When undertaking any type of digging on a construction project, or for that matter any other project, one has always to remember that, in the UK, and pretty much everywhere else, all of the utility services that we need run underground. From one point of view that is great because it means that the landscape is not cluttered up with cables and pipes running all over the place because they are out of sight.

There is an old saying “out of sight, out of mind” and it is very true. But if you are undertaking an excavation of any sort, your mind needs to be very concentrated on what is out of sight, because it is all too easy to strike an underground service if you are not aware that it is present. Indeed, the Health and Safety Executive – HSE – produces a guide called HSG47 for those involved in any type of excavation and one of the first things that it says is “Underground services are widespread. Assume they are present unless you have been shown otherwise”.

Striking an underground service can at the very least cause delays to the project and incur considerable costs, but as HSG47 continues: “Damage to underground services can cause fatal or severe injury as well as significant disruption and environmental damage”.

A Thorough Survey Is Critical

This is why it is critical that, before undertaking any form of excavation, a thorough survey of the site is carried out using the appropriate tools. These are very sophisticated pieces of equipment, but even they have their shortcomings. If you do not know exactly what you are doing when using them, it is possible to be led to believe that there is no service present in the excavation area when, in fact, there is.

One very simple example, which we have used before, is that a service may be running deeper than the CAT can read, so it sends a negative signal. That may, and we emphasise may, be OK if you do not need to dig that far down, but then again, you may need to dig further, in which case you could be in serious trouble.

This is why all operatives who need to locate underground services must take a CAT course such as the one we run at Sygma Solutions. Our CAT course is the most comprehensive that you can find, as it covers everything, including those vitally important situations where it may be possible to pick up a negative reading when there is actually a service present. We teach operatives how to avoid making such errors.

Courses Availability

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

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: 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 September 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

12th – 16th August 2024 Limited Availability

14th – 18th October 2024

25th – 29th November 2024

16th – 20th December 2024

Level 3 Utility Mapping and Surveying Public Course

12th – 13th August Limited Availability

14th – 15th October 2024

25th – 26th November 2024

16th – 17th December 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

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