Application
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.
Prerequisites
Not applicable.
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Prepare and set up for cable test | 1.1 Obtain relevant legislation, codes, regulations and standards 1.2 Scope the work by obtaining project plan from appropriate personnel and arrange for site access to comply with security arrangements 1.3 Notify appropriate personnel of identified safety hazards at the worksite 1.4 Determine type of cable bearer and cable route from project plan and identify test requirements using work instructions 1.5 Obtain tools and safety equipment and material to perform tasks safely and efficiently 1.6 Select and use required protective equipment and make site safe and secure for testing work 1.7 Determine need for outage, extent, location and timing, if required. and negotiate with appropriate personnel 1.8 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 1.9 Ensure equipment calibration certification is current to reduce possibility of unreliable test data and ensure traceability where appropriate |
2. Perform cable tests | 2.1 Follow occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental requirements for the given work and identify and avoid other services 2.2 Determine and record cable parameters for consideration in assessment of performance 2.3 Conduct performance tests as required by both equipment and enterprise specification for the specific cable type and purpose |
3. Interpret test results and determine action | 3.1 Record test results for evaluation and compare against manufacturer’s and site specifications 3.2 Analyse test results and evaluate cable performance with consideration of recorded cable parameters 3.3 Diagnose problems to determine cable faults and make arrangements for repairs or modifications 3.4 Retest faulty cable after the faults have been rectified |
4. Document test results and clean up site | 4.1 Produce evaluated test results according to enterprise guidelines and without delay to ensure test results remain current 4.2 Update site and installation files to ensure traceability of information on system performance is maintained 4.3 Archive test records details for the life of the cable according to enterprise guidelines 4.4 Remove waste and debris from worksite and dispose of according to environmental requirements 4.5 Notify appropriate personnel of job completion and obtain sign off |
Required Skills
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.
Evidence Required
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. |
Range Statement
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) 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. |
Sectors
Telecommunications - Cabling
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills.
Licensing Information
Licensing, legislative, regulatory and certification requirements apply to working at heights. If an elevated work platform (EWP) is required, verify state or territory law requirements for a licence to operate an EWP. Users should confirm requirements with the relevant federal, state or territory authority.
If working at heights, achievement of the unit ‘CPCPCM2015A Work safely on roofs’ from the CPC08 Construction and Plumbing Services Integrated framework training package fulfils this requirement.