The vast majority of the population of the UK, or for that matter anywhere else, never give a thought to how their water arrives at the tap, their electricity is able to turn the lights on whenever they press a switch, or what happens when they flush the toilet. These things are just “there” as far as most people are concerned.
And it is true. They are there. But what is important is how they get there. This is through underground pipes and cables, which for most people are “out of sight, out of mind”.
However, if you work in the construction industry you need to be very aware of these things. All 1.5 million km of them. Because if you should hit an electricity cable or a gas pipe, for instance, when you begin any sort of excavation work, it can result in serious injury and can sometimes be fatal. In fact, there are approximately a dozen fatalities every year, but a considerable amount more of serious, and often life-changing, injuries. This is why it is absolutely critical to undertake a thorough and intensive survey of any piece of land where you are about to dig before ever starting the work.
Yet the astonishing thing is that although there are estimated to be around 4 million excavations taking place in the UK each year, in 2017, only 2.25 million of these involved a thorough search for underground pipes and cables before work commenced. That is 44% of excavations that took place without a detailed look at what might be on the site!
The problem is that underground services can be absolutely anywhere. OK, there are obvious places such as the high street, residential areas, or industrial estates, but they can also be out in the countryside running under a field full of barley or wheat or grazing cattle. You might not expect to find them there, but then again, they could be. This is why undertaking a thorough search using all possible means is essential before commencing work.
Now, obviously the first thing to do is to contact local utility companies to check their records, but these can be inaccurate, and in many cases hopelessly out of date. You cannot possibly rely upon them, although they can be used as a guide.
Undertaking a survey on site is the ultimate answer, and it requires a certain amount of skill and knowledge. Using the CAT and Genny in combination can locate and identify most underground services, but unfortunately, they have their limits, and this means that in order to take a survey you need to know and understand what those limits may be.
This is why we provide utility surveyor training courses at Sygma Solutions. Our utility surveyor training courses are approved by The Survey Association and the CITB. They go into great detail about the use of the CAT and Genny and also place emphasis on their limitations, so that at the end of the course a surveyor will have the confidence to carry out a survey in order to keep on-site workers safe from harm.
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