygma is a CITB Approved Training Organisation and provides all required documentation to support funding applications.
Related Reading
Genny-First Methodology
Why Sygma teaches Genny-first and how it increases buried utility detection rates.
HSG47 Explained
The HSE guidance that underpins all cable avoidance work. What it says and why it matters.
Strike Prevention for Site Managers
Practical guidance for site managers on reducing utility strike risk on construction projects.
EUSR Card Renewal
When and how to renew your EUSR CAT1 card before it expires.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About CAT and Genny Training
What is CAT and Genny training?
CAT and Genny training teaches operatives to use a cable locator (CAT) and signal generator (Genny) to find underground services before excavation. The course covers electromagnetic theory, all four locating modes, signal interpretation and depth estimation, with a practical site assessment to prove the skills. Sygma teaches a Genny-First methodology: connect the signal generator before relying on passive detection. Most training courses certificate and dismiss; Sygma also trains the mindset. Successful delegates can be assessed for an EUSR CAT1 card, ProQual CAT1 certificate or Sygma in-house certification.
How long does a CAT and Genny course take?
CAT and Genny training takes one or two days, depending on format. The one-day course covers theory and practical assessment for delegates with some experience. Two-day formats split classroom and site work, or add the ProQual CAT1 Plus Genny-First assessment element on day two. Open courses and bespoke on-site delivery are available across the UK.
Can CAT and Genny training be done online?
The classroom theory of CAT and Genny training can be delivered online for awareness and refresher purposes -- Sygma offers an online CAT4 HSG47 awareness course for online training at the awareness level. However, the full assessed CAT and Genny qualification (EUSR CAT1 or ProQual CAT1) requires a real site practical assessment and cannot be completed entirely online. The practical element is what proves competence and earns the card.
How much does a CAT and Genny course cost?
Available as an in-house day rate for up to 8 delegates at your site, or per person on open courses across the UK. Day rate varies by format (in-house certified, EUSR CAT1, ProQual CAT1) and one-day vs two-day. Travel is included with no hidden extras. CITB-levy employers may access training funding via the CITB Employer Network. Contact Sygma for a tailored quote.
Do you need to be trained to use a CAT scanner?
Yes. HSG47 requires anyone using cable and pipe locating equipment to be trained and competent. Most principal contractors and utility companies require operatives to hold a recognised qualification such as EUSR CAT1 or ProQual CAT1 before being allowed to use locating equipment on site.
How long is the CAT and Genny qualification valid for?
The EUSR CAT1 card is valid for 3 years. ProQual CAT1 certificates are also valid for 3 years. The Sygma in-house certificate has no fixed expiry but most employers require refresher training every 3 years. Sygma recommends booking renewal in the 3 months before expiry.
Is EUSR CAT1 the same as EUS CAT1, or the same as CAT and Genny training?
EUSR CAT1 and EUS CAT1 are the same qualification -- EUSR (Energy and Utility Skills Register) is the awarding body, CAT1 is the standard. CAT and Genny training is the broader practical course; the EUSR CAT1 is the specific accredited qualification many employers ask for. Sygma delivers both: a full CAT and Genny course content with the option to be assessed for an EUSR CAT1 card on completion. Other accreditation routes available include ProQual CAT1 and ProQual CAT1 Plus (two-day format).
What equipment do delegates need to bring?
Each operative should bring the locator and signal generator they use on site. Sygma provides Radiodetection CAT4 and Genny4 as backup equipment. Any manufacturer's locator is suitable, including Vivax-Metrotech vLoc, Leica DSX, and Radiodetection RD8200/RD8100. If sharing equipment, a minimum ratio of one locator per three delegates is recommended.
Can the course be tailored to our sites and risk profile?
Yes. Bespoke elements can include your company's permit-to-dig procedures, your strike history, your site-specific hazards, and your documentation. The QTS surface-laid cables programme is one example of how the course can be customised around a client's exact needs.
Is the course suitable for delegates with no previous locating experience?
Yes. The course is accessible to delegates at any level. For complete beginners, the two-day format is recommended to allow sufficient time on the practical site.
Can we combine this course with EUSR CAT2 Safe Dig?
Yes. Sygma offers combined formats that incorporate EUSR CAT1, CAT2 Safe Dig and the Sygma CAT and Genny course content in a single programme. Contact us to discuss combined booking options.
What qualifications do Sygma trainers hold?
All Sygma trainers are specialist utility location professionals with real-world field experience -- not generalist health and safety trainers running generic training courses. Many hold CICES membership, PAS128 field experience, and backgrounds managing large-scale infrastructure projects. You learn from people who have done the job.
Regulation
HSG47 Compliance
The course addresses all key elements of HSG47 health and safety guidance on preventing strikes on underground services. Every element of this safety training and our wider training courses maps back to a specific HSG47 requirement, with practical skills assessed on real underground services during the site-based session.
Competence
Trained and Competent Operatives
Formal safety assessment ensures operatives meet competence standards for cable avoidance work.
Process
Safe System of Work
Classroom and practical safety training covers systematic approach to underground service location.
Planning
Service Plan Checks
Reading, interpreting and cross-checking buried service drawings before work begins.
Equipment
Correct Use of Equipment
Training in all four locating modes (Power, Radio, Genny and Avoidance) with emphasis on correct operation and limitations.
Verification
Visual Inspection
Site visual checks for above-ground indicators of buried services before and during work.
Records
Evidenced Training Records
Written and practical assessment results provided for compliance documentation and audit.
Why Choose Sygma
Why Sygma for Genny & CAT Training
We go beyond qualification specifications. Our training courses are built on years of strike investigations, real-world field experience with civil engineers and utility contractors, and proven safety results for course attendees across UK infrastructure projects.
Content
Content That Exceeds Industry Standards
Whether you choose in-house, EUSR or ProQual, Sygma content goes above and beyond qualification specifications. This comprehensive approach is something you will only find in a Sygma course.
Methodology
Genny-First Methodology
70-80% increase in Genny usage among Sygma-trained operatives. Measured through locator data downloads.
People
Specialist Trainers
Directly employed. Ex-utility surveyors or ex-equipment manufacturer specialists. TAQA qualified.
Assessment
Real Practical Assessment
Structured on-site practical in real conditions. The goal is competent operatives, not just certificates.
Approach
Independent
No surveys, no equipment, no manufacturer relationships. Unbiased training.
Delivery
We Come to You
Delivered at your site. Travel included. No hidden extras.
Further Training
Related Courses
Sygma offers a range of cable avoidance training courses and utility location training programmes to suit different needs and regulatory requirements, from one-day courses for site operatives to multi-day qualifications for civil engineers and supervisors.
Qualification
EUSR CAT1
EUSR-registered qualification for operatives who need a formal card.
View Course →Assessment
ProQual CAT1
Accredited qualification with all four EML modes in the practical assessment.
View Course →Vivax-Metrotech
vScan & Tx Training
The Vivax-Metrotech vScan and transmitter equivalent of this course, using the same Sygma methodology.
View Course →See It In Action
The Genny First Approach on Site
Watch Pete Ashcroft walk through the Genny First methodology in practice, why the signal generator goes on before passive modes, how to apply it in different site conditions, and what the data shows about miss rates when it is left until last. This is the approach at the core of every Sygma CAT and Genny training course.
Read the full breakdown of the Genny First approach →Book Your CAT and Genny Training
Site-based training courses delivered nationwide, bespoke to your equipment, your plans and your risk profile. Practical skills built on real underground services. Contact us for a tailored quote.