Application
This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to apply safe operational practices when a waste management vehicle comes into contact with overhead wires in a simulated environment. The unit covers responding to the initial contact including assessing the nature of the electrical event and the potential threat. The unit also covers procedures for responding to the potential threat including providing directions to people in close proximity to the event, contacting relevant personnel to report the location and nature of the incident, locating fallen wires, and conducting an emergency evacuation from the vehicle. The unit requires completing an incident report after the event.
The unit supports those who work under limited supervision in a waste management team.
Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements may apply to this unit of competency in some States where a licence is required to operate various plant, vehicles or equipment used to transport, shift, load, unload, lift, compact or otherwise process waste. Relevant state and territory regulatory authorities should be consulted to confirm those requirements.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions. | ||
1. | Respond to contact with overhead wires. | 1.1. | Vehicle operation is stopped immediately when contact with overhead wires is made to prevent potential danger according to organisational and compliance requirements. |
1.2. | Nature of electrical event and potential threat is assessed from inside vehicle cab according to organisational and compliance requirements. | ||
1.3. | People in close proximity are directed to stay clear until area is electrically safe and situation is resolved according to organisational and compliance requirements. | ||
1.4. | Relevant personnel are contacted and informed of exact location and nature of incident according to organisational and compliance requirements. | ||
2. | Respond to potential threat from overhead wires. | 2.1. | Location of possible fallen wires is identified and all parts of vehicle are treated as live according to organisational and compliance requirements. |
2.2. | Where emergency evacuation is necessary, vehicle is exited safely according to organisational and compliance requirements. | ||
3. | Complete post-incident tasks. | 3.1. | Incident report is completed according to organisational and compliance requirements. |
3.2. | Vehicle is inspected for damage caused by electricity prior to operation according to organisational requirements. | ||
Evidence of Performance
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must satisfy the requirements of the elements, performance criteria, foundation skills and range of conditions of this unit.
The person must also apply safe operational practices when a vehicle contacts overhead wires in the following two contexts:
wires in contact with the vehicle
wires that have fallen on the road.
For each of the above contexts, the person must:
immediately stop vehicle operation and correctly assess the nature of the electrical event and potential threat
remain inside the cab and direct people in close proximity to stay clear until the situation can be safely resolved
contact relevant personnel to report the incident nature and location
identify the location of wires and treat all parts of the vehicle as live
identify the side of the vehicle where a safe exit can be made
demonstrate safe exit from the vehicle
complete an incident report
follow organisational procedures and comply with regulatory and legal requirements while responding to the emergency situation.
Evidence of Knowledge
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must demonstrate knowledge of:
causes and effects of electricity
effects of electricity on vehicle tyres and waste, including pyrolysis
organisational policies and procedures and regulatory and legal requirements relating to working safely and emergency response when operating vehicles
potential threats arising from vehicles contacting overhead wires
specific dangers of electricity where wires are broken, resting on vehicle or laying on the ground
step potential relating to emergency evacuation of vehicles
types of electrical events that may create an emergency situation, including:
event that involves electrical equipment and in which significant property damage is caused directly by electricity or originates from electricity
circumstances in which a person is not electrically safe if:
circumstances involve high voltage electrical equipment
person has not received a shock or injury but may still be unsafe
types of overhead wires and the ways that they can pose a hazard to waste management vehicles and their components:
catenary wires
pay television (TV)
power company wire that may be:
high voltage wire - wire carrying a voltage above low voltage in accordance with state regulations
low voltage wire - 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
service lines
streetlight power supply lines
telecommunication wires.
Assessment Conditions
The following must be present and available to learners during assessment activities:
equipment:
personal protective equipment (PPE), as specified by organisational requirements
waste management vehicle, as specified by organisational requirements
physical conditions:
assessment must be conducted in a simulated environment
relationships with team members and supervisor:
working under limited supervision.
Timeframe:
as specified by organisational requirements.
Assessor requirements
As a minimum, assessors must satisfy the assessor requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) current at the time of assessment.
Foundation Skills
This section describes the language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills essential to performance in this unit but not explicit in the performance criteria. | |
Skill | Performance feature |
Numeracy skills to: | calculate distance required to safely clear the vehicle. |
Oral communication skills to: | ask questions to elicit instructions from relevant personnel. |
Reading skills to: | interpret vehicle gauges and indicators. |
Writing skills to: | complete waste documents and proformas. |
Range Statement
This section specifies work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. | |
Compliance requirements must include: | commonwealth, state and territory legislation relating to heavy vehicle operation and transporting waste, including: environmental protection hazardous substances and dangerous goods industry codes work health and safety licensing requirements road laws. |
Relevant personnel must include at least one of the following: | emergency services personnel organisational personnel. |
Exited safely must include: | not touching the ground and vehicle at the same time when exiting; and jumping clear of the vehicle and landing on feet in a stationary position, with feet held closely together; and with feet held tightly together, taking a series of small hops (bunny hops) to be at least 10 metres clear of the vehicle and other potentially energised items; or where performing bunny hops is not possible, shuffling without breaking feet apart. |
Sectors
Waste management