Elements and Performance Criteria

RANGE STATEMENT
10) This relates to the unit of competency as a whole providing the range of contexts and conditions to which the Performance Criteria apply. It allows for different work environments and situations that will affect performance.
This Competency Standard Unit shall be demonstrated in relation to cutting and/or pruning vegetation at ground level and removal of vegetation obstructions up to the live work zone as defined for both Authorised and Instructed Persons in the industry guidelines associated with live electrical apparatus.
Use of established cutting plan(s) relevant to the vegetation type
Safety practices includes; the safe use of appropriate/specialised tools and equipment and may include safely accessing trees to install restraints/slings, removing tree limbs in a safe manner, clearing debris from the felling site to eliminate the occurrence of electrical incidents and reparation of risk assessment control measures that encompass job safety assessment.
Excludes entry of persons, mobile plant, equipment, and/or specialised tools into to the safe approach distance (SAD) as defined.
Work and zones is in compliance with relevant State or Territory regulatory agencies/bodies, local government legislation, Industry bi-partite body- Guidelines/Codes of Practices or other related requirements for safe work and access near live electrical and mechanical Apparatus
Working safely up to the defined “safe working zone” near energised electrical apparatus (inc. electrical powerlines) for non-electrical worker/ordinary persons.
Excludes any work that is or may be performed by other competent operatives within the defined “live work zone”
Electricity supply infrastructure assets condition - sagging, swaying, ties, cross arms, poles, insulators, conductors, service wires, electrical apparatus/equipment, etc.
Infrastructure constructions and excavations
Safe approach distances zones/Safe Working Clearance
Other areas which may need to be taken into consideration are: work permit(s) and/or access authorisation permits, technical standards and Industry Guidelines, rural applications, inclement weather, ground configuration and access - undulations, uneven ground, soft ground, damp, road construction, pavements, etc, feeder route plans and the use of technology and mathematical calculations
Plant, equipment and specialised tools for use in electrical environments
Vegetation control includes: site rehabilitation, horticultural vegetation cutting and pruning techniques to minimise regrowth - chemicals and physical cutting and pruning tools/equipment, concerns for vegetation type/species and significance - heritage, significant, urban/rural; vegetation fire prone areas and areas of particular significance.
Use of technology and mathematical calculations
The following constants and variables included in the Element/Performance Criteria in this unit are fully described in the Definitions Section 1 of this volume and form an integral part of the Range Statement of this unit:
Appropriate and relevant persons (see Personnel)
Appropriate authorities
Appropriate work platform
Assessing risk
Assessment
Authorisation
Diagnostic, testing and restoration
Documenting detail work events, record keeping and or storage of information
Drawings and specifications
Emergency
Environmental and sustainable energy procedures
Environmental legislation
Environmental management documentation
Established procedures
Fall prevention
Hazards
Identifying hazards
Inspect
Legislation
MSDS
Notification
OHS practices
OHS issues
Permits and/or permits to work
Personnel
Quality assurance systems
Requirements
Testing procedures
Work clearance systems

EVIDENCE GUIDE
9) This provides essential advice for assessment of the unit of competency and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria and the Range Statement of the unit of competency and the Training Package Assessment Guidelines.
The Evidence Guide forms an integral part of this Competency Standard Unit and shall be used in conjunction with all component parts of this unit and, performed in accordance with the Assessment Guidelines of this Training Package.

Overview of Assessment
9.1)

Longitudinal competency development approaches to assessment, such as Profiling, require data to be reliably gathered in a form that can be consistently interpreted over time. This approach is best utilised in Apprenticeship programs and reduces assessment intervention. It is the Industry’s preferred model for apprenticeships. However, where summative (or final) assessment is used it is to include the application of the competency in the normal work environment or, at a minimum, the application of the competency in a realistically simulated work environment. It is recognised that, in some circumstances, assessment in part or full can occur outside the workplace. However, it must be in accord with Industry and, Regulatory policy in this regard.
Methods chosen for a particular assessment will be influenced by various factors. These include the extent of the assessment, the most effective locations for the assessment activities to take place, access to physical resources, additional safety measures that may be required and the critical nature of the competencies being assessed.
The critical safety nature of working with electricity, electrical equipment, gas or any other hazardous substance/material carries risk in deeming a person competent. Hence, sources of evidence need to be ‘rich’ in nature so as to minimise error in judgment.
Activities associated with normal every day work have a bearing on the decision as to how much and how detailed the data gathered will contribute to its ‘richness’. Some skills are more critical to safety and operational requirements while the same skills may be more or less frequently practiced. These points are raised for the assessors to consider when choosing an assessment method and developing assessment instruments. Sample assessment instruments are included for Assessors in the Assessment Guidelines of this Training Package.

Critical aspects of evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
9.2)

Before the critical aspects of evidence are considered all prerequisites shall be met.
Evidence for competence in this unit shall be considered holistically. Each Element and associated Performance Criteria shall be demonstrated on at least two occasions in accordance with the “Assessment Guidelines - UET12”. Evidence shall also comprise:
A representative body of Performance Criteria demonstrated within the timeframes typically expected of the discipline, work function and industrial environment. In particular this shall incorporate evidence that shows a candidate is able to:
Implement Occupational Health and Safety workplace procedures and practices including the use of risk control measures as specified in the Performance Criteria and range; and
Apply sustainable energy principles and practices as specified in the Performance Criteria and range; and
Demonstrate an understanding of the essential knowledge and associated skills as described in this unit to such an extent that the learner’s performance outcome is reported in accordance with the preferred approach; namely a percentile graded result, where required by the regulated environment; and
Demonstrate an appropriate level of employability skills; and
Conduct work observing the relevant Anti Discrimination legislation, regulations, policies and workplace procedures; and
Demonstrated performance across a representative range of contexts from the prescribed items below:


Range of tools/equipment/materials/procedures/workplaces/other variables


Group No
The minimum number of items on which skill is to be demonstrated
Item List


A
Confirm operational knowledge associated with the cutting vegetation at ground level near live electrical apparatus in all of the following:
Principles of electricity, the three phase power system.
Power system.
Recognition of aerial voltage systems.
Identification of Low Voltage Aerial Circuits.
Identification of High Voltage Aerial Circuits.
"Safe working zone" and "Ordinary person zone" so defined by relevant authorities.
Use of technical standards, acts, regulations, codes /guidelines and established/enterprise/asset owner’s procedures.
System Control - Information required and function.
Vicinity Permit - Information required and function.
Sensitive Earth Fault (SEF) System
Confirm environmental principals and procedures


B
Confirm safe practices associated with the cutting vegetation at ground level near live electrical apparatus in all of the following:

OHS safety practices and procedures.
Electric shock and resuscitation.
Release and rescue
Role of the Safety Observer
Events constituting an incident.
Procedures in the event of/responding to, incidents.
Methods of identifying hazards.
Risk assessment procedures for both worksite and pre-job checklist.
Selection of the best position for monitoring and controlling work (cutting)
Selection of correct line of site to the cutter
Correct observation of the work from ground level
Constant analysis and decision making relevant to the safety of the work, taking into account prevailing site conditions (lay of the land) and on-going weather conditions.


C
Confirm vegetation control associated with the cutting vegetation at ground near live electrical apparatus in all of the following:
Identify tree types
Confirm vegetation species and types
Confirm vegetation cutting techniques for different vegetation
Confirm appropriate vegetation machinery and equipment to be used
Use of feeder route plans


D
Confirm the safe cutting of vegetation at ground near live electrical apparatus in all of the following:
Use of cutting plans relevant to the vegetation type.
Safe use of all relevant personnel protective equipment
Safe use of tools and equipment such as hand saws, chainsaws, specialised tools and equipment and or power pruners at ground level.
Safe use of chemical control and application at ground level.
Safe cutting, pruning and tree trimming techniques at ground near electrical apparatus
Safe stump removal
Conduction of pre and post operational checks, inspection and minor maintenance on tools and equipment.
Safe deployment of equipment and tools in varying ground conditions and weather.
Safe debris removal


E
At least one occasion
Dealing with an unplanned event by drawing on essential knowledge and associated skills to provide appropriate solutions incorporated in the holistic assessment with the above listed items.

Context of and specific resources for assessment
9.3)

This unit should be assessed as it relates to normal work practice using procedures, information and resources typical of a workplace. This should include:
OHS policy and work procedures and instructions.
Suitable work environment, facilities, equipment and materials to safely undertake actual cutting of vegetation at ground level outside the ‘vegetation exclusion zone’ near live electrical apparatus
In addition to the resources listed above, in Context of and specific resources for assessment, evidence should show demonstrated competency working below ground, in limited spaces, with different structural/construction types and method and in a variety of environments.

Method of assessment
9.4)

This Competency Standard Unit shall be assessed by methods given in Volume 1, Part 3 “Assessment Guidelines”.
Note:
Competent performance with inherent safe working practices is expected in the Transmission, Distribution and Rail Traction Industry. This requires that the specified essential knowledge and associated skills are assessed in a structured environment which is primarily intended for learning/assessment and incorporates all necessary equipment and facilities for learners to develop and demonstrate the essential knowledge and associated skills described in this unit.

Concurrent assessment and relationship with other units
9.5)

For optimisation of training and assessment effort, competence in this unit may be assessed concurrently with the following units:

RTC2005A
Fell small trees

RTC2706A
Apply chemicals under supervision