The accidental striking of underground services can have serious effects, including injury to workers carrying out digging, whether by hand or machine, and in some instances can result in death. Striking an 11,000-volt cable, for instance, is certainly going to result in issues.
However, even if there are no serious injuries, there can be other severe implications. At the very least, any work on the project has to be stopped until the utility company concerned can come out and repair the damage. So, you can have workers standing about idle. Depending upon the extent of the damage, repairs could take a considerable amount of time.
There can also be fines and costs. The HSE records that a contractor had to pay £210,000 in fines and costs as the result of an employee suffering severe injuries when striking an 11,000-volt cable. He died 13 days later. The contractor had failed to tell the workers that there were live cables on the site or take steps to avoid them being damaged.
Then there is the cost to local businesses. For instance, if you are the contractor and your workers damage fibre optics or electricity cables it can delay those businesses as well if they have no power or internet contact. They may choose to sue your business for damages. It can also seriously damage your reputation as a contractor.
All of these are very good reasons why you need to undertake every measure that you can to locate and identify underground services before commencing any excavation work – even if you are only digging down a foot or two. Many services can run at quite shallow depths.
The first thing to do is to obtain any plans – or STATS – from local utility companies, but you need to understand that these can only ever be used as a guide. We discuss this elsewhere in more detail, but they can be inaccurate, and in quite a number of cases even non-existent.
The most important thing is to undertake a thorough on-site survey using the CAT and Genny to locate and identify any and all underground services on the site, and your operatives will need to attend the CAT course that we provide at Sygma Solutions in order to fully understand all the functions of the CAT And Genny, together with their limitations. Our CAT course goes into detail on these limitations because it is essential to understand them: if not, it might well be assumed that there are no services in a particular location when in fact there are – and that could be disastrous.
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