Course Genie
Utilities

EUSR CAT 1 Location Underground Services

Certified by EUSR
Pick a date that suits your team

EUSR CAT 1 Location Underground Services is run on demand — tell us when you'd like to attend and where, and we'll arrange a date and venue that works for you. Single delegates and group bookings both welcome.

UK-wide venues + online Group discounts available

Overview

EUSR Location of Underground Services, widely known as CAT and Genny, is a 1-day course for anyone who needs to locate buried utilities before they dig. It is run under the EUSR (Energy and Utility Skills Register) scheme and is built around HSG47, the HSE guidance on avoiding danger from underground services.

Striking a buried gas, electricity, water or telecoms service while excavating is one of the most serious risks in groundworks, and it is almost always avoidable. The course teaches delegates to interpret utility drawings and plans, to use a Cable Avoidance Tool (CAT) and a signal generator (Genny) correctly, to recognise the common underground services and their risks, and to follow safe digging practices in line with HSG47.

On completion delegates receive an EUSR registration card, valid for three years, recognised across UK utility and construction contractors. It is one of the EUSR utility courses CourseGenie lists, alongside National Water Hygiene.

The card is valid for 3 years, after which the course is taken again to renew.

Who this course is for

  • Groundworkers and excavator operators
  • Utility and civils operatives working near buried services
  • Anyone digging or breaking ground where underground services may be present
  • Site engineers and surveyors setting out excavation work
  • Plant operators involved in excavation
  • Contractors working for gas, water, electricity or telecoms utilities
  • Labourers on groundworks and civils projects
  • Anyone whose employer requires CAT and Genny or EUSR registration

Requirements

  • Photographic identification is required on the day
  • No prior experience is needed
  • A basic standard of English to complete the assessment
  • Suitable for new entrants and experienced operatives alike

What you'll achieve

  • An EUSR registration card, valid for 3 years
  • The ability to use a Cable Avoidance Tool (CAT) and signal generator (Genny) correctly
  • An understanding of HSG47 and safe digging practices
  • The ability to interpret utility drawings and plans
  • Knowledge of the common underground services and the risks of striking them
  • A reduced risk of cable and service strikes on site
  • A recognised registration accepted by utility and construction contractors

Syllabus

HSG47 and avoiding danger from underground services
The HSE guidance that underpins safe work near buried utilities.
Underground services and their risks
The common gas, electricity, water and telecoms services and the dangers of striking them.
Utility drawings and plans
Finding, reading and interpreting service drawings before work begins.
Using the Cable Avoidance Tool (CAT)
How to use a CAT to detect signals from buried services.
Using the signal generator (Genny)
How the Genny applies a signal to a service so the CAT can trace it.
Detection techniques and their limits
Scanning methods and the situations where detection can miss a service.
Safe digging practices
Combining drawings, detection and careful excavation to dig safely.

Frequently asked questions

What is the EUSR Location of Underground Services course?
It is a one-day EUSR course, commonly called CAT and Genny, that teaches you to locate buried utilities before digging and to work safely in line with HSG47. It results in a three-year EUSR registration card.
What is the difference between a CAT and a Genny?
A CAT (Cable Avoidance Tool) detects signals given off by buried services. A Genny (signal generator) applies a signal to a specific service so the CAT can trace it. They are used together to locate underground utilities accurately.
What is HSG47?
HSG47 is the HSE guidance document Avoiding Danger from Underground Services. It sets out how to plan, locate and dig safely around buried utilities, and the course is built around it.
How long is the course?
It runs over one day, typically around six hours of training and assessment.
How long is the EUSR card valid for?
The EUSR registration card is valid for three years, after which you take the course again to renew it.
Who needs this course?
Anyone who excavates or breaks ground near buried services: groundworkers, plant operators, utility and civils operatives, and the engineers and surveyors who plan the work.
Can I take it online?
Theory can be delivered online, although the practical use of a CAT and Genny is best covered in person. Check the delivery method for each session at the top of this page.
Do I need any experience first?
No. The course is suitable for new entrants as well as experienced operatives who need EUSR registration.
What do I need to bring?
You need photographic identification on the day, as the EUSR card carries your details and is recorded against your identity.
Is this the same as a CSCS card?
No. This is an EUSR registration for locating underground services, not a CSCS card. They are separate schemes for different purposes.
How much does the course cost?
Prices vary by provider, location and whether you choose a classroom or online place. Compare live dates and prices at the top of this page.

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