In the UK, thousands of underground cable strikes are recorded each year. Utility strikes are considered one of the biggest safety and health risks for engineers in the utilities industry. But, utility strikes can be prevented if the managers, supervisors, engineers and workers involved in the excavation project are provided CAT training.

CAT stands for cable avoidance tool and this equipment is used in conjunction with Genny, which is a signal generator. CAT is used in detecting the location of those underground utility services that are switched on. This equipment can only locate utility services that have power running. On the other hand, Genny helps in the detection of those buried services that do not have power running through them or are switched off. Genny applies a signal to these services and allows CAT to detect the utility services.

Even though CAT & Genny come with a user manual and instructions, the correct use of these equipment is not possible without proper training. There are certain limitations of these tools that can only be known once the tools have been used. This is why getting training from a reputed training company is crucial when it is about detecting underground utility services.

Why is the detection of buried utilities important?

As aforementioned, utility strikes are preventable if only they are detected before the excavation of the ground starts. Workers have to steer clear of those areas where there are cables or gas pipes. Even the slightest accidental strike can result in gas explosion or electrocution of the workers on the site. Also, cable strikes might turn out to be fatal. It can cause the interruption of basic necessities like, water supply, electricity and gas supply to the building in and around the excavation site.

That is not all. Cable strikes results in huge monetary losses for the company carrying out the excavation. It also results in the loss of reputation and the completion of the project gets delayed.

So, these are a few reasons why the detection of underground utility services is of utmost importance. You cannot start digging without knowing where these services are present. For your and workers’ safety, it is prudent that you assign a certified surveyor who has undertaken CAT course and knows the exact use of the tool.

What is the benefit of preventing cable strikes?

By preventing accidental cable strikes, you are creating a very safe and sound environment for your workers. Your excavation project will be in compliance with the rules and regulations set by the HSE. You can expect your project to be completed within the deadline when there are no accidents. Also, the people living or working in and around the excavation site will not have to go through the inconvenience of service interruption. Furthermore, you do not have to undertake extra expenditure if there are no cable strikes, such as the repair of the cables, paying compensation to the aggrieved party and so on.

In the UK, there are professional companies delivering CAT training programmes to help engineers, supervisors, managers and workers conduct safe digging practices. The training courses typically include a thorough theoretical and practical education of the use and limitations of the cable avoidance tool and signal generator. It equips professionals with the knowledge needed to prevent cable strikes and avoid accidents. Of course, you can also use site maps to find the underground utility services, but these maps are often outdated thanks to the increase in urbanisation and industrialisation.

So, if you are involved in any kind of construction project, make sure that you undertake the CAT training course and gain the necessary knowledge and expertise. Find a training company that has a good reputation and a panel of industry-leading experts who have certified knowledge of the use of CAT & Genny. Such training programmes will also teach you about the dangers of cable strikes and give you the resources needed to strike them out.