NZQA registered unit standard
28493 version 1
Page 1 of 4
Title
Demonstrate knowledge of vegetation and tree work in the vicinity of
power lines and underground power cables
Level
3
Credits
4
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to demonstrate
knowledge of requirements for carrying out vegetation and tree
work in the vicinity of power lines and underground power
cables.
Classification
Electricity Supply > Electricity Supply - Distribution Networks
Available grade
Achieved
Explanatory notes
1
This unit standard is intended for off-job assessment. The range statements across
the unit standard can be applied according to industry specific equipment,
procedures, and processes as used in the electricity supply industry.
2
Performance and work practices in relation to the outcomes and evidence
requirements must comply with all current legislation, especially the Electricity Act
1992, any subsequent amendments, and any regulations, codes of practice
recognised under that statute, and the 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) (2010) Wellington: Electricity
Engineers’ Association (EEA).
A full list of current legislation and industry codes is available from:
Infrastructure Industry Training Organisation
PO Box 1245
Hamilton 3240.
3
The phrase in accordance with industry requirements is implicit in all outcomes and
evidence requirements in this unit standard.
4
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.
Infrastructure Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101813
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
5
28493 version 1
Page 2 of 4
This unit standard includes vegetation control work and procedures, which must be
carried out in accordance with the following Codes of Practice and Guide –
Approved Code of Practice for Safety and Health in Tree Work – Part 1:
Arboriculture;
Approved Code of Practice for Safety and Health in Tree Work – Part 2: Maintenance
of trees around power lines;
Approved Code of Practice for Power-Operated Elevating Work Platforms;
Guide for Safety with Underground Services;
EEA Guide for Safety and Health in Tree Work around Power Lines.
These codes and guide are available from regional offices of the Department of
Labour, Occupational Safety and Health Service (OSH) and the Ministry of Business,
Innovation and Employment (MBIE).
BS 3998:1989 Recommendations for Tree work is available from Standards New
Zealand, Private Bag 2439, Wellington 6140 – http://www.standards.co.nz/.
ANSI Z133.1-2006 American National Standards for Arboricultural Operations –
Safety Requirements is available from Wes Spur – http://www.wesspur.com/newarborists-products.html.
Code of Practice for Temporary Traffic Management 2012 available from the
New Zealand Transport Agency Agency – http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/codetemp-traffic-management/.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Demonstrate knowledge of requirements for carrying out vegetation and tree work in the
vicinity of power lines.
Evidence requirements
1.1
Tree work and vegetation terms used by utility arborists are explained.
Range
1.2
includes but is not limited to – clearance, crown lift, fall distance
defect, fall to grade, maximum sag defect, reduction, swing
clearance, conductor sag, span centre, utility arborist MAD,
vegetation management zone, ordinary person zone, insulated
tool zone, work in excavations;
Evidence of five required.
Documentation is completed and checked by the site supervisor.
Range
may includes but is not limited to – hazard identification sheets,
job or time sheets, maintenance checklists, procedure forms;
evidence of two required.
Infrastructure Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101813
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
1.3
Electricity distribution network management liaison requirements are described.
Range
1.4
includes but is not limited to – circuit and voltage confirmation,
receipt of a work authority, shut-down procedures, any procedures
required by the company, work on private high-voltage spur lines,
gaining close approach permits to work and operate plant within
four metres of lines, receiving permits;
evidence of four required.
Work zone hazards are identified according to company and/or asset owner’s
standards.
Range
1.5
28493 version 1
Page 3 of 4
includes but is not limited to – hazard identification sheets,
equipment and machinery checklists, crew briefings and task
allocations, work plan and strategies, emergency plan, toolbox
meetings, EEA guides, vegetation control around electricity lines
regulatory codes of practice;
evidence of three required.
Hazards involved in the work zone are controlled according to company or
asset owner’s procedures.
Range
includes but is not limited to – hazards involved with manual
climbing, using elevated working platforms (EWP), groundwork,
working above ground, working near electricity supply lines, use of
safety observer.
Outcome 2
Demonstrate knowledge of requirements for carrying out vegetation and tree work in the
vicinity of underground power cables.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Requirements for working in the vicinity of underground cables are explained.
Range:
may include but not limited to – consents from cable owner, obtain
plans or reference maps, use approved cable locator, plan
excavation, follow safe approach distance specified in NZECP 34,
visual survey for cable markers.
Replacement information
This unit standard and unit standard 28494 replaced unit
standard 17152.
Planned review date
31 December 2019
Infrastructure Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101813
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
28493 version 1
Page 4 of 4
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
20 November 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
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