One of the most dangerous things that any construction worker can do is to dig down into the ground without there first having been a complete and thorough survey of the area by a competent surveyor using the very latest technology.
The simple fact is that – wherever you live – there is any number of services that supply your home, your office, your local high street, and in fact any building that requires electricity, water, sewage pipes, and more. Certainly, there may be a few barns out in the country that contains cows or pigs and doesn’t require those facilities, but most of us do.
In a nutshell, what that means is that underground cables, water pipes, gas pipes, sewage pipes, telecoms, and more, can be – and indeed are likely to be – almost anywhere.
All of which means that, if you work for a contractor as a groundworker, you need to be confident that the area where you are going to dig is free from underground services. Or more than likely, if it isn’t, you know exactly where they run and that you won’t actually strike them when you commence operations because they are six feet over to the left, or whatever it happens to be.
Except that, unfortunately, that isn’t how it always works out in practice. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be an estimated 60,000 cable strikes a year! Not all of them are actually electricity cables, although a lot are, but “cable strikes” is an overall term for striking any sort of underground services. Some may be less dangerous than others, such as telecoms cables, but electricity, gas, sewer pipes, and water pipes can all be deadly.
Yes, even striking a water main under pressure can result in stones being hurled out of the ground at speed, and that can cause serious injury and, of course, flooding. Electricity and gas can cause instant explosions and death, and on occasion do, while nobody wants to be working in a ditch when the man operating the digger next to you hits a sewer pipe.
This is why it is essential for all contractors who are going to undertake any sort of excavation have surveyors, who are skilled at locating and identifying underground services, carry out a survey of the area before any work is begun.
All surveyors should undertake a CAT course in the use of the two main tools used for location and identification of underground services – the Cable Avoidance Tool (CAT) and signal generator (Genny).
Sygma Solutions is the leading provider of CAT courses in the UK and is recognised by industry organisations such as the EUSR, CSCS, and The Survey Association.
If the course you are looking for has no dates or you would like a course built for your company please contact
enquiries@sygma-solutions.com for current availability and booking form
Open Days
Please contact us about open days
PAS128 Utility Mapping Training Modules mapped to CICES competencies
– 2 days
Module 1 – Pas 128 Level D &C training to include level 3 assessment – CICES GEUS01 A-D
– 3 Days
Module 2 – PAS128 Level B Training – can include Level 4 assessment – CICES GUES01 E-I
Please contact enquires@sygma-solutions.com for future dates and a booking form
2 Day Advanced EM Course (RD8100/8200 & VIVAX)
In depth course covering electromagnetic locators, theory and intensive practical on our real world training site.
Cost: £295 per person
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
30th – 31st May 2024
23rd – 24th July 2024
5th – 6th September 2024
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
Please contact us for future dates and a booking form
1 Day Mala GPR Module 1 – Theory & Practical
Cost: FOC
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
Dates: Contact Us
Please contact us for future dates and a booking form
1 Day Mala GPR Module 2 – Post processing
Cost: FOC
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
Dates: Contact Us
Please contact us for future dates and a booking form
2 Day GPR – All Manufacturers
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
Dates: Contact Us
Please contact us for future dates and a booking form
5 Day TSA & ICES Approved 5 Day Utility Mapping Course
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
Dates: Contact Us
Location: Worcester
Dates: Contact Us
Please contact us for future dates and a booking form
1 Day Public Genny & CAT Course – Can include ProQual Level 2 Qualification as an option
Cost: £175 plus VAT
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
Dates:
Please contact us for future dates and a booking form
Level 3 Utility Mapping Qualification – All Online
Cost: £275 PLUS REG FEE
Location: Online
Dates: To suit
Level 5 Diploma Utility Mapping Qualification – Online Workbooks – followed by assessment
Cost £1100 PLUS REG FEE
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre or your site
Dates: To suit
Open level 5 assessment dates at Sygma Solutions, Wigan
Level 5 Diploma Utility Mapping Qualification – in 5 days
Cost – contact us
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
Dates:
3rd – 7th June 2024
1st – 5th July 2024
Sygma PAS 128 Utility Surveyor Training Including Proqual Level 3 Utility Mapping and Surveying
Please contact us for future dates and a booking form
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
15th – 19th April 2024 Limited spaces available
20th – 24th May 2024
10th – 14th June 2024
8th – 12th July 2024
Level 3 Utility Mapping and Surveying Public Course
24th – 25th June 2024
1st – 2nd July 2024
24th – 25th September 2024
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
GPS Course & Total Station Introduction
This is a 2 day dedicated GPS course with an introduction to Total Station
Please contact us for future dates and a booking form
Please contact enquires@sygma-solutions.com for future dates and a booking form
Please contact:
enquiries@sygma-solutions.com for current availability and booking form