FieldClear

Utility Locator Training Matrix

Track training, cards and certificate expiry for utility locator roles in one live matrix, with evidence and reminders before work is affected.

  • Requirements typical for utility locator roles
  • Expiry dates and evidence on the worker record
  • Reminders before certificates lapse
  • Import the matrix you already keep in Excel
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14-day free trial. No card required.

What usually goes wrong

Utility locators reduce strike risk before excavation, but tool operation and survey scope are not the same record. The matrix should keep cable-avoidance evidence distinct from any higher survey or mapping competence.

  • Tool training is treated as survey competence

    A CAT course date is read as proof of full utility-mapping or PAS 128 survey capability.

  • Drawings and live scans diverge

    A current locator still needs briefing on the project's drawings, trial holes and permit rules.

Example requirements for utility locator roles

Examples only. Your organisation decides which requirements apply — they vary by activity, customer and site.

  • CAT and Genny or equivalent cable-avoidance training
  • Utility-mapping or PAS 128 familiarisation where assigned
  • Site induction and permit-to-dig interface
  • Manual handling for equipment
  • Traffic awareness for highway-side surveys

Different roles, different assigned lists

Utility Locator requirements should not be mixed into a flat “everyone needs everything” spreadsheet. Assign by role, then see gaps without colouring cells by hand.

Evidence stays with the person

Attach certificate images and card photos to the worker record so the date and the proof cannot drift apart when a client asks.

What to track for utility locator roles

Record CAT and Genny competence with equipment familiarisation, then add mapping or PAS 128 requirements only where the role delivers that service. Link permit-to-dig and site inductions to the project, and include traffic briefings for roadside work.

A practical starting set

  • CAT and Genny or equivalent cable-avoidance training
  • Utility-mapping or PAS 128 familiarisation where assigned
  • Site induction and permit-to-dig interface
  • Manual handling for equipment
  • Traffic awareness for highway-side surveys

Where spreadsheets lose the detail

A single cable-avoidance cell cannot show whether the person only marks approximate positions or delivers a formal survey deliverable. Project drawing briefings never appear in the expiry column.

Requirements remain yours to define

Survey specification, equipment, ground conditions and permit rules determine suitable allocation; detection training does not guarantee services are absent. FieldClear tracks only the requirements your organisation assigns and the records you enter. It does not decide what is legally required, certify competence or authorise work, and this page is not legal or health and safety advice.

You can keep using Excel. But Excel won’t chase expiries for you.

Excel is flexible, familiar and free, which is exactly why almost every contractor starts there. The limitation isn’t the spreadsheet — it’s that a spreadsheet can only tell you what someone last typed into it.

  • Keeping it up to date

    ExcelManual updates
    FieldClearLive matrix

  • Showing status

    ExcelManual colour coding
    FieldClearAutomatic status updates

  • Expiry warnings

    ExcelNo automatic reminders
    FieldClearExpiry reminders before the date

  • Certificates and evidence

    ExcelStored elsewhere
    FieldClearAttached to the worker record

  • Versions

    ExcelEasy to create multiple versions
    FieldClearSingle source of truth

  • Finding what matters

    ExcelHard to see what changed
    FieldClearFilters and actions

  • History

    ExcelNo audit history
    FieldClearActivity history

Plenty of contractors run a perfectly good spreadsheet for years. The question isn’t whether Excel works — it’s whether anyone is checking it the week something quietly expires.

Pricing

Simple pricing based on workforce size.

Every plan includes the whole product. The only thing that changes is how many workers you’re tracking.

  • Starter

    £29/month

    Up to 25 active workers

    For smaller contractors moving off a single spreadsheet.

    Start 14-day free trial
  • Most common

    Growth

    £59/month

    Up to 75 active workers

    For growing teams with several roles and requirement sets.

    Start 14-day free trial

  • Pro

    £99/month

    Up to 200 active workers

    For established contractors managing multiple teams and sites.

    Start 14-day free trial

Every plan includes

  • Live training matrix
  • Certificate and evidence storage
  • Expiry reminders
  • Spreadsheet import (Excel or CSV)
  • Roles and assigned requirements
  • Users and permissions
  • Activity history
  • Filters, search and saved views
  • Data export
  • Email support

14-day free trial. No card required.

View pricing in full

Questions people ask before signing up

Does the software tell me which qualifications are legally required?

No. The system helps you track the requirements your organisation assigns. You remain responsible for determining what applies to your workers and activities. We do not provide legal or health and safety advice.

Can I import my existing Excel training matrix?

Yes. Upload an Excel or CSV file, map the columns to workers, roles, qualifications and expiry dates, then preview the result. Nothing is created until you confirm the import.

Can I get reminders before certificates expire?

Yes. The system monitors expiry dates and sends reminders in advance. You choose how far ahead reminders are sent and who receives them.

Can I store certificates?

Yes. Attach supporting evidence such as PDFs and images to worker records, so the certificate sits alongside the expiry date rather than in a separate folder.

Can I track subcontractors?

Yes. Workers can be recorded as employees, subcontractors, agency workers or other worker types, and you can filter the matrix by type.

How does the free trial work?

You get 14 days with the full product and no card required. Import your matrix, invite colleagues and see whether it fits how you work. If you do nothing at the end of the trial, the account simply stops.

Related

Your training matrix already exists. Make it useful.

Upload your spreadsheet and turn it into a live view of who’s current, what’s expiring and what needs attention.

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