QUALIFICATION DETAILS
Qualification Title
New Zealand Certificate in Electricity Supply (Line Mechanic
Distribution) (Level 4)
Version
1
Qualification type
Certificate
Level
4
Credits
234
NZSCED
031311 Engineering and Related Technologies > Electrical and Electronic
Engineering and Technology > Power Line Installation and Maintenance
Strategic purpose
statement
The purpose of this qualification is to provide the electricity supply industry
with people who have sufficient knowledge, practical skills and experience to
gain registration as a line mechanic in the distribution sector, in accordance
with the registration requirements of the Electrical Workers Registration
Board (EWRB).
Graduates will be able to work safely to industry standards, taking
responsibility for their work and that of others, and be capable of working
independently whilst ensuring public safety.
Outcome Statement
Graduate
profile
Education
pathway
Graduates of this qualification will be able to:
-
Apply theory, industry standards and procedures when undertaking the
duties of a distribution line mechanic in accordance with legislative
requirements, health and safety regulations and industry guides and
codes.
-
Ensure that health and safety requirements are met as required for the
range of work undertaken by a distribution line mechanic.
-
Apply a range of communication skills relevant to work in the field of Line
Mechanics.
-
Apply theory, codes, legislation and industry procedures to the
commissioning of an electricity distribution network to the standards
required for EWRB registration as a distribution line mechanic.
Graduates will already hold the New Zealand Certificate in Electricity Supply
Introductory (Level 2) [Ref: 2316] or will gain it as part of this qualification.
This qualification will equip graduates with the skills, knowledge and
competencies that may lead to higher level electricity supply qualifications.
Higher level qualifications include the:
-
National Certificate in Electricity Supply (Line Mechanic Distribution Live
Work Stick up to 66kV) (Level 4) [Ref:1580]
-
National Certificate in Electricity Supply (Line Mechanic Distribution Live
Work Glove and Barrier up to 33kV) (Level 5) [Ref: 1625]
-
National Diploma in Electricity Supply (Level 5) [Ref: 0674], the National
Diploma in Electricity Supply (Level 6) [Ref: 0675]
-
National Certificate in Electricity Supply (Distribution Faultman) (Level 4)
with strands in Line Mechanic and Electrician [Ref:1624]
-
National Certificate in Electricity Supply (Electrical) (Level 4) with strands
in Electricity Supply Electrician, Electrical Fitter, and Electrical
Qualification Reference 2197
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2013
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Technician. [Ref: 1295]
-
Employment
pathway
Qualification
Developer
National Certificate in Electricity Supply (Electrical Services Technician)
(Level 4) [Ref: 1098].
Graduates of this qualification may be embarking on a career in the electricity
supply industry, or may have come from another sector of the industry. They
will be able to work in the electricity supply industry as a line mechanic in the
distribution sector, installing, maintaining and replacing electricity distribution
network equipment. This is an intermediate level position, and with additional
training they may progress on to more senior positions within the electricity
supply industry.
Infrastructure Industry Training Organisation (Infrastructure ITO)
Qualification Specifications
Qualification award
This qualification will be awarded by Infrastructure ITO as developer of the
qualification and any education providers accredited to deliver a programme
leading to the qualification.
The formal document certifying the award of this qualification bears the
Infrastructure ITO and NZQF logos and, where applicable, the name and logo
of the tertiary education organisation (TEO) offering the programme of
training leading to the award of the qualification. In addition it will have the
full qualification title and the NZQF reference number, plus the date of award
of the qualification.
Review period
60 months. To be reviewed by December 2018.
Any person or organisation may contribute to the review of this qualification
by sending feedback to the qualification developer at
qualifications@infrastructureito.org.nz or:
Infrastructure ITO
PO Box 2759
Wellington 6140
Arrangements for
managing
consistency
The key focus for arrangements for managing consistency will be the
following outcome:
-
Apply theory, codes, legislation and industry procedures to the
commissioning of an electricity distribution network to the standards
required for EWRB registration as a distribution line mechanic.
TEOs that own and deliver programmes are responsible for ensuring the
consistency of assessment within their programmes and must be able to
demonstrate alignment of graduates with the outcomes of the qualification.
Evidence of consistency of graduate outcomes must include:
-
an audit trail of graduate programme results and subsequent employment
outcomes
-
evidence of employer support for the graduates of the programme and
their feedback that the graduates display the graduate profile outcomes.
Use of existing evidence will be encouraged wherever possible.
Infrastructure ITO, the qualification developer, requires organisations that
own and deliver programmes to send an annual report of the above to
Infrastructure ITO. In addition, Infrastructure ITO retains the option to
visit/hold a meeting if required.
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© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2013
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At least every three years Infrastructure ITO will convene an expert panel to
consider the consistency of the various programmes’ graduate outcomes.
Consistency processes will be funded by TEOs offering programmes
leading to the qualification, and will cover actual and reasonable related
costs.
For full details of the Infrastructure ITO arrangements for managing
consistency contact the ITO’s Quality Assurance team at
qualifications@infrastructureito.co.nz
Credit transfer and
recognition of prior
learning
arrangements
Any recognition of this qualification in Australia and recognition of the
Australian Line Mechanic qualification in New Zealand qualifications will be in
accordance with the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between EWRB
and Energy Skills Australia. Further information about the MOU is available
from EWRB.
Any recognition of prior learning or current competency must be recognised
by the EWRB for registration as a distribution line mechanic.
Consideration for recognition of prior learning /recognition of current
competency may be available for the UK City and Guild qualifications of
similar level and content, where these meet EWRB requirements. Further
information about these arrangements is available from EWRB.
Candidates who have completed unit standards contained in this qualification
for other qualifications can cross credit these unit standards.
Minimum standard
of achievement and
standards for grade
endorsements
(where applicable)
Achieved.
Prerequisites to
meet regulatory
body or legislative
requirements
(where applicable)
This is a safety sensitive industry in which organisations include drug and
alcohol free policies in their operating procedures with reference to the
Health Safety & Employment Act 1992. Providers will need to make
students aware before entering the programme, therefore, that a drug test
is a likely condition of employment as a Line Mechanic.
Other conditions
for qualification
Candidates for this qualification require an EWRB Limited Trainee Certificate
within three months of commencing the programme for their training,
assessment and experience while completing this qualification to be accepted
for registration. The following unit standards meet these requirements:
26551, 26552, 10507, 28020, and 18038. They form part of the New Zealand
Certificate in Electricity Supply (Introductory) (Level 2) [Ref: 2136], so as a
result the Level 2 qualification has been built into this Level 4 qualification.
Candidates must have adequate language, literacy and numeracy skills to
deal with the required written, visual and oral communications to achieve the
graduate profile outcomes.
Candidates must display consistency in their safe following of workplace
procedures.
Graduates may also be eligible to gain the New Zealand Transport Agency
Basic Traffic Controller Certificate Level 1. This covers the standards and
operating procedures in the, ‘Code of Practice for Temporary Traffic
Management’.
It is preferable that candidates achieve the following theory unit standards
before the on-job unit standards: 18027, 16278, 23896, 18273, 18274, and
23897.
Ensuring the safe performance of all tasks identified as mandatory in all
graduate profile outcomes is essential.
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© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2013
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Conditions relating to specific outcomes
Qualification Outcomes
(including indicative
credit values for each
outcome)
Apply theory, industry
standards and procedures
when undertaking the duties
of a distribution line
mechanic in accordance
with legislative
requirements, health and
safety regulations and
industry guides and codes.
Credit: 149
Apply a range of
communication skills
relevant to work in the field
of Line Mechanics.
Credit: 5
Conditions
Ability in the following communication skills is required:
- understanding how health and safety is applied to
the electricity supply industry
- reading with understanding work instructions and
manuals
- planning, scheduling and communicating work
tasks
- completing work-based documentation
requirements of asset owners
- completing and reading timesheets
- interpreting the scope of work from supplied
documents
- participating in tool box sessions
- reading and understanding the SME 1,2 & 3, Code
of Practice and EEA guides
- describing the requirements of regulations specific
to a job
- communicating built drawings in writing
- giving and receiving simple instructions clearly and
accurately.
Mandatory
or Optional
Mandatory
It is also mandatory to include:
- understanding how health and safety is applied to
the electricity supply industry through the
application of safe practices in the workplace
- competently applying knowledge to tasks within the
electricity supply industry with appropriate
supervision
- the duties of the employer and employee using
chainsaws under the approved Code of Practice for
Safety and Health in Forest operations, including
the transport and use of chainsaws, and the PPE
and first aid requirements.
- supervised practice and sign off of operation of a
chainsaw in an electricity supply industry
environment.
These unit standards must be used to assess aspects
of these outcomes:
10507, 10511, 10512, 10513, 10521, 10522, 10529,
10544, 10545, 16617, 17026, 17602, 17632, 18038,
18272, 18276, 20423, 26551, 26552, 28020, 28112,
28113, 28192, 28195
The following unit standards may be used to assess
further aspects of these outcomes:
10508, 18275, 20092
The following unit standards may be used to assess
operation of a chainsaw in an electricity supply industry
environment:
6916, 6917
Qualification Reference 2197
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2013
Optional
Optional
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Ensure that health and
safety requirements are met
as required for the range of
work undertaken by a
distribution line mechanic.
Credit: 16
Safety is paramount within the electricity supply
environment, with special emphasis on understanding
and applying the electricity industries safety statues
and codes and regulations. Effective use of personal
protection equipment and ability to apply hazard
identification and risk assessment procedures and to
provide first aid in life threatening conditions in the
electricity supply environment is essential.
Mandatory
These unit standards must be used to assess this
outcome:
10507, 10509, 10526, 17025, 26551, 26552
Apply theory, codes,
legislation and industry
procedures to the
commissioning of an
electricity distribution
network to the standards
required for EWRB
registration as a distribution
line mechanic.
Candidates must demonstrate legislative requirements,
electrical regulations and meet all the requirements for
EWRB registration as a distribution line mechanic.
Graduates must:
-
be capable of interpreting safety signage and
safety manuals accurately and independently
-
be able to explain the purpose and
requirements of:
Mandatory
Credit: 64
-

the statutes and regulations covering
safety

the approved codes of practice,
covering safety: the SMEI, Electricity
Engineers’ Association Codes of
Practices, the New Zealand Electrical
Codes of Practice and Occupational
Safety and Health Codes of Practice
know those organisations that have a safety
role and be able to describe their role and the
responsibilities of individuals.
This includes all mandatory unit standards listed below.
The EWRB capstone assessments for registration as a
distribution line mechanic require assessment against
the following unit standards:
12295, 12300, 17027, 28194, 18273, 18274, 19950,
23896, 23897, 28109, 28110, 28111, 28193
Transition information
Replacement
information
This qualification replaced the National Certificate in Electricity Supply (Line
Mechanic Distribution) (Level 4) [Ref: 0874]
Transition
This qualification has more unit standards and credits than the qualification
above that it is replacing.
The New Zealand Certificate in Electricity Supply (Introductory) (Level 2)
[Ref: 2136] is part of this qualification. Candidates that have completed the
Line Mechanic strand in the National Certificate in Electricity Supply (Level
2) with optional strands [Ref:1293] may cross credit unit standards 17025,
10509, and 18276. However holders of this qualification will be required to
complete the following first aid unit standards or the equivalent that meets
EWRB requirements for first aid graduate profile outcomes for a distribution
line mechanic: 26551 and 26552.
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In addition, assessment standard 17602, Apply hazard identification and
risk assessment procedures in the workplace, may be required.
The start date for this qualification will be from publication. All new trainees
will be enrolled in programmes leading to the New Zealand Certificate in
Electricity Supply (Line Mechanic Distribution) (Level 4) [Ref: 2197] from
31 December 2014.
The final date for assessment of the replaced National Certificate in Electricity
Supply (Line Mechanic Distribution) (Level 4) [Ref: 0874] will be 31 December
2016.
It is anticipated that no existing candidates will be disadvantaged by these
transition arrangements. However, anyone who feels that they have been
disadvantaged may appeal to Infrastructure ITO at the address below.
Appeals will be considered on a case by case basis.
For further information contact:
Infrastructure ITO
PO Box 2759
Wellington 6140
Telephone
Fax
Email
Website
04 499 9144
04 499 9145
qualifications@infrastructureito.org.nz
http://www.infrastructureito.org.nz
Qualification Reference 2197
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2013
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