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Measure and prune trees around electricity lines for vegetation control
to minimum approach distance
Level
4
Credits
8
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to: select tree measuring
equipment for vegetation control around electricity lines; measure trees and
electricity lines; plan pruning activities for vegetation control around electricity
lines; carry out pruning activities for vegetation control around electricity
lines; and report on vegetation control work around electricity lines; in
accordance with industry requirements.
Subfield
Electricity Supply
Domain
Electricity Supply - Distribution Networks
Status
Registered
Status date
22 October 2003
Date version published
25 October 2007
Planned review date
31 December 2010
Entry information
Open.
Accreditation
Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA and
industry.
Standard setting body (SSB)
Electricity Supply Industry Training Organisation
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference
0120
This AMAP can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Special 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.
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3
Performance and work practices in relation to the elements and performance criteria
must comply with all current legislation, especially the Electricity Act 1992, and any
regulations and codes of practice recognised under that statute, Electricity
Regulations 1997, 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 including Safety Manual –
Electricity Industry (SM-EI) (2004) Wellington: Electricity Engineers’ Association,
Parts 1-3. A full list of current legislation and industry codes is available from:
Electricity Supply Industry Training Organisation
PO Box 1245
HAMILTON.
This unit standard includes vegetation control work and procedures which must be
carried out in accordance with the following codes of practice and guide –
Aboriculture – Approved Code of Practice for Safety and Health in Tree Work – Part
1;
Maintenance of Trees Around Power Lines – Approved Code of Practice for Safety
and Health in Tree Work – Part 2;
Power-Operated Elevating Work Platforms – Approved Code of Practice;
Guide for Safety with Underground Services.
These codes and guide are available from regional offices of the Department of
Labour, Occupational Safety and Health Service (OSH) and the Department of
Labour website http://www.dol.govt.nz.
4
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.
Elements and performance criteria
Element 1
Select tree measuring equipment for vegetation control around electricicity lines in
accordance with industry requirements.
Performance criteria
1.1
Method of measuring tree is determined.
Range
1.2
includes but not limited to – accessibility, topography, tree height
and power line height.
Measuring equipment is selected in accordance with the method determined.
Range
telepole, clinometer.
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Element 2
Measure trees and electricity lines in accordance with industry requirements.
Performance criteria
2.1
Telepole is used and maintained.
Range
2.2
pole rating, cleaning, drying, silicon cloth.
Clinometer is used and scale selection determined in accordance with land
typography, target size and manufacturer’s specifications.
Element 3
Plan pruning activities for vegetation control around electricity lines in accordance with
industry requirements.
Performance criteria
3.1
Tree pruning criteria are confirmed.
Range
3.2
Tree to be pruned is identified and any associated hazards are identified.
Range
3.3
includes but is not limited to – maximum sag, maximum swing, fall
distance, vegetation type, re-growth profiles, line voltage.
Method of pruning is determined.
Range
3.4
includes but is not limited to – stakeholder, scope of work,
reinstatement, safety, hazard identification, access, environmental
impact.
includes but is not limited to – tool selections, tree shape, tree
approach distance.
Resources required for pruning are determined.
Element 4
Carry out pruning activities for vegetation control around electricity lines in accordance
with industry requirements.
Performance criteria
4.1
Work site hazard management is conducted.
Range
includes but is not limited to – safe working zone, site risk
assessment, safety observer.
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4.2
Pruning equipment is selected, checked for safe operation, and used.
Range
includes but is not limited to – ancillary equipment, chainsaws,
climbing equipment, friction devices, non-conductive ladders,
loppers and pole saws, lowering lines and devices, personal
equipment, spikes and flip lines.
4.3
Branches are removed.
4.4
Final cuts are clean (without ragged edges or tearing), and made at nodes or
collars.
4.5
Tree approach distances are maintained.
4.6
Site is reinstated in accordance with landowner and enterprise requirements.
Range
includes but not limited to – branch disposal options, ground
damage, telepole, clinometer, site safety measures.
Element 5
Report on vegetation control work around electricity lines in accordance with industry
requirements.
Range
includes but not limited to – tree height, conductor height, horizontal distance to
line from tree to line, slope angle, tree approach distance, close approach
permit, hazard identification.
Performance criteria
5.1
Reported information is complete, concise and legible.
5.2
Information is recorded in the required format and filed within the scheduled
time-frame.
Please note
Providers must be accredited by NZQA, or an inter-institutional body with delegated
authority for quality assurance, before they can report credits from assessment against
unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by NZQA before they can register
credits from assessment against unit standards.
Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against unit standards
must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
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Accreditation requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this
standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The
AMAP 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 Electricity Supply Industry Training Organisation info@esito.org.nz if
you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016