One of the biggest dangers facing utility workers when working below ground is the ever-present chance of making accidental contact with gas pipes, electricity cables, water pipes, telephone cables, and more. Without the right preparations, these utility strikes, also known as cable strikes, can occur far too often, frequently causing severe injury and on occasion fatalities.

Indeed, depending upon whose figures you believe, there are thought to be between 2.5 million and 4 million excavations taking place in the UK each year, and they result in around 60,000 cable strikes. Unfortunately, there is no mandatory reporting structure in place, so the figures are only estimates.

The Utility Strike Avoidance Group (USAG) consists of over 200 asset owners, contractors, and industry groups, and is making determined efforts to improve the data reported on cable strikes by copying a system that is used in the US, Canada, and Australia. It has already established that the summer months – and in particular July – are the highest period of risk and the most common places where strikes occur are carriageways and footpaths. Of course, underground services can be anywhere but very many do run under our roads and pavements.

USAG’s objective is to analyse available data on cable strikes to ascertain what happened, where, how, and why. This will help them to understand current performance and flag up issues, with the ultimate aim of being able to reduce the number of strikes to a minimum.

Between 2012 and 2017, the HSE received notification of 6,746 accidents involving pipelines and the escape of flammable substances, and 318 reports of injuries, including fatalities, as a result of striking electricity cables. And that was only the tip of the iceberg, as there is no legal requirement to report most cable strikes. While most companies will have in-house reporting systems there is no single central reporting system and they can vary widely. This means that collecting data is extremely difficult. It is also likely that some contractors are being very coy about cable strikes that they have caused because of the damage to their reputation and possible fines and costs that can run into a considerable amount of money.

All of the foregoing shows reasons why it is essential to undertake a thorough survey of the area that is to be worked on before commencing any digging at all. The HSE states that the three basic elements of a safe working system are planning the work, locating and identifying buried services, and safe excavation.

When it comes to undertaking a survey to locate and identify underground services, the two major tools are the CAT (Cable Avoidance Tool) and Genny (signal generator). However, it is no good simply purchasing one of each and reading the instructions, and then carrying out surveys.

There is a lot more to know how to carry out a survey safely and as accurately as possible, as even the CAT and Genny are not infallible. They do have certain limitations, and it is vital to understand these limitations because otherwise, it is possible to make a serious mistake. This is why it is essential for anyone involved in locating underground services to undertake one of the CAT training courses that we provide at Sygma Solutions. Our trainers have over 100 years of combined experience in the use of the CAT and Genny which is invaluable for new or less experienced surveyors.

Our courses range from a one-day training course through to a five-day Utility Surveyor Course which includes Cable Avoidance Training with PAS256 and level 3 qualification in utility mapping, enabling a CSCS card, and which is approved by The Survey Association (TSA). Our courses are also approved by the CITB and the EUSR.

We firmly believe that every survey should use the Genny because while the CAT on its’ own will be able to locate some services, it can by no means locate them all. Our courses cover the use of equipment made by all the major manufacturers including the Radiodetection CAT4 and Genny 4, RD8100, Vivax Vscan and Vloc, and C Scope locators. The courses begin with work in the classroom and are followed with practical work on site. This can be at our premises in St Helens, or at any site of your choice.