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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Stop operation if vehicle contacts overhead wires
   • Stop operation of lifter/vehicle immediately, stop the engine and apply vehicle brakes
   • Assess the situation from inside the cab of the vehicle to ascertain the nature of the electrical event
   • If there is a potential threat evacuate the vehicle (see element 3)
2. Remain in vehicle if there is no potential threat
   • Remain in the vehicle and direct people in close proximity to stay clear until the area is electrically safe and the situation is resolved in accordance with company requirements and relevant legislation
   • Contact relevant company personnel to inform them of the exact location of the incident and the nature of the incident in accordance with company requirements and relevant legislation
3. Evacuate the vehicle if there is a potential threat
   • Assess the location of possible fallen wires and treat all parts of the vehicle as live
   • Identify which side of the vehicle can be exited safely
   • Do not touch the ground and the vehicle at the same time
   • Exit the vehicle by jumping clear of the vehicle and landing on your feet. When jumping clear you must remain standing, and land with your feet close together
   • Keeping your feet close together, use a series of small hops to make your way to a position that is well clear of the vehicle and other potentially energised items
4. Report the incident
   • Return to depot in accordance with company requirements
   • Complete incident report in accordance with company requirements and relevant legislation

Required Skills

Refer to Evidence Guide

Evidence Required

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

PRMCMNA Participate in workplace safety arrangements

PRMCMN201A Participate in workplace safety arrangements

PRMCMNA Contribute to workplace safety arrangements

PRMCMN301A Contribute to workplace safety arrangements.

Resources required to assess this unit

The following resources should be available

preoperational 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 customerworkplace 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 eg 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

	Perform the process			Perform and administer the process		Perform administer and design the process
How can communication of ideas and information be applied						Communicate effectively with personnel and members of the public
How can information be collected analysed and organised						Gather information from a number of sources including company requirements and company emergency response plan about the potential danger of vehicle contact with overhead wires
How are activities planned and organised						Plan detailed activities for emergency situation
How can teamwork be applied						Work effectively with relevant personnel to apply safe practices following an electrical event
How can the use of mathematical ideas and techniques be applied						Conduct mathematical calculations required in the documentation of plant operations
How can problemsolving skills be applied						Take quick calm immediate action to alleviate danger once contact is made with overhead wires
How can the use of technology be applied						Apply technological principles such as use of a twoway radio in an emergency situation

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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.

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