Cable strikes are amongst the most significant health and safety risks for engineers in the utility sector. An estimated 60,000 underground cable strikes occur every year, and many of these lead to severe injury or death, as well as costing businesses millions in associated damages and compensations. Sygma Solution works with Utility Engineers to avoid these situations.

What’s a Cable Strike?

Cable Strikes occur when a high voltage cable is struck during excavation due to insufficient prior site examination. This can happen with a digger or a spade and presents a real risk of electrocution that can prove to be fatal.

Cable Strikes can also lead to utility outages for connected areas. Cut telephone or electric cables can interrupt internet access, or neighbouring people could be left in the dark on a winter afternoon. This can bring down a hail of trouble for the company – and it is in everyone’s best interest to ensure cable strikes don’t happen.

The problem is rooted in insufficient training measures to educate the engineer’s behaviours. Many company workers still operate on a ‘that’s how we’ve always done it’ ethos. While others fail to survey and instead take other’s words for it that there aren’t any cables present.

Instead of simply assessing knowledge, training companies should determine how knowledge is used on the job. Utility Companies should take appropriate measures to mitigate risk and ensure the safety of all workers and be confident that they know how to act correctly at work.

How to Avoid Cable Strikes

Proper prior planning of any excavation work can reduce the risk of cable strikes significantly. This involves looking at up-to-date diagrams showing the location of any underground cables before choosing the safest place to dig.

Employers should also provide their staff with training such as that provided by Sygma Solutions, which allows them to correctly assess any given situation and scan for cables underground. This training should involve thorough cat and genny as well as cable avoidance training. Employees need to be aware of the limitations of tools, such as their failure to recognize cables at a certain depth.

Appropriate knowledge is crucial to performing an adequate site survey and draw up excavation plans.

Sygma Solutions provides optimized training and buried utility location courses, including Genny training, to boost confidence and teach the skills to conduct an outstanding site survey.

Courses Availability

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

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