The presumption that experience is the only way to ensure competence is one of groundworks' most lethal and expensive misconceptions. For years, the "just knowing how to dig" mantra has trumped formal instruction, but the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) makes one thing abundantly clear: competency is a legal requirement, not an add-on. Notable by its absence, neglecting to provide for this extends toward a safety hazard; it's a covert compliance risk calculable in both dollars and human life.
The Legal Definition of
Competence
At the heart of the matter is the HSE's remit, specifically under the
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and certain guidance, such as HSG47
(Avoiding Danger from Underground Services). It is an obligation placed upon
employers to give information, instruction, training, and supervision as
appropriate to secure the health and safety of their employees. For excavation
digging, this translates into demonstrating that your crew has the required
knowledge, skills, and experience to safely find, recognise, and operate around
buried services.
Relying on an experienced operative's word that they "know how to
use a locator" is no longer sufficient. In the event of an occurrence, the
HSE will insist on written evidence showing that the person received formal
training in the particular equipment and procedures used. This is where a
certified CAT & Genny course
becomes non-negotiable. It provides a demonstrable audit trail and ensures your
team understands the scientific principles behind Electromagnetic Location
(EML) and the tool's limitations - knowledge a veteran digger cannot acquire
simply by proximity to the equipment.
The Violations Lurking in
Complacency
When competence is assumed rather than confirmed, several critical
violations occur that could lead to prosecution:
● Failure to Plan: Lack of certified
training tends to cause dependence on old plans or a lack of adequate pre-dig
scans. The CAT & Genny course
provides instruction on the vital planning phase, covering the ordered process
of reading plans, making grid sweeps, and using accessories.
● Misuse of Equipment: The untrained
operator tends to rely on passive scan, omitting the non-energised cables, or
neglects to use the signal generator (Genny) as per its intended use. Such
systemic abuse negates any semblance of a safe system of work.
● Lack of Supervision: Supervisors are
trained to identify and rectify unsafe procedures. If the supervisor is also
working under the assumption of competence, then the entire line of command is
undermined.
