Expert Q&A: Get Your CAT & Genny Questions Answered

At Sygma Solutions Ltd., we understand that CAT & Genny form the backbone of locating buried utilities in a safe manner. This is a lifesaving tool for construction and utility workers, ensuring that probably the most expensive and potentially dangerous damage to cables and/or pipes is prevented. This begs the question of how such tools are best used. In this Q&A blog, we take on some of the most frequently asked questions regarding mastering CAT & Genny.

Troubleshooting Common Issues With Cat Tools

Cable avoidance tools or CAT tools are an integral part of safe excavation practices, preventing accidental damage to the complex network of utilities hidden underground. Unfortunately, even the most sophisticated tools are not perfect and they may encounter glitches. During Sygma Solutions Ltd.’s CAT training, we not only teach the use of cable avoidance tools but also familiarise you with its limitations.

Why the CAT Course is Essential for Your Worksite

Every digging or excavation project, from planting a new office garden to laying down fibre optic cables, carries a hidden danger – buried utilities. Strikes on these underground lines – gas pipes, electrical cables, and communication lines – can have devastating consequences. This is where the CAT course comes to the rescue. It has emerged as a critical safety measure for any worksite involving digging.

Cutting the Cord: A Beginner’s Guide to Cable Avoidance

Before digging or excavating, you must understand the importance of cable avoidance training. Hidden beneath the surface lies a complicated network of underground utilities – gas pipes, electrical lines, and communication cables. If you strike even one of these lines, it can be extremely dangerous, expensive, and disruptive. It is critical to know the dangers of cable strikes and the use of  CAT & Genny tools so that you can stay safe.

Master Cable Avoidance with Sygma’s CAT & Genny Course

While some cable avoidance courses focus primarily on passive location methods, at Sygma we believe the genny should be the starting point for every single survey. By introducing a specific signal onto a targeted utility, the genny allows for accurate tracing and mapping in a way passive techniques cannot match.

Digging Safely Starts with the Right Utility Mapping Training

The consequences of a utility strike are so severe that it’s critical for anyone working around buried lines to have proper utility mapping courses and cable avoidance techniques. When it comes to this type of training, few providers can match the expertise and depth of knowledge offered by Sygma Solutions Ltd.

Detect and Protect: How Cat and Genny Training Enhances Site Safety

Working on an excavation or construction site comes with inherent risks, especially when dealing with powerful generators and underground utilities. These dangers can be mitigated with CAT and Genny training from Sygma Solutions Ltd. CAT stands for cable avoidance tool, and Genne is a signal generator. Gaining knowledge about CAT and Genny is essential because of the following reasons:

What is the Role of Cat Training in Preventing Cable Strikes?

When underground utilities are accidentally disturbed or damaged during excavation or construction, cable strikes are the resultant threat. According to the ENA, 354 workers suffered life-changing injuries due to cable strikes between 2015 and 2020. The report also stated that construction workers are at the most risk of damaging cables because nearly a third fail to conduct proper checks before starting a project. Moreover, the report highlights that there are an estimated 4.7 million excavations in the UK each year, with 60,000 resulting in utility strikes.

Staying Safe On-Site: Why Cat And Genny Training is Crucial

Outdoor work zones and construction sites are hives of activities, but if you are not careful, the dangers lurking beneath the surface can wreak havoc. We are talking about none other than the underground utilities and generators. Although they are essential tools, they pose serious threats if mishandled. This is where Sygma Solutions Ltd.’s CAT and Genny training comes in handy. Our comprehensive training course equips workers with the skills and knowledge required to overcome such hazards.

I Didn’t Know That You Could Train A CAT!

At Sygma Solutions we sometimes find ourselves asked what it is that we do for a living – perhaps by new friends, people we meet at a party, and so on – and when we reply that we provide CAT and Genny training, we can get some very strange looks!

“What the heck is that?” is often the response, and on one occasion a wag said that he didn’t know that you could train cats! (If you have ever kept a cat, you will know that it is true: cats do what they want).