Persons achieving competence in this unit will need to fulfil the applicable legislated rail safety requirements including acts and regulations from each state and territory together with any nationally approved compliance codes and/or guidelines.

Work is performed under minimal supervision, generally within a team environment. It involves the application of routine operational principles and procedures to the maintenance of aerial signal/telecommunications lines and cables as part of workplace activities across a variety of operational contexts within the Australian rail system.

Operators of mechanised equipment must have undertaken training and, where appropriate, hold the relevant licence, permit or certificate and be recognised as competent for the class of machinery being used.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1Inspect and service line and cable routes

1.1 Routes are inspected and recorded and arrangements are made for the removal of any obstructions, damage, infringing vegetation to provide free access to cables/aerials

1.2 Routes are physically inspected to determine any breaks, misalignments, damage and insulation wear requiring repair

1.3 Poles are inspected for deterioration and a safety assessment is made

2Diagnose line and cable faults

2.1 Permission to test isolated equipment is confirmed prior to any work being undertaken

2.2 Probable location of fault is identified from visual inspection and circuit tests are conducted to isolate fault area

2.3 The nature of the fault is identified from further tests and corrective action required is identified to enable appropriate arrangements for resources and for work to be performed

2.4 Disconnection/insulation procedures are applied to enable maintenance work to be carried out in isolation to systems where lines are in close proximity to high voltage services

3Repair line and cable faults

3.1 Work site is made safe in accordance with organisations safety requirements to enable repair work to be safely undertaken

3.2 Aerial lines/cables are repaired to operational and technical requirements using appropriate jointing or replacement/repair procedures

3.3 Repaired/replaced line/cable is tested to specified standards to ensure conformity to operational and technical requirements

3.4 Appropriate personnel are notified of completed repairs/replacement and appropriate documentation is completed in accordance with organisations requirements and returned to appropriate organisation/department as required

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

This describes the essential knowledge and skills and their level required for this unit.

Required knowledge:

Applicable legislated rail safety requirements including acts and regulations from each state and territory together with any nationally approved compliance codes and/or guidelines

Relevant OH&S and environmental procedures and regulations

Workplace procedures for the maintenance of aerial signal/telecommunications lines and cables

Problems that may occur during the maintenance of aerial signal/telecommunications lines and cables, and action that can be taken to report or resolve the problems

Hazards that may exist when maintaining aerial signal/telecommunications lines and cables, and ways of controlling the risks involved

Electrical theory and principles relevant to aerial cables

Line/cable technical specifications

Test equipment and procedures

Fault diagnosis/problem solving

Techniques for the operation of support equipment

Pole top rescue procedures

Common aerial cable system faults

Clearance procedures from other services

AS 3000 and AUSTEL requirements relevant to aerial cables

Documentation and record keeping requirements

Required skills:

Communicate effectively with others when maintaining aerial signal/telecommunications lines and cables

Read and interpret instructions, procedures, information, technical data and drawings relevant to the maintenance of aerial signal/telecommunications lines and cables

Interpret and follow operational instructions and prioritise work

Complete documentation related to the maintenance of aerial signal/telecommunications lines and cables

Operate electronic communication equipment to required protocol

Work collaboratively with others when maintaining aerial signal/telecommunications lines and cables

Adapt appropriately to cultural differences in the workplace, including modes of behaviour and interactions with others

Promptly report and/or rectify any identified problems, faults or malfunctions that may be identified when maintaining aerial signal/telecommunications lines and cables in accordance with regulatory requirements and workplace procedures

Implement contingency plans for unexpected events when maintaining aerial signal/telecommunications lines and cables

Apply precautions and required action to minimise, control or eliminate hazards that may exist during work activities

Monitor work activities in terms of planned schedule

Modify activities depending on differing operational contingencies, risk situations and environments

Work systematically with required attention to detail without injury to self or others, or damage to goods or equipment

Operate and adapt to differences in equipment in accordance with standard operating procedures

Select and use required personal protective equipment conforming to industry and OH&S standards

Select and use hand tools, power tools and equipment

Use relevant test equipment and aerial cable testing techniques

Diagnose and repair aerial cable faults

Carry out line/cable/conductor jointing and termination

Use mechanised equipment

Carry out a pole top rescue

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required knowledge and skills, the range statement and the assessment guidelines for this Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria of this unit and include demonstration of applying:

the underpinning knowledge and skills

relevant legislation and workplace procedures

other relevant aspects of the range statement

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Performance is demonstrated consistently over a period of time and in a suitable range of contexts

Resources for assessment include:

a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or other simulated practical and knowledge assessment, and/or

access to an appropriate range of relevant operational situations in the workplace

In both real and simulated environments, access is required to:

relevant and appropriate materials and equipment, and

applicable documentation including workplace procedures, regulations, codes of practice and operation manuals

Method of assessment

Assessment of this unit must be undertaken by a registered training organisation

As a minimum, assessment of knowledge must be conducted through appropriate written/oral tests

Practical assessment must occur:

through activities in an appropriately simulated environment at the registered training organisation, and/or

in an appropriate range of situations in the workplace

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance.

Operations may be conducted:

by day or night

in all relevant weather conditions

Work may be conducted:

restricted spaces

exposed conditions

controlled or open environments

Work may involve exposure to:

chemicals

dangerous or hazardous substances

movements of equipment, materials and vehicles

Aerial signal/telecommunications lines and cables to be maintained may include:

all those in service in the Australian rail systems

Cables may include:

multi core wires

open wires

low voltage

All signalling cables and cable products must be:

supplied and installed to AS 3000 or appropriate organisational standards

Fittings may include:

poles

cross arms

insulators including spindles, stays and guards

aerial lines

transpositioning

joint sleeves

tie wires

Test equipment may include:

meggers

isolator and probe sets

wire test sets

pulse echo fault locaters

ohm meters

earth fault locaters

earth testers

arrestor testers

multi meters

test phones

tone generators

insulation and continuity testers

oscilloscopes

Faults may include:

crossed wires

high resistance joints

broken/damaged insulators

crossed/damaged lead-in cables

circuit faults

damage caused by bushfires

storm damage

wind damage

earth conductors

Faults may be reported by:

train crews

public response

fault centres

fault indicators

internal users

train controllers

Communication equipment may include:

two-way radios

computers

telephones

Safety and protective equipment may include:

high visibility clothing

hearing protection

gloves

sunscreen

sunglasses

safety glasses

insect repellent

safety headwear

safety footwear

portable radios

hand lamps

flags

safety devices

Depending on the type of organisation concerned and the local terminology used, workplace procedures may include:

company procedures

enterprise procedures

organisational procedures

established procedures

Information/documents may include:

applicable legislated rail safety requirements including acts and regulations from each state and territory together with any nationally approved compliance codes and/or guidelines

operational instructions, policies and workplace procedures

circuit diagrams and schematics

engineering drawings

line diagrams

line field books

signalling/telecommunication circuits

pole testing technical instructions

manufacturers or workplace equipment operation manuals and specifications

emergency procedure manuals

two-way radio operation procedures

QA plans, data and document control

conditions of service, legislation and industrial agreements including workplace agreements and awards

Applicable regulations and legislation may include:

applicable legislated rail safety requirements including acts and regulations from each state and territory together with any nationally approved compliance codes and/or guidelines

relevant Australian Standards and related requirements, including AS 4292 and AS 3000

relevant state/territory OH&S legislation

relevant state/territory environmental protection legislation

ADG Code and associated requirements

This unit contains employability skills.