Learn The Basics Of CAT And Genny Training Online

Every operative who is required to undertake site surveying for the purpose of locating and identifying underground services needs thorough training in the use of the CAT and Genny. These are clever tools, especially when used in combination, but you need to know and understand how to use them in their various modes, and most importantly, understand that they do have certain limitations, and what those limitations are.

CAT And Genny Training Is Essential For Operatives Who Need To Do Underground Surveys

Unintentionally striking underground services when carrying out any form of excavation work can cause life-changing injuries to construction workers and are sometimes fatal. It is calculated that there are some 4 million contracts involving excavation in the UK every year, and figures show that in 2017 only 2.25 million of these involved a thorough search for underground pipes and cables before the work began. That means that 44% of those excavations took place without any attempt to determine if there were buried assets where digging took place!

CAT And Genny Training: The Basics

Any sort of construction project which involves digging – which is the vast majority of construction projects – requires a considerable amount of planning before commencing work. Let’s face it, when you are constructing a building, the first thing that you need to do is to create the foundations. Certainly, some projects are concerned with restoring a building or changing it around for a new purpose, but any new build project is going to involve digging as the first stage of the work.

If You Need To Locate Underground Services, You Need An Approved Course

If you work in the construction industry and your job includes locating and identifying underground services on a site where excavation is due to take place, it is vital to undertake a CAT and Genny course such as those that we provide at Sygma Solutions.  

You cannot just take the CAT and Genny out of the box and read the instructions because there is far more to it than that. It would be just too easy to make mistakes without the proper training. For example, and we have said this before, but it is worth repeating, you might use the CAT and Genny and decide that there is nothing in the site where you are going to dig. So, you start digging away and suddenly hit a cable or gas pipe for instance.

Striking Underground Services Can Sometimes Be Fatal

Unintentionally striking underground assets while digging, such as electricity cables, gas pipes, water pipes, and so on, can result in life-changing injuries to construction workers involved. The problem is that underground services can be absolutely anywhere, even in places that one would think unlikely. Certainly, if you are in a residential area or the high street, then it is obvious that there will be electricity cables, water pipes, sewage pipes, telecoms, and maybe gas pipes, and more, but they can also be present in out of the way places in the countryside.

Utility Records Are Useful When Preparing To Dig, But Must Only Be Used As A Guide

Accidentally striking an underground service when carrying out any form of excavation work can have a huge impact on both the workers doing the digging and the owner of the utility. It is estimated that there are around 4 million excavations of one sort or another carried out every year in Britain, and they result in some 60,000 strikes of cables, gas pipes, telecoms, and so on.

Is There a Way to Reduce Cable Strikes?

Most professionals are of the belief that preparation is the best way to avoid cable strikes and the injuries that occur when this happens. While having appropriate protective gear is recommended, to limit the damage of explosions and electrocutions, this isn’t enough.

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How to Choose the Right Cable Avoidance Tool

If you’re working with underground utilities, you need experienced operatives and the right tools for the job. However, there’s a huge range of cable avoidance tools on the market today making it hard to choose, with technology has evolved considerably over the years and different brands offering varying features and levels of quality.

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What Does Being a Utility Surveyor Involve

There are all types of job roles in this world. Some, like doctors, policemen or teachers, come with universal recognition of their importance. Others, like utility surveyors, are less known but still incredibly important for society.

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What You Need To Do Before Undertaking Any Excavation Work

When undertaking any sort of excavation work anywhere in the UK, and for whatever reason, it is essential to carry out thorough planning beforehand by obtaining plans from utilities and other service suppliers. It is also essential to understand that not all plans are accurate, up to date, or in some cases even available.

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