Depending upon whose figures you believe, the UK has at least 1.5 million kilometres of underground services – gas, electricity, water, telecoms, sewage, and several others – although other figures put it at as much as 2.5 million kilometres.
Either way, that is a lot of underground services, and they can be just about anywhere, including places where you might not expect them to be. If you are in a town centre, then you know full well that they will be all over the place, but you might not think that you would find them in a field or a dead-end lane out in the country. However, they can still be there. As the advice in HSG47, the guide to underground services from the HSE, says “assume they are present unless you have been shown otherwise”.
However many kilometres of underground services there actually are, what is known is that there are approximately 4 million excavation projects that take place in the UK every year, and these result in some 60,000 cable strikes. That may seem a relatively small percentage as it is only 1.5%.
However, it is 60,000 cable strikes too many. A lot of these “only” damage the service that has been hit, but that can run into huge costs. It has been estimated that for every £1,000 needed for repairs to a damaged underground service, the true cost is £29,000 because of things such as collateral damage to businesses as a result of loss of income and so on. Let’s face it: if broadband goes down, most businesses today come to a grinding halt because they cannot operate without it.
But the cost of repairs and collateral damage is only one side of the equation. There is also the fact of injuries to workers, which are often severe, and in some cases prove fatal. There are about a dozen fatalities every year from underground cable strikes.
There are also other issues. Not the least of these is that the work on the contract has to stop until the utility concerned has come out and been able to execute the repairs. There can also be considerable reputational damage to the contractor involved which may result in loss of future work. In addition, there may be fines for such damage.
It all paints a very dismal picture, and this is why it is essential to take every possible precaution before beginning any digging. Yet figures for 2017 show that of the 4 million excavations that year, 44% were carried out without a thorough search for pipes and cables beforehand! (https://www.shponline.co.uk/construction/workers-at-risk-from-strikes-to-the-uks-utility-infrastructure/). That is pretty shocking.
This is why it is essential to undertake the cable location training that we provide at Sygma Solutions. Our cable location training courses teach operatives the reasoning behind the use of buried pipe and cable locators, the health and safety implications, magnetic theory, and so on. This is followed up with work on site using the CAT and Genny when operatives can put into practice what they have learned in the classroom, all of which is in accordance with the guidance outlined in HSG47.
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