In a bid to reduce underground cable strikes, Develop Training is partnering with Cognisco, a provider of intelligent employee assessments, to launch a training programme, based on the latest behavioural training and assessment techniques.

The ‘Cable Avoidance Evaluation’ is designed to help companies improve the competence, knowledge and attitudes of operatives and supervisors by identifying their specific training and support requirements.

Develop Training and Cognisco say operatives and supervisors will be evaluated via an online assessment based on real situations they face in their roles. They will then be tested in detail on such topics as pre-dig assessments, utility mapping, PPE, assessing pre-existing damage, and methods of excavating.

According to the two companies, this means utilities firms will now be able to gain in-depth information about the knowledge, confidence and attitudes of every worker, so they can tailor training and development programmes and thus reduce costs and improve safety behaviour.

Develop Training says it is already working closely with a number of leading utility firms from each sector to pilot this new assessment. The company also works with Cognisco on a series of specialised street-works training courses and assessments.

For more information, visit www.developtraining.co.uk