Unintentionally striking underground services when carrying out any form of excavation work can cause life-changing injuries to construction workers and are sometimes fatal. It is calculated that there are some 4 million contracts involving excavation in the UK every year, and figures show that in 2017 only 2.25 million of these involved a thorough search for underground pipes and cables before the work began. That means that 44% of those excavations took place without any attempt to determine if there were buried assets where digging took place!
In fact, we also know that each year there are some 60,000 cable strikes caused by excavation. With the tools that we have available today for the location and identification of underground services, this is simply not acceptable.
Carrying out digging is necessary for almost all construction projects and, of course, it is essential for utility workers and contractors to dig down in order to service or repair buried assets. In a lot of cases, it may be necessary to replace existing services with upgrades. Any sort of work constructing a building, or other work such as installing an underground heat pump, for instance, also requires digging. In fact, there are very few projects which do not require digging!
Part of the problem is that underground services can be found absolutely anywhere. Certainly, there are places that underground services will be obvious. In a residential estate there are electricity cables, telecoms, sewage pipes, water pipes, fibreoptics, and so on, and there may also be gas. In the High Street the same applies. Out in the countryside, you might be forgiven for thinking that there is nothing there if you cannot see any buildings, such as cottages or a farmhouse, but that doesn’t mean that services are not there. For instance, there could be a country house hidden away down a half-mile long driveway.
This is why it is vital that every project involving excavation – which is most of them – is preceded by a thorough search for buried services using the tools that we have today known as the CAT and Genny – Cable Avoidance Tool and Signal Generator. Used in combination, the CAT and Genny can locate and identify most hidden services, although there are certain limitations.
However, as with many things, you cannot just buy one of each and take them out of the box and read the instructions! It is necessary to undertake utility location training in the use of the CAT and Genny so that you fully understand how to use them in all their modes, and how to approach different situations.
At Sygma Solutions we provide utility location training in the use of these tools, and also things to be aware of. For instance, you can have a situation where the tools produce a negative result, which may give the impression there is nothing present. However certain ground conditions may make for confusion. Or there could be a utility located just below the depth at which the tools can read. This is why a full training course is essential for operatives who need to locate and identify underground services.
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