HSG47 is the guide issued by the Health and Safety Executive for people who have to plan, manage, or carry out work on or near underground services. This applies to people who work for water supply companies, gas supply, telecoms, electricity, and others, and, of course, construction companies who are working on a project of a new building or buildings because the very first task is to dig down into the earth in order to build the foundations.
There are any number of issues, because underground services can be absolutely anywhere. Nobody knows for sure, but it is estimated that there are some 2.5 million kilometres of underground services in the UK, and about 4 million contracts each year require digging and excavation of some sort.
HSG47 explains the three basic elements of working safely when excavating, and these are planning the work, locating and identifying buried services so that you avoid striking them, and excavating safely.
There can be serious dangers when carrying out excavation work and, indeed, on occasion there are fatalities. The HSE guide deals primarily with risks to health and safety as opposed to damage to services, although avoiding risks to safety also reduces the risk of damage.
Striking underground services can have a number of consequences, all of them unwanted. At the very least, striking, say, telecoms and broadband will mean that businesses come to a halt. The same thing applies to electricity cables. In both instances users will be delayed in whatever they are doing until the utility can come out and repair the damage.
Damaging a gas pipe can cause fire and explosion resulting in serious injuries to workers on the site. Damaging a water pipe can result in flooding and, if the water is under pressure, it can hurl stones and other debris out of the ground.
There can also be damage to the reputation of a contractor and there may be fines and heavy other costs associated with the loss of services. As an absolute minimum, when a service is put out of action the contractor has workers standing around idle until repairs are made.
Obviously, it is essential to obtain whatever plans are available from the local utilities, but as we have said elsewhere, they can only be used as a guide. There can be all sorts of errors such as, for example, a utility laying a new service beside, above, or below the existing one, and the plans, or STATS, not being updated.
So, it is critical to undertake a survey out on site using the CAT and Genny to locate and identify any buried services. Surveyors who need to undertake this work will need CAT training such as we provide on our courses at Sygma Solutions.
Our CAT training courses involve class work where attendees will learn the basics of locating underground services. This can now also be carried out online using a system where operatives can ask questions and get answers from the instructor.
Classroom training is then followed by practical work on site so that operatives fully understand how to use the CAT and Genny in all of their modes.
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
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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
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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
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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