Unit of competency details

Modification History

Not Applicable

Unit Descriptor

Unit descriptor 

This unit of competency describes appropriate actions to take to ensure health and safety of the operator and public in the event of vehicle contact with overhead wires, and to ensure appropriate reporting, investigation and notification of any wire contact incidents that may occur.

Application of the Unit

Not Applicable

Licensing/Regulatory Information

Not Applicable

Pre-Requisites

Not Applicable

Employability Skills Information

Not Applicable

Elements and Performance Criteria Pre-Content

Not Applicable

Elements and Performance Criteria

Required Skills and Knowledge

Refer to Evidence Guide

Evidence Guide

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

Critical aspects of competency 

• Correct identification of potential risks and hazards.
• Safe response action upon vehicle contact of overhead wires.

Knowledge needed to achieve the performance criteria 

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this unit in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts, and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this unit are listed below.

• Overhead wire infrastructure knowledge.
• Dangerous electrical events.
• Emergency response procedures.
• Company requirements.
• Occupational health and safety requirements.
• Duty of care in provision of services.
• Relevant industry standards.
• Relevant legislation.
• Relevant environmental regulations.
• OHS hierarchy of control.

Specific skills needed to achieve the performance criteria 

To achieve the performance criteria, some complementary skills are required. These are:

• following instructions, giving information, signalling and writing
• reading and interpreting gauges and indicators
• electrical safety identification
• safe and efficient work practices
• completing incident reports.

Other units of competency that could be assessed with this unit 

This unit could be assessed on its own or in combination with other units relevant to the job function for example:

• PRMCMN201A Participate in workplace safety arrangements
• PRMCMN301A Contribute to workplace safety arrangements.

Resources required to assess this unit 

The following resources should be available:

• pre-operational checklist
• communications equipment
• OHS requirements
• relevant legislation
• emergency response plan.

Gaining evidence to assess this unit 

For valid and reliable assessment of this unit, the competency should be demonstrated over a period of time and be observed by the assessor (or assessment team working together to conduct the assessment). The competency is to be demonstrated in a range of situations, which may include customer/workplace interruptions and involvement in related activities normally experienced in the workplace.

Evidence of competency is best obtained by learning from reports of previous vehicle contact with overhead wires and studying the emergency response plan in this regard.

Consistency in performance 

Assessment requires that the plan meets the objectives of the client and that it complies with industry expectations in the particular client environment. If the environment is narrowly defined or is not representative of industry needs, it may be necessary to refer to portfolio case studies of a variety of waste requirements to assess competency in the incidence of vehicle contact with overhead wires.

Oral questioning or written assessment and hypothetical situations (scenarios) may be used to assess underpinning knowledge. (In assessment situations where the candidate is offered a preference between oral questioning and written audit, questions are to be identical.)

Supplementary evidence may be obtained from relevant authenticated correspondence from existing supervisors, team leaders or specialist training staff.

Note: All practical demonstrations must adhere to the safety, environmental and other regulations e.g. health regulations, relevant to each state or territory.

Key competency levels 

There are a number of processes that are learnt throughout work and life that are required in all jobs. They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions. Some of these are covered by the key competencies, although others may be added.

Information below highlights how these processes are applied in this competency standard.

Range Statement

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement links the required knowledge and organisational and technical requirements to the workplace context. It describes any contextual variables that will be used or encountered when applying the competency in work situations. It allows for different work practices and work and knowledge requirements as well as for differences between organisations and workplaces. The following variables may be present for this particular unit.

Client /company  includes:

• all forms of business enterprises in this context including government agencies
• local governments/councils
• private and public companies
• residents/ratepayers.

Company requirements  are found in:

• briefing papers
• letters
• quality assurance documentation
• tender/contract documentation
• verbal or written instructions.

Electrical event  includes:

• the coming into existence of circumstances in which a person is not electrically safe if:

• the circumstances involve high voltage electrical equipment
• despite the coming into existence of the circumstances the person does not receive a shock or injury

• the coming into existence of the following circumstances:

• if a person had been at a particular place at a particular time, the person would not have been electrically safe
• the person would not have been electrically safe because of circumstances involving high voltage electrical equipment

• an event that involves electrical equipment and in which significant property damage is caused directly by electricity or originates from electricity
• electrical contact that does not comply with state/territory legislation.

Electrically safe  means personnel and members of the public are free from risk of death, shock or injury caused directly by electricity or originating from electricity.

Nature of the incident  may include the vehicle, part of the vehicle, or object in contact with the vehicle (e.g. a bin):

• has brought down overhead wires
• has contacted overhead wires and remains in contact with overhead wires
• is entangled in overhead wires
• temporarily contacts overhead wires and causes no apparent damage.

Overhead wires  are any wires or structures that, if contact is made with any component of the vehicle or load, may create a health and safety risk to the vehicle or load, may create a health and safety risk to the vehicle operator and/or members of the public, or a disruption of service. Examples include powerlines, service lines, telecommunication wires, pay TV, catenary wires, streetlight power supply lines and power company wire that may be:

• high voltage wire - wires carrying a voltage above low voltage in accordance with state regulations
• low voltage wire - any wire carrying a voltage greater than extra low voltage, but not more than 1000V AC RMS or 1500V ripple-free DC. This includes service lines or feeders (i.e. 240V or 415V), street lighting wires (240V) and telecommunications cabling (i.e. 90V)
• low wires - wire or similar structure that has been erected or is suspended at a height that would permit contact with vehicle or load during normal collection operations.

Performance of this unit  is carried out in accordance with relevant requirements of the following:

• Australian Standards
• environmental regulations
• legislative requirements
• manufacturers' specifications
• OHS procedures
• organisational procedures
• relevant state/territory regulations.

Potential threat  includes an event involving imminent risk of explosion, fire or serious bodily injury or death.

Relevant legislation and codes  cover state and federal:

• duty of care
• industrial legislation
• industry codes of conduct
• occupational health and safety
• environmental protection legislation.

Unit Sector(s)

Not Applicable