Why a CAT & Genny Course Is Essential for Utility Professionals

A single strike can cause delays or injuries. That’s why a CAT & Genny Course is a must. It teaches you to use Cable Avoidance Tools (CAT) and Signal Generators (Genny) with skill. This training isn’t just a checkbox. It’s a way to work smarter and safer.

The Value of Specialised Training

A CAT & Genny Course goes beyond basic tool use. It’s about understanding how to locate utilities accurately. Underground services are tricky. Old plans might be outdated. New cables might be unmarked. This course equips you to find them before digging. It’s designed for real-world challenges. You’ll learn techniques that prevent costly mistakes. It’s not just for beginners. Even seasoned operatives gain new insights. The training aligns with industry safety standards. Think HSG 47 compliance. It’s a skillset that keeps sites running smoothly.

Why Choose a CAT & Genny Course

Here’s why it’s worth your time:

• Precision Techniques: Learn to prioritise the Genny for surveys. This method pinpoints utilities more accurately than traditional approaches.

• Tool Mastery: Get comfortable with industry-standard equipment. From electromagnetic locators to signal generators, you’ll handle them like a pro.

• Real-World Prep: Practice in scenarios that mirror actual job sites. This builds confidence for complex environments.

• Safety First: Understand the science behind utility detection. This reduces guesswork and lowers strike risks.

• Career Edge: Add a recognised skill to your CV. It’s valued on major projects, including those with strict safety requirements.

These benefits make the CAT & Genny Course a smart choice. You’ll leave ready to tackle any site with confidence.

How It Boosts Your Work

A CAT & Genny Course sharpens your ability to make quick, informed decisions. You’ll learn to read signals. You’ll know how to verify utility locations. This cuts down on errors. The training dives into the nuances of equipment. For example, you’ll explore how different soil types affect signals. You’ll also practice troubleshooting common issues. These skills save time and prevent accidents. The course often includes tips from experienced trainers. Their real-world stories bring lessons to life. You’ll walk away with knowledge that applies directly to your daily tasks.

A CAT & Genny Course isn’t just training. It’s a way to work safer and smarter. It gives you the tools to avoid utility strikes. It builds skills that employers value. For anyone in utility work, this course is a game-changer. Ready to level up? Explore your options. Dive into the world of utility detection. Your next project will thank you.

Career Opportunities After Completing a CAT & Genny Course

 The utility industry is an important industry and with the ongoing expansion of the industry, there is a growing need for qualified professionals. If you are looking for a promising career with great potential, then consider investigating the prospects available after completing a CAT & Genny Course.  This course is dedicated to teaching the skills required to locate underground utility accurately before excavation, construction, and maintenance operations. 

So, what are the available career prospects after you have successfully completed the course? Here are some great options:

● Cable Locator

This is arguably the most obvious career option. Cable locators are the quiet heroes of the building and construction industry.  

Cable locators employ Cable Avoidance Tools (CATs) and signal generators (Gennies) to locate and mark the position of buried cables and pipes prior to any excavation. This avoids expensive damage to infrastructure, ensures safe working conditions for personnel, and prevents service interruption. 

● Utility Surveyor

Similar to cable locating, utility surveying tends to have a wider remit. Surveyors not only locate underground utilities but also survey and record their position. This information is invaluable to the planning of new building schemes, the design of improvements to infrastructure, and the upkeep of existing networks of utilities.  Goodanalytical skills and attention to detail are a prerequisite for this role.

● Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Technician

A CAT & Genny course is electromagnetic detection-based but can be an excellent steppingstone to Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) technology work. GPR employs radio waves to produce images of subsurface structures and provides a complementary technique for locating utilities, especially non-metallic pipes which a CAT & Genny set may not be able to locate. Having both CAT & Genny and GPR capabilities makes you an extremely desirable employee. 

● Pipeline Inspector

Pipelines are heavily used in the oil and gas industry to transport products. Pipeline inspectors employ numerous techniques, including CAT & Genny equipment, to monitor the integrity and safety of these critical assets. They detect potential leaks, determine the condition of the pipeline, and monitor regulatory compliance.

● Site Supervisor/Foreman

Cable locating or utility surveying experience can be applied to supervisory positions. Site supervisors oversee construction sites, ensuring work is efficiently and safely accomplished. 

Outside of these particular careers, the skills learned in a CAT & Genny course are applicable in a wide range of other fields, such as civil engineering, telecommunications, and even archaeology. The skill of precise underground utility location is highly transferable and can lead to a wide range of opportunities.

An investment in a CAT & Genny Course is an investment in your future. So, if you want a challenging and fulfilling career, find out the opportunities that lie ahead for you after you have finished a CAT & Genny Course.

Safeguarding Subterranean Excavation: CAT and Genny Training

The Importance of Safe Digging Practices

When you receive an excavation-related contract or utility assignment, it is your responsibility to be aware of the safety procedures associated with any subterranean facility. Working underground always carries the risk of encountering something in an unexpected location. Therefore, incorporating a safe work strategy when digging is crucial. Start by creating a detailed design, followed by locating and identifying any underground utilities, and using safe digging techniques. In addition to EUSR HSG47, operatives must complete a CAT Course.

Advantages for the Student

By taking this course, students will gain knowledge in the following areas and apply it practically to locate and avoid utility services:

●     Environmental, health, and safety duties

●     Site-specific risk assessment

●     Individual safety gear

●     Subterranean utility services risks

●     Health and safety laws and recommendations

●     Finding utility services using plans and approved techniques

●     The guiding principles and operations of the CAT and Genny

Benefits for Employers

Employers who send their employees to this course can expect the following advantages:

●     Reduced risk from health and safety hazards related to utility service damage

●     Lower costs associated with damaged equipment and utility services

What This Course Will Teach You

The standard for this course is based on the following National Occupational Standards:

●     EUSMUNC06: Locate and Avoid Services for Utility Networks Construction

●     EUSEPUS044: Location and Identification of Subterranean Utility Services in the Electricity Power Utilities Sector

The course also covers pertinent guidelines from HSE documents:

●     HSG47: Avoiding Danger from Underground Services

●     HSG150: Health and Safety in Construction

When the standard is met, participants will demonstrate successful performance by showcasing the following abilities and knowledge:

●     How to read line search documents and utility drawings

●     How to locate underground services using detection equipment

●     How to recognise the risks and hazards associated with subterranean services

What to Bring to the Course

Participants should bring the following items with them:

1. High-visibility jacket or vest
2. Passport photo for their EUSR card

Safety-Critical Training: Beyond the Basics

This safety-critical training increases the knowledge needed to safely locate underground utility services through both theoretical and practical examinations. The education goes beyond standard "in-house" sessions and aligns with both EUSR and National Occupational Standards. It is often referred to as EUSR HSG47 or CAT & Genny training.

This course is beneficial for individuals who need to read utility drawings and/or use service detection equipment to locate a range of subsurface services.

How Does Undertaking a CAT & Genny Training Course Help?

Underground cable strikes in the UK are not a secret, especially after reports of 60,000 strikes annually. Utility strikes are not only cost, but they can be fatal. The only way that the industry can make sure safe working practices is by ensuring that contractors undertaking any kind of excavation work are aware of CAT & Genny and know how the equipment works.

CAT & Genny Course Helps in Area Survey
The fact is that there are thousands of miles of gas pipes, electricity cables, sewage pipes, water pipes, fibre optic cables and telecom lines buried underground. So, before digging an area, contractors must make sure that the area is properly surveyed for these underground utility services. By undertaking a CAT & Genny course, professionals will be able to properly use this equipment to detect and find out where the underground utility services are located. This can eventually result in creating a relatively risk-free working environment.

The Course Offers In-depth Insight
You might think that you can just purchase a CAT & Genny, read the instructions and be able to use the equipment to its potential. But, you are wrong. There are certain limitations of this equipment that users must be aware of and only by attending a CAT course will you be able to fully understand the different modes of this equipment and how to use it.

So, make sure that you sign up for a CAT & Genny training programme run by a professional company.