The Health and Safety Executive produces a guidance book known as HSG47 which is aimed at people involved in commissioning, planning, managing and carrying out work on or near underground services. The purpose of the guidance is primarily concerned with health and safety of those engaged directly in any type of excavation work rather than being concerned with damage to any underground services.
However, it notes that taking precautions with health and safety will also help to reduce the risk of damage to such services, which can be extremely expensive to repair in some instances and can also have collateral damage to businesses who lose the use of services.
Depending upon whose figures you believe, there are anywhere between 1.5 million kilometres and 2.5 million kilometres of underground services in the UK. They are bound to be in obvious places such as your local high street, an industrial estate, residential areas, and more, but they can also be in places where you might not expect to find them.
What is known is that underground service strikes, or cable strikes as they are often called, run at a rate of around 60,000 a year, and they can cause serious injury to workers, and on occasion are fatal. Therefore, it is in everyone’s interest to do everything possible to locate and identify underground services before commencing any digging, whether by hand or using a digger.
The two main tools used for the location and identification of underground services are the CAT (Cable Avoidance Tool) and Genny (Signal Generator). Used in combination these can find and identify a large number of underground services. However, it is not just a question of taking them out of the box and reading the instructions. If you are going to search for underground services, you have to know how to use the CAT and Genny in all their different modes.
Furthermore, you have to understand that, clever as they are, these tools do have certain limitations, and that means that if you are not aware of them you can get a false reading which makes you believe there is nothing in the ground where you need to dig, when actually there is.
This is why you need to undergo a training course such as the ones that we provide at Sygma Solutions so that you fully understand how to use the CAT and Genny and are aware of situations when you may get a false reading. Our training courses, such as our PAS128 Utility Surveyor Training course will teach you everything you need to know. There is an exam at the end of the course which requires a pass mark of a minimum of 70% whereupon you will have a qualification in cable avoidance.
These courses can be held at our premises in Wigan, or at a site of your own choosing. The classroom parts of the course can also be covered online with a live and interactive session that allows delegates to ask questions and get answers. The system can be accessed by any web browser.
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
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