Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to assess risk, use rigging equipment, and climb and perform rescues on standard telecommunications network structures.
It applies to technical staff who work in a team environment and who use rigging on telecommunications radio structures and may make use of rigging plant and equipment, fall arrest, fall guarding and fall constraint.
Work functions in the occupational areas where this unit may be used are subject to regulatory requirements. Refer to the ICT Implementation Guide Companion Volume or the relevant regulator for details of licensing, legislative or certification requirements.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements | Performance Criteria |
Elements describe the essential outcomes | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Prepare to use safe rigging practices | 1.1 Notify appropriate personnel and take necessary precautions to minimise, control or eliminate hazards that may exist during work activities 1.2 Prepare for given work according to minimum approach distances for hazards on telecommunications network structures, as prescribed in relevant legislation, codes, regulations and standards |
2. Assess status and condition of telecommunications network structures and identify climbing route | 2.1 Inspect and assess status and condition of telecommunications structures, according to industry practice 2.2 Plot optimum climbing route to avoid hazards and ensure most effective use of selected equipment, according to manufacturer’s instructions and industry practice |
3. Prepare climbing equipment | 3.1 Select climbing equipment in keeping with structures to be climbed, according to industry practice 3.2 Inspect climbing equipment for damage, according to specifications and industry practice |
4. Climb telecommunications network structures | 4.1 Use safe climbing practices when ascending telecommunications network structures according to work health and safety (WHS) practices 4.2 Maintain permanent attachment when more than three metres from ground, adhering to safety requirements 4.3 Maintain three points of contact at all times, according to industry practice 4.4 Manage ropes to avoid entanglement or fouling on structure 4.5 Maintain safe working and minimum approach distances from hazards on telecommunications network structures at all times, according to standards and regulations |
5. Use climbing and working fall arrest systems | 5.1 Perform transfers to and from climbing system and working system using fall prevention practices, according to industry practice 5.2 Use working fall arrest system, according to specifications |
6. Perform rescues | 6.1 Perform rescues according to situation, industry practice and local instruction 6.2 Ascertain and seek required medical treatment according to enterprise standards 6.3 Report accidents or incidents according to company procedures and local instructions |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence of the ability to:
use safe rigging practices according to all work health and safety (WHS) legislative requirements, regulations and standards
assess the status and condition of the telecommunications structure to be climbed and plot a climbing route according to industry practice
select climbing equipment and climb a telecommunications network structure
work safely using climbing and working fall arrest systems
perform rescues from telecommunications network structures to industry standards.
Note: If a specific volume or frequency is not stated, then evidence must be provided at least once.
Evidence of Knowledge
To complete the unit requirements safely and effectively, the individual must:
discuss falls, including:
fall factors according to the Guidelines for the Prevention of Falls
fall prevention
fall types according to Australian Standards and regulations
list features and operating requirements of rigging equipment
summarise optical fibre cabling and equipment safety practices
identify personal protective equipment for rigging projects
summarise, in relation to radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic radiation (EMR):
associated risks
methods of detecting
need to verify and maintain the EMR hazard management plan against an on-site situation
preparing for work at a telecommunications site with potential EMR hazards
reporting EMR hazards safety practices
sources and types of RF EMR
discuss rescue methods and practices relevant to the rigging environment
outline safe rigging principles
describe suspension trauma, including:
cause
effect
prevention
treatment
discuss, in relation to a safety harness:
hazards associated with wearing a safety harness
how to check, fit and use a safety harness
the types and application of different safety harnesses
explain licensing and regulatory issues applying to rigging practices and systems on telecommunications radio structures
outline risks present when working on telecommunications radio structures
clarify specific WHS issues that affect rigging, including:
relevant regulations, and applicable site and company WHS procedures
rigging practices and systems for telecommunications radio structures
safe climbing practices, including maintaining three points of contact while climbing
safe working and minimum approach distances for hazards on telecommunications network structures, according to standards and regulations
safety requirements when working at heights according to WHS legislation.
Assessment Conditions
Gather evidence to demonstrate consistent performance in conditions that are safe and replicate the workplace. Noise levels, production flow, interruptions and time variances must be typical of those experienced in the telecommunications ‒ telecommunications rigging installation field of work and include access to special purpose tools, equipment and materials.
Assessors of this unit must satisfy the requirements for assessors in applicable vocational education and training legislation, frameworks and/or standards.
Foundation Skills
This section describes language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills incorporated in the performance criteria that are required for competent performance.
Skill | Performance Criteria | Description |
Reading | 1.2, 2.2, 3.2, 4.1, 4.5, 5.1, 5.2 | Interprets textual information from relevant sources to identify equipment suitability and adhere to procedures and standards |
Writing | 1.1, 6.3 | Accurately completes relevant reports and documentation using clear and technically specific language and diagrammatic information |
Oral Communication | 1.1, 6.1, 6.3 | Uses listening and questioning skills to confirm understanding for requirements, and participates in a verbal exchange of ideas and solutions Uses appropriate, detailed and clear language to address key personnel and to disseminate information |
Numeracy | 1.2, 4.2, 4.3, 4.5 | Uses mathematical formulae to calculate ratios and scale, make adjustments to equipment and interpret methodological information |
Navigate the world of work | 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1-4.5, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1, 6.3 | Takes personal responsibility for adherence to legal and regulatory requirements, standards, manufacturer's instructions and industry practice relevant to own work context, and draws attention to any issues that may affect self or others in relation to climbing and performing rescues |
Get the work done | 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.4, 6.2 | Uses a combination of formal, logical planning processes and an increasingly intuitive understanding of the climbing and rescue context to identify relevant information and risks, and to identify and evaluate alternative strategies and resources Makes a range of critical and non-critical decisions regarding route, equipment and need for medical treatment in relatively complex climbing and rescue situations, taking a range of constraints into account Recognises and takes responsibility for addressing predictable and some less predictable safety problems in familiar work contexts Initiates standard procedures when responding to familiar problems within immediate context Applies formal problem-solving processes when selecting equipment and managing ropes, breaking complex issues into manageable parts and identifying and evaluating several options for action |
Sectors
Telecommunications ‒ telecommunications rigging installation