Cable strikes are amongst the most significant health and safety risks for engineers in the utility sector. An estimated 60,000 underground cable strikes occur every year, and many of these lead to severe injury or death, as well as costing businesses millions in associated damages and compensations. Sygma Solution works with Utility Engineers to avoid these situations.
Cable Strikes occur when a high voltage cable is struck during excavation due to insufficient prior site examination. This can happen with a digger or a spade and presents a real risk of electrocution that can prove to be fatal.
Cable Strikes can also lead to utility outages for connected areas. Cut telephone or electric cables can interrupt internet access, or neighbouring people could be left in the dark on a winter afternoon. This can bring down a hail of trouble for the company – and it is in everyone’s best interest to ensure cable strikes don’t happen.
The problem is rooted in insufficient training measures to educate the engineer’s behaviours. Many company workers still operate on a ‘that’s how we’ve always done it’ ethos. While others fail to survey and instead take other’s words for it that there aren’t any cables present.
Instead of simply assessing knowledge, training companies should determine how knowledge is used on the job. Utility Companies should take appropriate measures to mitigate risk and ensure the safety of all workers and be confident that they know how to act correctly at work.
Proper prior planning of any excavation work can reduce the risk of cable strikes significantly. This involves looking at up-to-date diagrams showing the location of any underground cables before choosing the safest place to dig.
Employers should also provide their staff with training such as that provided by Sygma Solutions, which allows them to correctly assess any given situation and scan for cables underground. This training should involve thorough cat and genny as well as cable avoidance training. Employees need to be aware of the limitations of tools, such as their failure to recognize cables at a certain depth.
Appropriate knowledge is crucial to performing an adequate site survey and draw up excavation plans.
Sygma Solutions provides optimized training and buried utility location courses, including Genny training, to boost confidence and teach the skills to conduct an outstanding site survey.
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
Please contact us for future dates and a booking form
1 Day Mala GPR Module 1 – Theory & Practical
Cost: Contact us for price (2 spaces F.O.C. with Mala GPR Purchase)
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: Contact us for price (2 spaces F.O.C. with Mala GPR Purchase)
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
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
2nd – 6th June 2025 Limited Availability
28th July – 1st August 2025 Limited Availability
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
28th April – 2nd May 2025 Limited Availability
12th – 16th May 2025 Limited Availability
14th – 18th July 2025 Limited Availability
11th – 15th August 2025
8th – 12th September 2025
29th September – 3rd October 2025
27th – 31st October 2025
24th – 28th November 2025
8th – 12th December 2025
Level 3 Utility Mapping and Surveying Public Course
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
28th – 29th April 2025 Limited Availability
12th – 13th May 2025 Limited Availability
14th – 15th July 2025 Limited Availability
11th – 12th August 2025
8th – 9th September 2025
29th – 20th September 2025
27th – 28th October 2025
24th – 25th November 2025
8th – 9th December 2025
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 for any course