Published: 17 Apr 2024
Steven Lannon, Managing Director at Precision Utility Mapping, has worked within the utilities industry for 25 years in a variety of roles. His wide-ranging experience includes 17 years in the utilities design sector, two years working in Australia, focused on utility location and GPR surveys. On his return to Scotland in 2015, he founded Precision Utility Mapping, expanding to include a second office in Ireland two years later. The company now has 50 staff based in its two offices in Glasgow and Limerick. He has recently started his application for PUMA (PAS128 Utility Mapping Accreditation) and has shared his thoughts on the process with us.
Why is PUMA so important?
PUMA is important to raise the standard of PAS128 surveys in the UK. A properly executed PAS128 survey is more expensive than a standard GPR survey and clients may not be fully aware of the additional costs involved. Currently, anyone with a Level 3 Utility Mapping certificate can profess to be qualified to carry out a PAS128 survey, the result of this is a huge variance in survey deliverables.
By standardising PAS128 surveys, PUMA will raise the bar for the whole market. Any company which has PUMA accreditation will be able to prove to their clients that they have been audited and can carry out the surveys to the specification. That’s why, having seen reference to PUMA on Linkedin, I made enquiries about starting the application process with TSA. For me, gaining PUMA accreditation is about accountability to our clients to show that we are committed to providing the best possible service.
How have you found the process of applying for accreditation?
The guidance document provided by TSA makes it clear on the requirements to pass the accreditation and what the audit stages look. This has been very useful and shows exactly what you need to prioritise. We have found that largely speaking it has really been a question of tweaking our current procedures and processes to ensure compliance.
What would you say to anyone considering starting the PUMA process?
People always tend to be quite resistant to change but I would urge anyone considering it to just do it. Widespread uptake can only make our profession better. I think many companies currently undertaking PAS128 surveys will already have 90% of what they need to gain the PUMA accreditation and those carrying out PAS128 properly will have no issues. There are some costs involved of course, but, as far as I’m concerned, the benefits far outweigh the costs.
Underground utility surveys are a growing market and a key component to so many industries. Tier One companies have been some of the biggest adopters of PAS128 surveys and as word spreads about PUMA I think they will be quick to take it up. As TSA members, we need to be a united front, and we should be promoting PUMA to our clients and educating them on the benefits that it will bring.
To find out more about PUMA, please go to https://www.tsa-uk.org.uk/puma/.
