On-Site Competency Assessment
OSCA
A 3-year training certificate tells you nothing about what your operative can do in month 18. OSCA does.
The Compliance Gap
The Gap Your Certificate Cannot Fill
Most utility location operatives hold a 3-year EUSR card or ProQual certificate. It confirms they passed a course. It does not confirm they are operating correctly on site today.
The gap between certification dates is where competency erodes. Equipment changes. Habits develop. Pressure builds. And nobody checks.
When a utility strike happens, the certificate on the wall does not protect you. The question asked is: what did you do to verify competency was maintained?
OSCA closes that gap. It gives you verifiable, time-stamped, criteria-mapped evidence of what each operative can do on your site, in your environment, with your equipment.
3 to 5 years
between formal refresher courses. That is the window OSCA is designed to fill.
Already in use
OSCA is already changing how Tier 1 contractors manage competency between training cycles.
What It Is
What Is OSCA?
OSCA is Sygma's digital on-site competency assessment tool for utility location and avoidance, and safe digging. It is conducted by Sygma's qualified assessors and industry experts at your workplace, during normal operations.
Unlike classroom refreshers or end-of-course sign-offs, OSCA assesses what operatives actually do. On your site. On your equipment. In real conditions. Each assessment is conducted to a structured criteria set mapped to current industry standards, with the option to add client-specific or site-specific elements.
The OSCA report is generated digitally during the assessment and delivered to you immediately. It includes photographic and video evidence, GPS location data, time and date stamps and a full criteria map showing what was assessed and the outcome.
Assessment Scope
What OSCA Assesses
The OSCA covers ten structured assessment elements, all mapped to current industry standards for utility location and avoidance. Each element is assessed systematically. The assessor captures evidence in real time using the digital platform.
OSCA criteria are mapped to current industry standards. Client or site-specific elements can be added to the assessment set on request.
Digital Report
The OSCA Digital Report
The OSCA does not end with a handwritten form or a tick-sheet. Our digital platform generates a full assessment report during the assessment and emails it to you the same day. The report gives you the evidence you need for compliance, procurement and internal records.
Assessment Format
Assessment Only or Assessment with Coaching
OSCA is available in two formats. You choose the approach that is right for your operatives and your programme.
Assessment Only
The assessor observes and records. Operatives are assessed against all criteria without intervention. The digital report is generated and emailed on the same day. This format is typically used for compliance verification and periodic competency checks.
Assessment with Coaching
The assessor observes, records, and intervenes where required. Each intervention is logged as a coaching record. This format is typically used where operatives are known to have specific development needs, or as part of a structured improvement programme following an incident.
Both formats use the same digital platform and produce the same structured report.
On the Day
How OSCA Works On the Day
Pre-Assessment Briefing
The Sygma assessor arrives on site and briefs the operatives. The assessment scope, criteria, and format are explained. No surprises.
Live Observation
The assessor observes operatives during normal site operations. Equipment use, Genny deployment, signal interpretation, depth readings, and safe digging practice are all assessed against the structured criteria set.
Real-Time Digital Capture
Every assessment element is recorded digitally using the OSCA platform. Photographic and video evidence, GPS location data, and time stamps are captured as the assessment progresses.
Coaching Interventions (if selected)
In the coaching format, the assessor intervenes where required and logs each coaching record. This is used for operatives with known development needs or as part of a structured improvement programme.
Same-Day Report Delivery
The full OSCA digital report is generated during the assessment and emailed to you the same day. No waiting. No follow-up paperwork.
Safe Digging
OSCA Safe Digging Add-On
The OSCA safe digging module extends the assessment to cover hand excavation technique, spotter positioning, and excavation risk management. It takes approximately 45 minutes per operative and produces a separate section in the digital report.
Hand-Digging Technique
Assessment of correct hand-dig methods near buried services, tool selection, and approach angle.
Spotter Positioning
Where the spotter stands, what they observe, and how they communicate with the operative during excavation.
Excavation Risk Management
Decision-making when a service is exposed. What to do when something unexpected appears in the trench.
Why OSCA
Why OSCA Is Different
It happens on your site
Not in a classroom. Not on a training rig. OSCA assesses what your operatives actually do, in the conditions they actually work in.
It is criteria-mapped
Every element is assessed against a structured criteria set. The report shows exactly what was assessed and the outcome for each element.
It produces evidence, not opinion
GPS location, time stamps, photographic and video evidence. The OSCA report is an auditable record, not a subjective impression.
It fills the gap certificates cannot
A 3-year certificate tells you nothing about month 18. OSCA gives you verifiable evidence of current competency between training cycles.
Who Is It For
Who Is OSCA For?
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does an OSCA assessment take?
A full utility location OSCA typically takes 2 to 3 hours per operative. The safe digging add-on adds approximately 45 minutes. Multiple operatives can be assessed in a single site visit, depending on site conditions and operational constraints.
Does OSCA replace formal training?
No. OSCA is a competency assessment tool, not a training intervention. It assesses what operatives can do in practice. It does not deliver instruction. It is designed to fill the gap between formal training cycles, not replace them.
Is the OSCA certificate recognised by clients and principal contractors?
OSCA is a Sygma-developed product. It is not an awarding body qualification. However, it produces a detailed, GPS-stamped, criteria-mapped digital report that provides a higher standard of competency evidence than most other available tools. We are working with a number of Tier 1 contractors to incorporate OSCA reports into their supply chain competency frameworks.
Can OSCA be conducted on a live site?
Yes. OSCA is specifically designed to be conducted during normal site operations. Operatives are assessed while they work. There is no requirement to stop the job, move to a training environment, or construct an artificial scenario.
Does OSCA include safe digging assessment?
Yes. OSCA includes an optional safe digging add-on that assesses hand-digging technique, spotter positioning, and excavation risk management. The add-on takes approximately 45 minutes per operative and produces a separate section in the digital report.
How much does OSCA cost?
OSCA is priced per site visit, not per operative. The cost depends on the number of operatives, the assessment format (assessment only or assessment with coaching), and whether the safe digging add-on is included. Contact us for a quotation based on your specific requirements.
Book a Free OSCA Demonstration
We will walk you through the assessment process, show you a sample report, and discuss how OSCA fits into your competency management programme. No obligation.