HSG47, And Why You Should Follow This Guidance

The Health and Safety Executive HSG47 is aimed at all those involved in the commissioning, planning, managing, and carrying out work on, or near, underground services, as well as the owners and operators of the services. Following the guidance is not compulsory, unless otherwise stated, but if you do follow the guidance, under normal circumstances you will be doing enough to comply with the law. To quote the HSE "Health and safety inspectors seek to secure compliance with the law and may refer to this guidance".

It seems that the HSE is saying that, putting it politely, you would be doing yourself – and everyone else – a disservice by failing to follow the guidance provided. It further states "Underground services are widespread. Assume they are present unless you have been shown otherwise". That is an extremely sensible comment, since underground services can be found absolutely anywhere – even in an apparently open field. 

One of the major causes of injuries – many severe – is striking electric cables, Typical injuries are burns to the hands, face, and body, while electric shock is also possible, but less likely. Other nearby services may also be damaged, and these include plastic gas pipes. Damage to these can cause explosion and fire. There are two kinds of damage – damage that causes an immediate leak, and damage that causes a leak some time later. For instance, poor reinstatement may leave a pipe insufficiently supported.

Damage to a pipe carrying liquefied petroleum gas is greater than from natural gas as it is heavier than air and can travel for long distances underground and can accumulate in places such as cellars.

Damage to water pipes may not be so serious but can also cause injury, as a jet of water from a main can be hard enough to cause injury.

This is why understanding of all of the possible problems is so essential. There are companies that provide HSG47 training and ensure that operatives have a full and complete understanding of the potential problems. In fact, it cannot be over-emphasised that all operatives engaged in any sort of excavation should attend an HSG47 course.

Features Of The Latest CAT 4 From Radiodetection

CAT and Genny training is essential for all operatives whose job includes locating any type of underground services. The CAT 4 is the latest in the Radiodetection series of cable avoidance tools and has some features which other cable avoidance tools do not. For example, it now features Dynamic Overload Protection which enables an operative to continue working in areas which are electrically challenging, such as underneath power cables or near to substations, where the detection circuitry of other equipment may become overloaded and simply cease to function.

The new CAT 4 also has a high visibility display with a backlight which enables the operator to read the information under any lighting conditions and avoids the possibility of misreading critical information from the unit. In Avoidance Mode, the CAT 4 provides faster detection by allowing the operator to check an area intended for excavation for power, radio, and Genny signals, and pinpoint any utilities in a single scan. Its' unique digital signal processing capabilities also reject electrical interference.

 

The CAT 4 also allows operatives to check over the internet a fast and thorough test of the key circuitry elements using the CAT manager software. This enables an operative to check the unit against the original factory calibration. The CAT manager software is a Windows® PC program that allows plant, fleet and site managers to minimise down time by performing software upgrades, sending a service request, reproducing calibration certificates, and compiling/editing user information with eCAT and gCAT configurations.

Several companies provide a CAT course which will enable operatives to become fully acquainted with the CAT 4 and its uses in all its modes. Some of the companies can also provide EUSR CAT and Genny training if they are an EUSR approved training provider, which not all training course providers are.