All of those involved in planning and managing excavation work of any description should be trained in the use of the Cable Avoidance Tool and the Signal Generator, known as the CAT and Genny. Theoretically, the CAT can be used on it' own but it can only locate electric cables which are live with power running through them, so the CAT and Genny are used in combination in order to locate electric cables that are not live and to locate all other types of services.
Even though they are used in combination, they do have certain limitations, and the only way to fully understand how they operate in all modes is to undertake a CAT and Genny training course. There are specialist companies that will provide a CAT and Genny course, which can be attended by operatives engaged in underground excavation work, and where they will learn every detail of these tools and how to use them in all different types of situations.
Even so, there are some 60,000 underground services strikes every year because many operatives are not fully trained in the use of the CAT and Genny and therefore make mistakes as a result. This causes severe injuries in many cases, and these are occasionally fatal.
At the very least, cable and other utility strikes cause a delay in the project, because the utility concerned will have to send out men to undertake repairs, and there may be considerable other ramifications for a contractor who caused the problem. These can include the cost of men standing around idle, costs from the main contractor, associated costs from companies affected by, say, the loss of power, and the courts may also award considerable damages to someone who has been injured.
Some training companies are recognised by the Energy and Utility Skills Register and provide an EUSR Cat and Genny course to those appropriate standards.
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