NZQA registered unit standard
12295 version 6
Page 1 of 5
Title
Apply and remove earths from conductors on electricity supply
networks
Level
4
Credits
4
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to: demonstrate
knowledge of earthing requirements for conductors on
electricity supply networks; prepare to apply earths to
conductors in electricity supply networks of all voltages; prove
earthing point de-energised; apply and remove the earths from
conductors on the electricity supply network; and report work
done on applying and removing earths from conductors, plant,
and equipment.
Classification
Electricity Supply > Electricity Supply - Distribution Networks
Available grade
Achieved
Entry information
Critical health and
safety prerequisites
Unit 10509, Climb and work on electricity network structures, or
demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills.
Explanatory notes
1
This unit standard is intended for, but not restricted to, workplace assessment.
2
Safety of personnel and plant must be a priority throughout the assessment. If the
safety requirements are not met the assessment must stop and the candidate will be
assessed as not yet competent.
3
Performance and work practices in relation to the outcomes and evidence
requirements must comply with all current legislation, especially the Electricity Act
1992 and any subsequent amendments, and any regulations, codes of practice
recognised under that statute, Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, the
Resource Management Act 1991, and their subsequent amendments, electricity
supply industry codes of practice and documented enterprise procedures. These
include, Safety Manual – Electricity Industry (SM-EI) (2004) Wellington: Electricity
Engineers’ Association.
A full list of current legislation and industry codes is available from:
Infrastructure Industry Training Organisation
PO Box 1245
HAMILTON.
Infrastructure Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101813
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
12295 version 6
Page 2 of 5
4
The phrase in accordance with industry requirements is implicit in all outcomes and
evidence requirements in this unit standard.
5
Definitions
Industry requirements include all asset owner requirements; manufacturers’
specifications; and enterprise requirements which cover the documented workplace
policies, procedures, specifications, business, and quality management requirements
relevant to the workplace in which assessment is carried out.
Asset owner refers to the owner of an electricity supply network that takes its point of
supply from Transpower NZ, and delivers electricity to industrial, commercial and
residential customers.
Asset owner standards are the approved documented work site methods for carrying
out work on an electrical supply network to the standard required by the asset owner.
6
Assessment of practical skills against the outcomes in this standard requires three
practical observations from three different workplace activities.
7
Earths include multi-phase and single-phase earths.
8
This unit standard is intended for the assessment of Cable Jointers, Distribution and
Transmission Line Mechanics and all terminology and workplace assessment should
be related to that sector of the industry.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Demonstrate knowledge of earthing requirements for conductors on electricity supply
networks.
Range
Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010, SM-EI, Guide to Work on De-energized
Distribution Overhead Lines, NZECP 35.
Evidence requirements
1.1
Requirements for earthing for safe working are described.
1.2
Responsibilities of employees when applying earths to overhead line
conductors or underground cables is described.
1.3
Statutory and enterprise inspections and care of insulating sticks and voltage
detection devices are demonstrated in terms of manufacturers’ specifications
and recommendations.
1.4
Requirements of earthing for operation of protective equipment are described.
1.5
Demonstrate knowledge of equipotential zones (EPZ) in the workplace.
Infrastructure Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101813
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
12295 version 6
Page 3 of 5
Outcome 2
Prepare to apply earths to conductors in electricity supply networks of all voltages.
Range
overhead electric lines or underground cables.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Conductors are physically identified.
Range
2.2
Inspection confirms or assures that the conductors to be earthed have been
isolated.
Range
2.3
single line diagram, labels, line, plant and equipment layout.
SM-EI.
Earth attachment positions on conductors and the local earth are identified.
Range
SM-EI, industry standards, earthing terminals, tail clamp
attachment points, clamp rating and compatibility.
2.4
Procedures and requirements for portable earths is determined.
2.5
Earthing equipment is inspected for compliance.
Range
compliance – satisfactory for use, surface condition and
cleanliness;
equipment – clamps, leads, fittings, sticks and poles, terminations.
Outcome3
Prove earthing point de-energised.
Range
voltage detection device, proving unit, insulation stick, spiking tool.
Evidence requirements
3.1
Circumstances when use of voltage detection device is required are identified.
Range
3.2
overhead or underground conductors, first earth, out of sight of
other applied earths, integral earthing not possible, capacitor.
Voltage detection device and insulating stick for network system voltage are
selected.
Infrastructure Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101813
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
3.3
Voltage detection device is tested before and after use to ensure serviceable
condition.
Range
3.4
12295 version 6
Page 4 of 5
audible test, visual test, industry standards.
Earthing points are proven de-energised on overhead or underground cable.
Range
voltage detection device or spiking tool.
Outcome 4
Apply and remove the earths from conductors on the electricity supply network.
Evidence requirements
4.1
Personal protective equipment is worn and used in accordance with SM-EI.
Range
4.2
Approvals are obtained.
Range
4.3
access permit, operating order.
Earths are applied.
Range
4.4
includes but is not limited to – hard hats, insulating gloves and
overgloves overalls, footwear.
tail clamp connection to earth first, leads kept away from person,
positive connection made and held in place before clamping,
bonding across any conductor to be broken or equipment to be
opened, bonding to adjacent metal, equipotential environment for
work.
Earths are removed.
Outcome 5
Report work done on applying and removing earths from electrical conductors, plant and
equipment.
Range
may include but not limited to – operating order, recipient safety measure form.
Evidence requirements
5.1
Reported information is complete, concise, and legible.
5.2
Information is recorded in the required format and filed in the correct location.
Planned review date
31 December 2018
Infrastructure Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101813
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
12295 version 6
Page 5 of 5
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
19 August 1997
December 2016
Review
2
27 April 2001
December 2016
Review
3
22 October 2003
December 2016
Rollover and
Revision
4
20 June 2008
December 2016
Review
5
21 July 2011
December 2016
Review
6
20 March 2014
N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0120
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The
CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing
to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors
and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact the Infrastructure Industry Training Organisation at
qualifications@infrastructureito.org.nz if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this
unit standard.
Infrastructure Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101813
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016