Cable avoidance training (cat and genny training) will teach you how to locate and avoid underground services, such as electricity and gas during excavation work.

The course will teach you how to avoid underground cables and pipes whilst excavating roads and pavements. The course covers the use of various cat and genny manufacturers’ equipment e.g C Scope and Radiodetection, how to use the tool and its limits, and the techniques used to avoid danger from underground services. It is not only essential to the health and safety of operatives working on an excavation, it is also vital to prevent costly disruptions during construction and civil engineering projects.

The NRSWA is an accredited certification, and therefore covers specific learning objectives set by HAUC UK (Highway Authorities & Utilities Committee).

The learning objectives covered on this course are:

• Understand and interpret plans that show the location of underground utilities
• Understand and identify utility and highway services that could be encountered during excavation of highways
• Understand the hazards and risks associated with utilities and highway services when excavating
• Understand how to use, and use, equipment that locates underground pipes and cables
• Follow safe working practices on site (e.g. PPE, safe use of tools and use of risk assessments) by being able to identify and follow the relevant health and safety regulations, standards or any other legislation

Utility Services include:

• Plastic and metal gas mains and services
• Plastic and metal water mains and services
• Sewers and drains
• Low and high-voltage electricity cables
• Telecommunications and television cables
• fibre optic cables

Highways Services include:

• highways drainage
• Culverts
• Land drains
• Street lighting and traffic signal equipment
• Roads with special engineering controls

The NRSWA (New Roads and Street Works Act 1991) exists to ensure safety and correct practice when carrying out any work on roads, highways and footpaths. It is there to minimise risk to both workers and the public. It is an act of legislation (a law or set of laws passed by Parliament). The qualifications required for operatives to undertake streetworks was updated in 2016. In the NRSW Act itself, there are lots of practical guidance given for the efficient co-ordination, ensuring safety and minimising disruption and inconvenience to the general public using the road or pavement.