WFH – Working From Home – has become the norm for many people today. This seems to be especially true if you happen to be a civil servant, but many businesses have people who now only come into the office on one or two days a week, working on the kitchen table, or wherever, for the rest of the time.

However, if there is no broadband and you are working from home, you are then unable to work. Period. And your broadband can disappear in a flash if some workers carrying out an excavation of any sort should cut the cables. This is just one of the issues resulting from striking underground services of any sort.

But they can cause more problems than that. It should be fairly obvious that if you are a worker on a construction site and you hit an electricity cable or a gas pipe, there is a grave risk of serious injury and even death. And yet, there are still quite a number of companies that are prepared to dig “blind” without undertaking a full and thorough survey of the site beforehand.

Apart from any other consideration, striking and damaging underground services means that, apart from collateral damage to businesses and residents in the area, the service has to be repaired. This can be costly, especially if we are talking fibreoptic cables. It also means that people who rely on those services are unable to use them until repairs have been carried out.

Misconceptions About Water Pipes

Striking some services is less likely to cause injury than others, but there seem to be serious misconceptions about water pipes. No, it may not be as serious as striking electricity cables or gas pipes, but water under pressure can hurl stones and other objects out of the soil. Possibly more likely is the threat of flooding. Back in 2019 a farmer in Derbyshire was knocking in some fence posts when he hit a water pipe, causing a 100’ “wall of water” that ran downhill and hit neighbouring villages, resulting in considerable damage to homes and businesses.

Take Precautions

All of this is why it is absolutely essential to take all precautions before undertaking any excavation work. This means obtaining plans – STATS – from the local utility suppliers to begin with. However, these can vary considerably in their accuracy for a number of reasons. You must never rely on them alone, but only use them as a guide.

It is necessary to carry out an on-site survey using the appropriate tools, and for this you need underground surveyor training which we provide at Sygma Solutions. Our underground surveyor training teaches operatives to think outside the box, which is an essential element of the location and identification of underground services.

Our underground surveyor course is divided into two sections – classroom, and on-site practical training. The classroom part of the course can be taken either in a physical location or online in a fully interactive format where the operatives can ask questions and get answers.

The second part of our underground surveyor course is practical on-site work which can be carried out at our premises or at a site of your choosing. 

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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