About the Course
Underground services can present a serious risk during excavation and groundworks.
The NOCN Cable Avoidance course teaches candidates how cable avoidance equipment works and how it should be used to help identify buried utilities before work begins.
Candidates will learn how to assess an area for potential hazards and interference, select and apply the equipment correctly and understand the limitations of cable avoidance equipment.
The course also covers detecting and tracing methods, helping candidates develop a systematic approach to locating underground services.
Training combines theory with practical exercises using Cable Avoidance Tools so candidates can develop the skills required to use the equipment effectively in a working environment.
What Will You Learn?
Training will typically cover:
- The importance of locating underground services before work begins
- The potential consequences of striking underground utilities
- Assessing the working area before carrying out a survey
- Identifying potential underground services
- Recognising sources of interference
- How Cable Avoidance Tools operate
- The capabilities of cable avoidance equipment
- The limitations of the equipment
- Correct operating techniques
- Detecting underground services
- Tracing underground services
- Applying the equipment correctly
- Correct search and detection methods
- Interpreting information provided by the locator
- Practical use of Cable Avoidance Tools
- Maintaining a systematic approach when surveying an area
These objectives reflect the current NOCN Assured Cable Avoidance course specification.
How Will You Be Tested?
Candidates are assessed through a combination of:
- Practical assessment
- Multiple-choice knowledge test
During the practical element, candidates must demonstrate that they can use cable avoidance equipment correctly and apply the techniques covered during training.
Candidates must successfully complete the required assessments to achieve the NOCN Assured course certification.
NOCN Assured Certification
Successful candidates will receive certification for completing the NOCN Assured Cable Avoidance Course.
The certificate is valid for 3 years.
The course is suitable for workers across construction, utilities, highways, civil engineering, groundworks and other industries where Cable Avoidance Tools are used to help identify buried services before work takes place.
