This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to fault find and repair telecommunication apparatus and systems.

It includes preparing to find and repair faults, finding and repairing faults, and completing and reporting on fault-finding and repair activities.

The skills and knowledge described in this unit require a licence or permit to practice in the workplace where work is carried out on electrical installations which are designed to operate at voltages greater than 50 volt (V) alternating current (a.c.) or 120 V direct current (d.c.).

Competency development activities in this unit are subject to regulations directly related to licensing. Where a licence or permit to practice is not held, skills and knowledge described in this unit require a relevant contract of training, such as an Australian Apprenticeship.

Additional and/or other conditions may apply in some jurisdictions subject to regulations related to electrical work. Practice in the workplace and during training is also subject to work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) regulations.

Permits may also be required for some work environments, such as confined spaces, working aloft, near live electrical apparatus and site rehabilitation.

No other licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1

Prepare to find and repair fault

1.1

WHS/OHS requirements and workplace procedures for relevant work area are identified, obtained and applied

1.2

Risk control measures are applied in accordance with workplace procedures prior to commencing work

1.3

Risks/hazards are identified, assessed and reported to relevant person/s and control measures implemented

1.4

Extent of faults is determined from reports, other relevant documentation and discussions with relevant person/s

1.5

Relevant person/s is consulted to ensure the work is coordinated effectively with others

1.6

Tools, equipment and testing devices required to diagnose faults are obtained in accordance with workplace procedures and checked for correct operation and safety

2

Find and repair fault

2.1

Workplace risk control measures and procedures are applied

2.2

Need to test and measure live work is determined in accordance with WHS/OHS requirements and workplace procedures

2.3

Circuits/machines/plant are checked and isolated, as required, in accordance with WHS/OHS requirements and workplace procedures

2.4

Logical diagnostic methods are applied to diagnose telecommunication apparatus and system faults employing measurements and estimations of system operating parameters referenced to system operational requirements in accordance with workplace procedures and relevant industry standards

2.5

Suspected fault scenarios are tested in accordance with workplace procedures and relevant industry standards

2.6

Source of the fault is identified and relevant person/s engaged to rectify the fault in accordance with workplace procedures and relevant industry standards

2.7

Faults in electronic components are rectified to raise telecommunication apparatus and system to its operation standard

2.8

System is tested to verify that the system operates as intended and to specified requirements

2.9

Decisions for dealing with unplanned situations are made based on job specifications, work requirements and discussions with relevant person/s

2.10

Methods for dealing with unplanned situations are selected on the basis of safety and specified work outcomes

2.11

Diagnosis and rectification activities are carried out efficiently without waste of materials, damage to apparatus, the surrounding environment or services applying sustainable energy practices

3

Complete and report fault-finding and repair activities

3.1

WHS/OHS work completion risk control measures and workplace procedures are followed

3.2

Worksite is made safe in accordance with workplace procedures

3.3

Rectification of faults is reported in accordance with workplace procedures

3.4

Relevant person/s is notified that the system faults have been rectified in accordance with workplace procedures

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements, performance criteria and range of conditions on at least one occasion and include:

applying logical diagnostic methods

using fault scenarios to test the source of system faults

identifying faults and competency needed to rectify them

rectifying faults in system electronics

verifying that the system operates correctly

documenting fault rectification

dealing with unplanned events

applying relevant risk identification, assessment, reporting and control requirements

applying relevant work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements, including the use of risk control measures

applying sustainable energy principles and practices

coordinating work with relevant person/s

determining live testing/measurement requirements

determining scope of work

identifying and accessing materials, tools, apparatus and testing devices

isolating circuits/machines/systems.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements, performance criteria and range of conditions and include knowledge of:

telecommunication apparatus and system fault finding and repair, safe working practices and relevant standards, codes and regulations, including:

telephone system fundamentals:

the transmission of sound in a telephone system encompassing:

function of telephone transmitters and receivers

components and functions of the telephone

purpose of earthing and protection in a telephone system

customer switching systems encompassing:

basic function

difference between a key system and a private automatic branch exchange (PABX)

advanced features

basic operations of system distribution frames (SDF)/test point frames (TPF), power fail and line interface requirements (e.g. indial, rotary groups, ISDN, extension and tie-line circuits)

types, purpose, use, and requirements of metering devices

metering and installation arrangements of public/pay phones

installation methods and requirements encompassing:

customer switching systems (CSS)

interfacing equipment

termination of CSS equipment

requirements for programming of CSS

hazard associated the electronic components of CSS encompassing:

static discharge

chemical damage

mechanical damage

electromagnetic Interference

telephone network facilities:

network subsystems (i.e. functional blocks) components and operating parameters

switches within the network

customer accesses infrastructure

system security

telecommunication earthing and protection:

telecommunication overvoltage protection system:

operating principles

overvoltage and surge/spike suppression protection techniques

overvoltage protection devices

installation of overvoltage protection systems

earthing protection system encompassing:

components and arrangement of the multiple earth network (MEN) system

TELEX functional earth system

telecommunication system earthing single and multi-storey

communication earth system

protective earth barriers for segregation, cable tray, duct and metal equipment enclosures

electrical interference encompassing:

types – radio frequency interference (RFI) and electro-magnetic interference (EMI)

sources of interference

techniques in reducing interference

earthing cable shields

earth testing instruments and procedures

safety issues to be considered with earthing and bonding

PABX fundamentals:

programming methods

configuration options

programming options

switches, hubs and routers:

purpose and function

circuit configurations

connection arrangements

system protocols

decoders:

purpose and function

circuit configurations

connection arrangements

system protocols

fault finding and repair:

typical faults, their symptoms and cause

fault diagnosis procedures and testing

component replacement

system adjustments

relevant manufacturer specifications

relevant safe work method statements (SWMS)/job safety assessments or risk mitigation processes

relevant WHS/OHS legislated requirements

relevant workplace documentation

relevant workplace policies and procedures.

Assessors must hold credentials specified within the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment must satisfy the Principles of Assessment and Rules of Evidence and all regulatory requirements included within the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment

Assessment must occur in suitable workplace operational situations where it is appropriate to do so; where this is not appropriate, assessment must occur in simulated suitable workplace operational situations that replicate workplace conditions.

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.

Resources for assessment must include access to:

a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or simulations

relevant and appropriate materials, tools, equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) currently used in industry

resources that reflect current industry practices in relation to diagnosing and rectifying faults in telecommunication apparatus and systems

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

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment.

Non-essential conditions may be found in the UEE Electrotechnology Training Package Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

Fault finding and repairing faults in electronic telecommunication apparatus and systems must include at least the following:

two system faults

Electrotechnology

Electronics and Communications