Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to work with or operate plant in or around close proximity of power sources, services and assets for the general safety of personnel and equipment. It includes all occupational areas that may require working near electricity.

Application of the unit 

This unit of competency supports achievement of skills and knowledge to work safely around power sources when undertaking construction tasks.

Prerequisite units 

CPCCOHS2001A

Apply OHS requirements, policies and procedures in the construction industry

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Plan and prepare.

1.1. Work instructions, including plans, specifications, quality requirements and operational details, are obtained, confirmed and applied from relevant information  for planning and preparation .

1.2. Safety  (OHS ) requirements are followed in accordance with safety plans and policies.

1.3. Signage and barricade requirements are identified and implemented.

1.4. Plant , tools and equipment  are selected to carry out tasks are consistent with job requirements, checked for serviceability, and any faults are rectified or reported prior to commencement.

1.5. Environmental requirements  are identified for the project in accordance with environmental plans and statutory and regulatory authority  obligations, and are applied.

2. Apply safe work practices.

2.1. Relevant authorities are contacted to identify electrical sources  and type.

2.2. Plant is positioned according to work method statement and job safety analyses (JSAs).

2.3. Plant procedures are followed to comply with work method statement and JSAs.

2.4. Work is conducted in or around the power source, service or asset.

2.5. Personnel, plant and equipment are retracted from powered area following safe work method statement and JSAs.

3. Clean up.

3.1. Work area is cleared and materials disposed of, reused or recycled in accordance with legislation, regulations, codes of practice and job specification.

3.2. Plant, tools and equipment are cleaned, checked, maintained and stored in accordance with manufacturer recommendations and standard work practices.

3.3. Work completion procedures are applied and relevant personnel are notified that work is finished.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

Required skills for this unit are:

• communication skills to:

• determine requirements
• enable clear and direct communication, using questioning to identify and confirm requirements, share information, listen and understand
• follow instructions
• identify electrical source and type from relevant authorities
• read and interpret:

• documentation from a variety of sources
• drawings and specifications

• report faults
• use language and concepts appropriate to cultural differences
• use and interpret non-verbal communication, such as hand signals

• identifying and accurately reporting to appropriate personnel any faults in tools, equipment or materials
• numeracy skills to apply measurements and make calculations
• organisational skills, including the ability to plan and set out work
• teamwork skills to work with others to action tasks and relate to people from a range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with varying physical and mental abilities
• technological skills to:

• use a range of mobile technology, such as two-way radio and mobile phones
• voice and hand signals to access and understand site-specific instructions.

Required knowledge 

Required knowledge for this unit is:

• construction terminology
• electrical safety on construction work sites
• first aid including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
• JSA and safe work method statements
• material safety data sheets (MSDS)
• materials storage and environmentally friendly waste management
• plans, specifications and drawings
• quality requirements
• site specific emergency procedures
• types, characteristics, uses and limitations of plant, tools and equipment
• working at heights
• working with electrical power techniques
• workplace and equipment safety requirements.

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment 

This unit of competency could be assessed in the workplace or a close simulation of the workplace environment, provided that simulated or project-based assessment techniques fully replicate construction workplace conditions, materials, activities, responsibilities and procedures.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to provide evidence of the ability to:

• locate, interpret and apply relevant information, standards and specifications
• comply with site safety plan and OHS legislation, regulations and codes of practice applicable to workplace operations
• comply with organisational policies and procedures, including quality requirements
• safely and effectively use tools, plant and equipment
• communicate and work effectively and safely with others
• contact relevant authorities
• apply work method statements and JSAs to oversee plant positioning and operation for one project, including erection and/or placement of barriers and safeguards.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

This competency is to be assessed using standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints.

Assessment of essential underpinning knowledge will usually be conducted in an off-site context.

Assessment is to comply with relevant regulatory or Australian standards' requirements.

Resource implications for assessment include:

• an induction procedure and requirement
• realistic tasks or simulated tasks covering the mandatory task requirements
• relevant specifications and work instructions
• tools and equipment appropriate to applying safe work practices
• support materials appropriate to activity
• workplace instructions relating to safe work practices and addressing hazards and emergencies
• material safety data sheets
• research resources, including industry related systems information.

Reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities must be made to assessment processes where required. This could include access to modified equipment and other physical resources, and the provision of appropriate assessment support.

Method of assessment 

Assessment methods must:

• satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the Construction, Plumbing and Services Training Package
• include direct observation of tasks in real or simulated work conditions, with questioning to confirm the ability to consistently identify and correctly interpret the essential underpinning knowledge required for practical application
• reinforce the integration of employability skills with workplace tasks and job roles
• confirm that competency is verified and able to be transferred to other circumstances and environments.

Validity and sufficiency of evidence requires that:

• competency will need to be demonstrated over a period of time reflecting the scope of the role and the practical requirements of the workplace
• where the assessment is part of a structured learning experience the evidence collected must relate to a number of performances assessed at different points in time and separated by further learning and practice, with a decision on competency only taken at the point when the assessor has complete confidence in the person's demonstrated ability and applied knowledge
• all assessment that is part of a structured learning experience must include a combination of direct, indirect and supplementary evidence.

Assessment processes and techniques should as far as is practical take into account the language, literacy and numeracy capacity of the candidate in relation to the competency being assessed.

Supplementary evidence of competency may be obtained from relevant authenticated documentation from third parties, such as existing supervisors, team leaders or specialist training staff.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Information  includes:

• verbal or written and graphical instructions
• diagrams or sketches
• instructions issued by authorised organisational or external personnel
• manufacturer specifications and instructions where specified
• memos
• MSDS
• organisation work specifications and requirements
• plans and specifications
• regulatory and legislative requirements pertaining to working safely around power
• relevant Australian standards
• safe work procedures related to working safely around power
• signage
• work bulletins
• work schedules.

Planning and preparation  include:

• work site inspection
• equipment defect identification
• assessment of conditions and hazards
• determination of work requirements.

Safety  (OHS ) is to be in accordance with legislation, regulations, codes of practice, organisational safety policies and procedures, and project safety plan and may include:

• emergency procedures, including extinguishing fires, organisational first aid requirements and evacuation
• handling of materials
• hazard control
• hazardous materials and substances
• safe operating procedures, including the conduct of operational risk assessment and treatments associated with:

• earth leakage boxes
• lighting
• power cables, including overhead service trays, cables and conduits
• restricted access barriers
• surrounding structures
• traffic control
• trip hazards
• work site visitors and the public
• working at heights
• working in confined spaces
• working in proximity to others
• working with dangerous materials

• organisational first aid
• personal protective clothing and equipment prescribed under legislation, regulations and workplace policies and practices
• use of firefighting equipment
• use of tools and equipment
• workplace environment and safety.

Signage and barricade requirements  include:

• barricades
• isolation
• other physical barriers
• site safety signage.

Plant  includes:

• back hoes
• booms
• cranes
• EWPs
• excavators
• scaffold.

Tools and equipment  include:

• those associated with the task at hand.

Environmental requirements  include:

• clean-up protection
• noise and dust
• vibration
• waste management.

Statutory and regulatory authorities :

• include federal, state and local authorities administering applicable Acts, regulations and codes of practice
• must include federal, state and local electrical authorities.

Electrical sources  include:

• distribution towers
• generators
• poles
• sub-stations
• temporary services
• train and tram assets
• transmission towers
• underground and overhead wires
• underground conductors
• all other services, sources and assets.

Unit sector 

Construction

Co-requisite units 

Nil

Functional area