Lighting technicians or lighting assistants generally undertake the role described in this unit under the supervision of a lighting designer, technical director or senior lighting technician. They install and test equipment according to a lighting plan.

On some productions and outside broadcasts, a qualified gaffer/chief electrician supervises the installation/rigging of lighting equipment and required power sources.

Skills associated with operating lighting equipment during productions are covered in:

CUFLGT302A Record and operate standard lighting cues

CUFLGT402A Set up, record and operate lighting cues and effects.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Clarify lighting requirements for productions

1. Confirm overall lighting requirements with reference to lighting documentation and in consultation with relevant production personnel

2. Calculate power requirements and identify and confirm that power sources and locations meet production requirements

3. Correctly identify patching, colour and focus requirements

4. Identify the need for additional equipment or materials and organise timely acquisition according to enterprise procedures

Prepare lighting equipment for installation

5. Use test equipment to identify faults and to ensure lighting equipment is safe and operational

6. Refer complex repairs to technical specialists according to enterprise procedures

7. Prepare and assemble colour, equipment and accessories in readiness for installation and or transportation when required

8. Pre-rig lighting equipment as required according to safety and licensing requirements

9. Prepare and/or roll extension leads, looms and cables to meet design specifications, enterprise standards and legal requirements

Install lighting

10. Install required rigging and accessories according to statutory and enterprise safety requirements

11. Test, install and hang lanterns and accessories according to the lighting plan, scale and manufacturer specifications

12. Install power supplies according to lighting plans, location standards, manufacturer specifications and safety regulations

13. Patch lanterns and accessories according to lighting or patch plans

14. Safely and neatly secure and correctly label rated cabling so that it is clear of moving elements

15. Angle and focus lanterns according to lighting plans and artistic requirements

16. Check the safety of equipment both during and after installation according to legal requirements

Install lighting control system

17. Correctly connect dimmers to power, assign and turn on

18. Install and configure control desk and peripherals according to production requirements

19. Run and connect control cables and secure safely

20. Patch lanterns and channels to dimmers according to lighting or patch plan sheets and location procedures/conditions

Ensure electrical safety

21. Complete installation and testing according to legislative and OHS requirements

22. Check three-phase distribution and power calculations in collaboration with licensed electricians as required

23. Check that power supply is sufficient for load requirements and that distribution of electrical loading is within limits

24. Ensure that cables used are correctly rated, including three-phase cable to dimmers, and that three-phase supplies are balanced

25. Ensure that cabling and connectors meet legislative and OHS requirements

Test and adjust lighting

26. Test all aspects of lighting, including communication system, control desk and peripherals using appropriate techniques and according to safety requirements

27. Identify the need for adjustments and make modifications accordingly

28. Liaise with appropriate production personnel to confirm that lighting installation meets requirements

29. Complete lighting documentation accurately, legibly and concisely and make updates as required

Disassemble lighting equipment

30. Break down and carry lighting equipment and accessories, employing safe lifting techniques

31. Clean and safely pack equipment into cases to avoid damage and prepare for transport as required

32. Report and document equipment that is damaged and requires maintenance to the relevant production personnel

33. Leave the worksite in the original or improved condition

Required skills

communication, literacy and teamwork skills sufficient to:

work effectively as a member of a production team

interpret lighting plans

interpret written and verbal instructions

organisational and planning skills sufficient to assemble and test lighting equipment in a logical sequence

initiative in the context of making practical suggestions that result in minor modifications to lighting plans

technical skills sufficient to:

use tools and test equipment necessary to install and maintain lighting equipment

use different types of light-measuring devices

operate and interpret information readouts from a colour temperature meter

numeracy skills sufficient to:

make mathematical calculations necessary for the safe assembly, installation and testing of equipment, e.g. power requirements, binary calculations for setting DMX dip switches

use a scale ruler

Required knowledge

industry knowledge, including:

roles and responsibilities of production personnel

industry terminology relevant to lighting operations

issues and challenges that arise in the context of installing and testing lighting equipment

format of lighting plans and the meaning of different components, including an understanding of scale, position and orientation

different types of hardware used for lighting installation, e.g. screws, nuts, bolts

types of lanterns, lighting systems, control systems, and lighting accessories and their relevance to different types of production

the range of colour gels available and the way in which different colours are used in lighting, including the relationship between colour and light

techniques for rigging and hanging lighting equipment within licensing requirements

basic principles of lighting, e.g. key, fill and back light

relevant workers' compensation and OHS legislation

safety regulations and industry safety codes that affect the installation of lighting equipment and working with power, including OHS legislation

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 following is essential:

application of a range of technical lighting knowledge and manual techniques to the installation of lighting equipment so that the lighting set-up meets production and safety requirements

application of safe working practices when installing lighting equipment

ability to work cooperatively in a team environment.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

practical demonstration of skills through the installation and testing of lighting equipment for an actual production

completion of tasks within workplace time constraints

involvement of and interaction with a team to reflect the collaborative nature of the technical production process

use of industry-standard equipment

access to a lighting plan from which the candidate is able to work

access to a production and production venue

access to a range of lighting equipment and accessories as identified in the range statement

access to appropriate learning and assessment support when required

use of culturally appropriate processes and techniques appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of learners and the work being performed.

Method 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 questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance

direct observation of the candidate installing lighting equipment

inspection of lighting equipment set-up by the candidate to assess workability and safety issues

verbal or written questioning to assess knowledge of equipment, techniques and how to interpret a lighting plan.

Guidance information for assessment

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

CUFLGT302A Record and operate standard lighting cues

CUSOHS301A Follow occupational health and safety procedures.

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.

Lighting documentation may include:

building specifications, room layouts

carnet (for international travel) hire or loan contracts

colour cutting/coding schedules

colour list

colour lists, plots

cue synopsis

equipment instructions and/or manufacturer instructions and specifications

floor sheets

focus details

full equipment schedule

hire and loan agreements

international faxes

lantern schedules

lighting plan

patch sheet

power requirements

production schedule

transport or equipment lists

venue procedures.

Production personnel may include:

camera assistant

camera operator

director

director of photography

floor manager

grip

head of department

lighting designer

lighting personnel

producer

production manager

set designers

supervisor

technical director

other technical/specialist staff.

Productions may include:

animated productions

commercials

documentaries

EFP (electronic field production)

ENG (electronic news gathering)

feature films

filmed events or performances

live events

live or pre-recorded television productions

multi-camera

music video

short films

single-camera

theatre productions.

Test equipment may include:

analogue or digital multimeters

continuity tester

DMX cable tester

test lamps.

Lighting equipment may include:

architectural fixtures

digital moving lights (intelligent lights)

lanterns

special effects units, e.g.:

electrical/electronic props

strobes, mirror balls and motors, smoke machines, fog machines

ultraviolet light, oil and water crackers, effects projectors

studio and location units

theatre-based units.

Rigging and accessories may include:

boom arms

chain blocks/motors and other rigging equipment installed by a licensed rigger

hook clamps

H-stands

mobile booms

safety chains

scaffold clamps

spansets, slings, shackles

spigots

T-bars

telescopic stands

truss

winch-up stands.

Lanterns and accessories may include:

lanterns and luminaires, e.g.:

fresnel

profile

HMI (hydrargyrum medium arc-length iodide)

plasma, e.g. fluorescent

theatre-based units

studio and location units

special effects

moving lights

digital moving lights (intelligent lights)

lantern accessories, e.g.:

profile shutters

gobo holders

fresnel/PC barn doors

colour frames

manually operated colour changers

irises

colour scrollers

animation discs

gobo rotators and other effects accessories

range of lamps, e.g.:

incandescent

plasma

discharge

PAR (parabolic aluminised reflector)

low-voltage.

Dimmers may include:

analogue

multiplexed analogue dimmers

multiplexed digital dimmers

rheostat-based dimmers

self-contained dimmable controllers

single-unit, e.g. follow spot.

Control desk and peripherals may include:

control desk peripherals, e.g.:

monitors

printers

external memory storage, e.g. memory card or floppy disk

riggers' controls

desk lamps

control cables effects units and back-up units

effects units

back-up units

additional control modules, e.g. fader wings

manual desks

manual/memory desks ('rock' desks)

moving light desks

push-button memory desks ('theatre' desks).

Aspects of lighting to be tested may include:

correct fitting of colour and accessories

data flows

dimmer profiles

functioning of riggers' and designer controls

installation of automated software

operational function of equipment

patching of equipment

selection of control protocols

valid DMX signals/line.

Unit sector

Media and entertainment production - lighting

This unit contains employability skills.