CAT Training From Sygma Solutions

It is fair to say that, in the UK, most of the services that we need run underground in cables, pipes, and trenches. If they didn’t the landscape would be littered with ever more pylons and cables and pipes on the surface, so it is accepted that as far as possible they should be underground.

Underground, of course means out of sight, which is why we put them there in the first place. It also means that they cannot get damaged by vehicles running over them, storms, floods, and more.

All of which is, to use the old phrase, fine and dandy. Until it comes to the point when you need to repair or replace them, run pipework or cables along existing tracks, or something blows up and needs urgent attention.

Most people never think about any of this, of course, because as long as they switch the light on, and it comes on, that is all that they are interested in. Fair enough.

Finding The Right Cable Or Pipe Can Be A Serious Problem

However, if you are an operative working for any of the utility companies who has the perhaps unenviable job of digging down, finding the right cable or pipe, and then repairing or replacing it, then it becomes a serious problem. Not to put too fine a point on it, how do you find the cable or pipe that you need? How do you know exactly where it runs? The short answer is that you don’t, unless you happen to have accurate plans of where the service is laid.

Equally, how do you know that you are not going to hit and damage something else? You don’t. You may obtain plans from the other service providers in the area, but how do you know that they are accurate? You don’t.

The only answer is to carry out a thorough survey of the area before you even think about starting to dig. Fortunately, we have some very advanced tools that enable one to do this, in the form of the CAT and the Genny – abbreviations for Cable Avoidance Tool and Signal Generator.

Even then they have certain limitations, so you cannot just pop down to the shop and buy them. You need thorough CAT training in the use of them.

At Syma Solutions, we have over 100 years of combined experience in the use of these tools which is why we provide CAT training courses that teach operatives how to use them in all different circumstances, and – most importantly – the limitations that they have. If you don’t fully understand these, you could make a very unfortunate mistake.

Our HSG47 Training Teaches You Everything You Need To Know

One of the most important things when breaking ground anywhere is to avoid striking any one of the dozens of underground services that may be present on the site. As a minimum, striking an underground service is very likely to put it out of use, and so it will need to be repaired.

However, that is the minimum. The cost of repairing / replacing some underground services can run into many thousands of pounds. But even that is not the worst of it: while the service is out of action it can result in massive loss of income for some businesses, and there is the likelihood that they may well take legal action to recover their losses.

Even worse is that there can be danger to life. Striking an 11,000-volt cable can cause injury, and in some cases death. There is an average of around a dozen deaths of workers caused by such strikes every year.

So, it goes without saying that before even pushing a spade into the ground it is essential to carry out a survey of the site in order to establish exactly what sort of utilities are present, where they run, and how deep down they are, so that they can be avoided as digging commences.

HSG47

This is why the Health and Safety Executive has produced HSG47 (Health and Safety Guidance 47) that covers everything that you need to know. While it is aimed primarily at risks to health and safety, it will nonetheless help to protect services from strikes and all of the other issues that may result.

At Sygma Solutions we provide HSG47 training which will teach operatives how to follow the guidance in order to keep workers on site safe as well as protect underground services.

HSG47 guidance is divided into four chapters as follows:

• Identifying and managing the dangers
• Planning the work
• Detecting, identifying and marking underground services
• Safe excavation

Obviously, the first thing is to identify the services that are on the site and where they run. This is done using the various tools involved – chiefly the CAT (Cable Avoidance Tool) and Genny (Signal Generator). Only after carrying out this survey can the planning of the work begin.

It is also important to note that, while obtaining plans from the utilities in the area is a first step, they cannot be relied upon. Many are out of date and many more do not even exist!

There is obviously a lot more to cover, but our HSG47 training covers everything that you need to know when carrying out any sort of excavation.

Sygma Solutions’ CAT and Genny Training for Safer Operations

Giving your employees and contractors access to the proper equipment is a crucial component of ensuring the highest safety standards, along with utilising best practices. Prioritising safety will protect workers and site visitors from harm in addition to ensuring compliance.

Learn to Safely Use CAT and Genny Tools for Excavation Projects

CAT and Genny Training give workers the know-how to operate the Cable Avoidance Tool (CAT) and Signal Generator (Genny) properly. The basics of CAT and Genny are covered in this training program, along with detailed instructions on how to utilise these instruments to find and steer clear of subterranean utilities. Participants in this training acquire useful skills to avoid subterranean service hazards in accordance with HSG47.

Cable Avoidance Training for Safe Digging and Excavation Work

Who is the CAT and Genny course for?

The CAT and Genny training courses would be useful for anyone whose job involves the safe and proper use of cable avoidance equipment. For example, any workers or supervisors in the UK who are responsible for identifying subterranean equipment in buildings or repairing roads and highways.

Cable Avoidance Tips: Avoid Errors with Expert CAT & Genny Use

Underground utility finding necessitates a thorough understanding and use of CAT and Genny equipment. Despite their critical role in preventing hazardous incidents, inappropriate use or disregard for some standards can result in costly blunders. Here in our CAT course, we outline typical mistakes to avoid to ensure the highest accuracy and safety in your locating endeavours.

CAT Training: Safely Trace and Avoid Underground Utilities

CAT and Genny Training

Our CAT and Genny Training Course is designed to teach delegates the essential knowledge required to safely and correctly operate a Cable Avoidance Tool (CAT) and a Signal Generator (GENNY) when tracing underground services by HSG47’s guidance on Avoiding Danger from Underground Services.

How C.A.T. and Genny Training Protects Your Workforce

To guarantee efficiency and safety, navigating the intricacies of subterranean utilities requires not just talent but also the appropriate collection of avoidance instruments. The industry’s utility experts choose Radiodetection CAT and Genny as their go-to tools. The CAT (Cable Avoidance Tool) and Genny, two key pieces of radiodetection technology, enable extremely precise underground service detection and avoidance. Given how vital the CAT and Genny have become to operations, thorough training programs are necessary to fully realise their potential.

Stop Risking Your Safety! Get C.A.T. and Genny Training Today

In the power and energy industries, ensuring the safety of workers and infrastructure is crucial. For this reason, Radiodetection C.A.T. and Genny training courses are extremely important. The extensive CAT training courses offered are intended to guarantee operational proficiency with cable avoidance tools in addition to improving health. When it comes to utility location duties, the expertise provided by our training protects workers and underground utilities from any dangers.

Excavation Safety Made Simple: Essential CAT and Genny Training

This training is designed to teach individuals who operate near excavations how to securely identify utility services using known and authorised detection techniques. Participants will receive hands-on training and learn safe excavation methods to prevent service strikes and ensure safety in the workplace.