Plant & Machinery, Health and Safety
The CAT and GENNY - Cable Avoidance Course has been developed to provide learners with the knowledge, skills and practical competence required to safely locate, identify and avoid underground utility services prior to excavation, ground disturbance or related activities.
Accidental strikes involving buried electricity, gas, water, telecommunications and drainage infrastructure continue to present significant risks including serious injury, fatality, service disruption, environmental harm and financial loss. Effective cable avoidance and service detection procedures form a critical component of safe excavation planning and utility protection.
This standard supports personnel involved in construction, utilities, highways, agriculture, forestry, landscaping, groundworks and civil engineering activities where buried services may be present.
Relevant legislation includes, but is not limited to:
1. Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
2. Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
3. Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER)
4. Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
5. Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
6. HSG47 Avoiding Danger from Underground Services
7. Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended by the Personal Protective Equipment at Work (Amendment) Regulations 2022)
8. New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA) - Unit 1: Location and Avoidance of Underground Apparatus
9. Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR).
Note on NRSWA Unit 1 comparability: The New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA) Unit 1 - Location and Avoidance of Underground Apparatus - is the regulated qualification specifically covering CAT and Genny operations on public highways. Any person undertaking cable avoidance work on or near a public highway as part of street works activities must hold a current NRSWA Unit 1 card. This UKRS Course Standard provides equivalent competence training for non-highway operational environments including construction sites, agricultural land and utilities infrastructure. Learners whose work regularly requires cable avoidance on public highways should additionally seek NRSWA Unit 1 accredited assessment through an approved SQA Streetworks Qualifications Register centre.
National Occupational Standards (NOS) referenced include, but are not limited to:
1. Locating, identifying and avoiding underground utility services and buried infrastructure.
2. Preparing work activities, work areas and safe systems of work.
3. Maintaining health, safety and environmental protection during operational activities.
4. Using cable avoidance and associated work equipment safely and effectively.
5. Recording, communicating and reporting operational information and service location findings.
Select a county from the drop down box to find your nearest UKRS accredited training provider delivering this course.
