Utility Avoidance
Cable Avoidance Training: The Course That Changes How Your Team Works on Site
Not just CAT and Genny equipment operation. The scientific understanding and field-verified habits that eliminate service strikes.
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
No prior experience with CAT and Genny equipment needed.
Site Operatives and Groundworkers
Anyone who needs to locate buried services before excavation.
Supervisors Wanting Awareness
Those who need to understand the equipment their teams are using.
Organisations Introducing Genny-First
Companies transitioning to full cable avoidance training use across their workforce, embedding the Genny-First approach.
Format
Choice of in-house certified or accredited
Duration
1-day or 2-day options
Max Delegates
8
Assessment
Written 70% + practical
Delivery
At your site, nationwide
Why This Course Exists
The Problem with Standard Cable Avoidance Training
Most standard cable avoidance training courses teach operatives to press the on button and walk over the area. They know what the beep means. They do not know why the signal behaves the way it does in different soil conditions, what happens to accuracy near a joint, or why their passive Power mode reading is not telling them what they think it is.
The Sygma cable avoidance 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 cable avoidance course was designed after years of post-strike investigations, in which Sygma trainers repeatedly found the same pattern: operatives who were technically trained, certificated and equipped but who had never been taught to start a survey with the Genny, to null out nearby services, or to distrust a signal that seems clear. We address the confirmation biases and pressure shortcuts that cause strikes. We build a Genny-First mindset that becomes automatic. And we prove everything on site, in your operatives' own working environment.
The result is a cable avoidance training course with a proven track record of reducing service strikes for organisations across the UK construction, utilities and infrastructure sectors.
Course at a Glance
Why We Say It Differently
Genny & CAT, Not CAT & Genny
The industry calls it "CAT and Genny training" or "cable avoidance 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 cable avoidance 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.
Course Content
Cable Avoidance Training: On Your Ground
Classroom: Theory
The full technical and regulatory context
- ›Reasons for cable avoidance: HSG47 and the legal, financial and human consequences of service strikes
- ›Legislation and guidance: HSG47, relevant national legislation, client and designer responsibilities
- ›Overview of utility networks: 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 works, limitations, and myth-busting
- ›Controls and operation: correct use of locator and signal generator in all four modes (Power, Radio, Genny and Avoidance)
- ›Signal interpretation: locating joints, changes of direction and depth
- ›Signal distortion and its effects on location accuracy
- ›Transmitter applications: dual frequency, capacitance technique, earth positioning, blind induction sweeps and nulling out
- ›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
Site-Based: Practical
Every principle proved on real buried utilities
The practical session takes delegates outside onto a real site to prove every principle taught in the classroom. Sygma uses your own site wherever possible, which means operatives are training on the same ground and the same utility types they will encounter daily.
- ›Reading and using service plans to plan the survey before any equipment is switched on
- ›Site visual checks: identifying above-ground indicators of buried services
- ›Using the Genny to apply a signal via direct connection, capacitance and induction
- ›Training in all four modes with strong emphasis on leading with the Genny at every stage
- ›Locating problem services: street lighting, LV services, small comms cables
- ›Locating joints, T-connections and changes of direction
- ›Effect of Genny earth positioning: operatives learn why moving the earth changes the locate
- ›Blind induction sweeps and nulling out nearby services
- ›Full utility survey methodology: starting from plans and working systematically across the site
- ›Individual practical assessment: each operative assessed against a documented standard
What You Get
At the End of This Course
Certificate of Attendance
Confirmation of completion of Sygma cable avoidance training
Practical Skills Record
Detailed record of all hands-on exercises completed during the course
Equipment Confidence
Practical experience with Genny signal generator and CAT locator in real conditions
Pathway Guidance
Personalised advice on which qualification pathway to progress to next
Formats Available
Cable Avoidance Course Formats
| Format | Duration | Max Delegates | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-day in-house (certified) | 1 day | 8 | Written + practical |
| One-day EUS 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 to be identified and corrected.
All cable avoidance 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.
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.
NPORS vs EUSR Qualification Routes
How the two main accreditation schemes compare for cable avoidance training.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What equipment do our operatives need to bring?
Each operative should bring the locator and signal generator they use on site. Sygma provide Radiodetection CAT4 and Genny4 as backup equipment to run a standard course if delegates do not have their own. 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 cable avoidance course be tailored to our specific sites and risk profile?
Yes. Bespoke elements can include your company's specific permit to dig, your strike history and lessons learned, your site-specific hazards and your documentation. The QTS surface laid cables programme is an example of how the course can be customised around a client's exact needs.
What is the difference between cable avoidance training and EUS CAT1?
The EUS CAT1 is an EUSR-registered qualification with fixed assessment criteria. The cable avoidance course is a bespoke in-house training programme with no fixed awarding body, giving Sygma greater flexibility to cover advanced topics and tailor content to your organisation. Many clients use the cable avoidance course for bulk refresher training and the EUS CAT1 for formal qualification.
Is the course suitable for delegates with no previous locating experience?
Yes. The course is designed to be accessible to delegates at any level. For delegates who are completely new to utility locating, the two-day format is recommended to allow sufficient time on the practical site.
Can we combine this course with EUS CAT1 or CAT2?
Yes. Sygma offers combined course formats that incorporate EUS CAT1, CAT2 Safe Dig and cable avoidance training content in a single programme. Contact us to discuss combined booking options.
What qualifications do the Sygma trainers hold?
All Sygma trainers are specialist utility location professionals with real-world field experience. They are not generalist H&S trainers. Many hold CICES membership, PAS128 field experience and backgrounds in managing large-scale infrastructure projects. You are learning from people who have done the job.
Regulation
HSG47 Compliance
The cable avoidance course addresses all key elements of HSG47 guidance on preventing strikes on underground services.
Competence
Trained and Competent Operatives
Formal assessment ensures operatives meet competence standards for cable avoidance work.
Process
Safe System of Work
Classroom and practical training covers systematic approach to 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 Cable Avoidance Training
We go beyond qualification specifications. Our methodology is built on years of strike investigations, real-world field experience and proven results.
Content
Content That Exceeds Industry Standards
Whether you choose in-house, EUS 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 utility avoidance and cable location training programmes to suit different needs and regulatory requirements.
Qualification
EUS 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 cable avoidance training course.
Read the full breakdown of the Genny First approach →Book Your Cable Avoidance Training
Site-based delivery available nationwide, bespoke to your equipment, your plans and your risk profile. Contact us for a tailored quote.