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 some supervision, generally within a team environment.

It involves the application of operational principles and procedures to perform the direct burial of 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

1Prepare site

1.1 Proposed cable route is planned and documented after identifying existing below-ground services in preparation for trench excavation

1.2 Vegetation and other surface obstructions are removed and cable route is pegged out

1.3 Resources, including tools, equipment and specialised cable-laying equipment are identified ready for use

2Excavate trench

2.1 Stable excavation is carried out using excavating equipment in accordance with planned cable route, and trench is shored up where necessary to prevent unwanted subsidence

2.2 Excavation site is made safe through the erection of barriers and appropriate warning signs and bunting

3Prepare for directional boring

3.1 Site survey data is reviewed to determine suitable directional boring locations

3.2 Sites such as railway lines, drains, creeks and obstructions are assessed to provide detailed information for directional boring activities

3.3 Signs, barriers and bunting are erected to ensure site safety prior to directional boring activities

4Prepare cable for installation

4.1 Cable to be installed is checked against specifications to ensure correct cable is installed

4.2 Operational readiness of all tools and lifting equipment is verified to ensure efficient installation of cable

4.3 Cable ends are prepared for hauling to ensure entire length of cable is efficiently installed without any cable damage

5Haul cable

5.1 Cable-hauling equipment is checked and placed in correct hauling position, ensuring that winches, rollers and cable stockings are suitable for cable-hauling as per relevant specifications

5.2 Cable is hauled and placed into trench, ensuring that cable-hauling equipment operates within specifications and cable is installed without damage

6Install cable

6.1 Earth conductors are fitted as per specifications and protective cable cover is fitted prior to compacting the backfill in the trench

6.2 Erosion prevention procedures are applied and trench and joint markers are installed

6.3 Signal and telecommunications are separated to ensure compliance with AUSTEL regulations

7Test cables and document results

7.1 Cable ends are prepared for testing and testing procedures are applied using specified test equipment to confirm the cable circuit

7.2 Test results and as-laid cable plans are documented and distributed to appropriate personnel for recording or further action

7.3 Site works are completed and condition of site is reinstated to organisations requirements

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 direct burial of cables

Problems that may occur during the direct burial of cables and action that can be taken to report or resolve the problems

Hazards that may exist during the direct burial of cables and ways of controlling the risks involved

Basic electrical theory relevant to cable burial and installation

Clearances and locations from other services

Support methods

Cabling hauling techniques

Types of cables

Relevant Australian Standards including AS 4292, 3000 and relevant Austel standards TS 008, TS 009, and associated regulations

Relevant building standards and regulations

Common cable installation practices

Characteristics of equipment, materials and tools, and procedures and precautions for their use

Trench shoring and excavation practices

Hazardous situations and related personal protection measures

Relevant recording and documentation procedures

Required skills:

Communicate effectively with others when carrying out the direct burial of cables

Read and interpret technical data, drawings, plans and instructions relevant to the direct burial of cables

Interpret and follow operational instructions and prioritise work when carrying out the direct burial of cables

Complete documentation related to the direct burial of cables

Operate electronic communication equipment to required protocol

Work collaboratively with others when carrying out the direct burial of 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 occur when carrying out the direct burial of cables in accordance with regulatory requirements and workplace procedures

Plan own work including predicting consequences and identifying improvements

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 equipment

Carry out relevant cable tests

Check compliance between work and job specifications

Select and use required personal protective equipment

Select and use relevant equipment and tools

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 possible weather conditions

Work may be conducted in:

restricted spaces

exposed conditions

controlled or open environments

Work may involve:

exposure to chemicals, and dangerous or hazardous substances

movements of equipment, goods and vehicles

Type of cable may include:

underground rated and approved copper

optical fibre

co-axial

Cable installation equipment may include:

spools

drums

feeders

slippers

hauling eyes

jinker

forklift

crane

cable cover strips or protection straps as per relevant specifications

Site safety hazards may include:

dangerous gases

water

soil

guards

barricades

lanterns

removal and placement of enclosure covers

handling of jelly-filled cables

Safety equipment may include:

witches hats

flashing lights

trench guards

warning signs and tapes

gas detector

Preparation may include:

trenching by:

hand

plant

excavator

backhoe

boring, including:

directional compaction

wet boring

sleeve boring

Hauling feeders may include:

rod

rope

air pressure

attachments such as stockings (mesh), splicing and hauling eye

Earth conductors may include:

stainless steel or copper as per relevant specifications

Hauling methods may include:

hand winch (hand and mechanical) using safety devices such as guards, slippers and two-way radios

Methods of sealing ends may include:

shrink-end caps

self-amalgamating tape

Installation requirements and constraints may include:

site conditions

condition of enclosures and pipe

availability of cable size and type

Communications equipment may include:

two-way radios, and/or

telephones

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

company procedures

enterprise procedures

organisational procedures

established procedures

Depending on the work context, safety and protective equipment may include:

high visibility clothing

hearing protection

gloves

sunscreen

sunglasses

safety glasses

insect repellent

safety headwear

safety footwear

gumboots

portable radios

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

relevant logs or record books

work orders

technical instructions

AUSTEL Technical Standards TS 008, TS 009

AUSTEL Customer Premises Cabling Manual

appropriate licences or certificates of competency (winch and/or crane, forklift)

manufacturers or workplace equipment instructions and operation manuals

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 procedures and codes may include:

relevant state/territory regulations, codes of practice and safeworking system requirements

relevant Australian Standards and related requirements, including AS 4292, AS 2865 and AS 3000

relevant Austel standards and regulations

relevant state/territory OH&S legislation

relevant state/territory environmental protection legislation

ADG Code and associated requirements

This unit contains employability skills.