Assessor Resource

ICTCBL4057B
Test cable bearers

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


Technicians and line installers whose work involves testing cable bearers apply the skills and knowledge in this unit for customer cable and service provider networks.

They may use cable test routines for testing connections, signal strength or loss of cable links to manufacturer’s and design specifications.

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to test cable bearers. It involves setting up, testing, interpreting test results and determining appropriate action.

This unit applies to the testing of all cable types (metallic, optical fibre and coaxial).

All customer cabling work in the telecommunications, fire, security and data industries must be performed by a registered cabler. All cablers are required to register with an Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)-accredited registrar.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.



Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

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

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

Evidence of the ability to:

perform tests on cable bearers

use a range of tests

interpret test results

rectify a range of faults

report on the completed tests

comply with all related OHS requirements and work practices.

Context of, and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

sites where testing may be conducted

use of cabling and equipment currently used in industry

relevant regulatory and equipment documentation that impact on testing cable bearers.

Methods of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

direct observation of the candidate performing cable test on customer premises

review of reports completed by the candidate for different test examples and situations

oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of cable bearer tests.

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

ICTCBL4023B Supervise cabling project.

Aboriginal people and other people from a non-English speaking background may have second language issues.

Access must be provided to appropriate learning and assessment support when required.

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and appropriate to the oral communication skill level, and language and literacy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.

In all cases where practical assessment is used it will be combined with targeted questioning to assess required knowledge. Questioning techniques should not require language, literacy and numeracy skills beyond those required in this unit of competency.

Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with special needs.

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills

communication skills to liaise with internal and external personnel on technical and operational matters

literacy skills to interpret technical documentation, such as equipment manuals and specifications

numeracy skills to take and analyse measurements

planning and organisational skills to organise and maintain equipment

problem solving skills to solve equipment and logistics problems

task management skills to work systematically with required attention to detail and adherence to all safety requirements

technical skills to use hand and power tools, diagnostic equipment and perform fault clearance.

Required knowledge

features and operating requirements of test equipment

information required to operate equipment according to a test specification

legislation, codes of practice and other formal agreements that impact on the work activity

manufacturer’s requirements for safe operation of equipment

specific OHS requirements relating to the activity and site conditions

test methods and performance requirements

typical issues and challenges that occur on site.

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.

Relevant legislation, codes, regulations and standards may include:

appropriate licences:

crane

EWP

forklift

winch

Australian Communications Industry Forum (ACIF) standards and codes

AS Communications Cabling Manual (CCM)
Volume 1

AS/NZS 3000:2007

AS/NZS 3080:2003

AS/NZS 3084:2003

AS/NZS 3085.1:2004

AS/NZS IEC 61935.1:2006

AS/NZS IEC 61935.2:2006

AS/NZS ISO/IEC 14763.3:2007

AS/NZS ISO/IEC 15018:2005

AS/NZS ISO/IEC 24702:2007

cabling security codes and regulations

Environmental Protection Acts

OHS

road and traffic control legislation and codes

technical standards AS/ACIF S008:2006 and AS/ACIF S009:2006.

Appropriate personnel may be:

asset manager

network operations centre (NOC)

project supervisor

site supervisor.

Safety hazards may refer to:

access points that may contain:

hazardous light (non-visible laser)

radio frequency (RF) emission

active lasers with no safety labels

active optical fibres

contact with remote power feed

electrical supply that require mandatory separation from communications cable

exposed fibres

unsafe support structures

unsafe weather:

heavy rains

high winds

severe heat or cold

thunderstorms.

Cable bearer may include:

aerial

coaxial cable

metallic

optical fibre

underground.

Tools and safety equipment may include:

personal protective equipment

safety equipment

test equipment:

cable tester

continuity tester

local area network (LAN) Cat tester

optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR)

passive optical network (PON) meter

RF meter

tools:

crimping tool

fibre cleaning kit

fibre splicer

labeller

screw drivers

spanners

tagging tool

terminating tool.

Cable tests may include:

for coaxial cable:

insulation

loss

for optical cable:

dispersion

frequency response

loss

polarisation

spectrum test

for metallic cable:

continuity

cross talk

insertion loss

return loss.

OHS and environmental requirements may include:

environmental considerations:

clean-up protection

stormwater protection

waste management

identifying other services, including power and gas

personal protective equipment:

earmuffs

gloves:

leather

plastic

rubber

head protection

masks

protective suits

safety boots

safety glasses

safety equipment:

flashing lights

safety barriers

warning signs and tapes

witches hats

safe working practices, such as the safe use and handling of:

chemicals

materials

tools and equipment

special access requirements.

Other services may include:

availability and suitability of existing cabling trays and fixing systems

electricity supply

fire sprinkler systems

gas and water mains

high voltage (HV) cables.

Cable parameters may include:

age of cable

cable length

cable type

number of joints

splices

coax joints

terminations

performance characteristics.

Performance tests may include:

insertion loss (total end-to-end loss with cable and connectors)

link loss (cable loss without connectors)

return loss which measures signal reflected of an incident or point end-to-end.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Obtain relevant legislation, codes, regulations and standards 
Scope the work by obtaining project plan from appropriate personnel and arrange for site access to comply with security arrangements 
Notify appropriate personnel of identified safety hazards at the worksite 
Determine type of cable bearer and cable route from project plan and identify test requirements using work instructions 
Obtain tools and safety equipment and material to perform tasks safely and efficiently 
Select and use required protective equipment and make site safe and secure for testing work 
Determine need for outage, extent, location and timing, if required. and negotiate with appropriate personnel 
Select and set up suitable test equipment according to manufacturer’s specifications for the cable tests to be performed to ensure relevance of test data 
Ensure equipment calibration certification is current to reduce possibility of unreliable test data and ensure traceability where appropriate 
Follow occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental requirements for the given work and identify and avoid other services 
Determine and record cable parameters for consideration in assessment of performance 
Conduct performance tests as required by both equipment and enterprise specification for the specific cable type and purpose 
Record test results for evaluation and compare against manufacturer’s and site specifications 
Analyse test results and evaluate cable performance with consideration of recorded cable parameters 
Diagnose problems to determine cable faults and make arrangements for repairs or modifications 
Retest faulty cable after the faults have been rectified 
Produce evaluated test results according to enterprise guidelines and without delay to ensure test results remain current 
Update site and installation files to ensure traceability of information on system performance is maintained 
Archive test records details for the life of the cable according to enterprise guidelines 
Remove waste and debris from worksite and dispose of according to environmental requirements 
Notify appropriate personnel of job completion and obtain sign off 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

ICTCBL4057B - Test cable bearers
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Assessment Record Sheet

ICTCBL4057B - Test cable bearers

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: