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Title / Carry out tree work near electricity supply lines
Level / 4 / Credits / 7
Purpose / This unit standard is for competent arborists undertaking training for work near electricity supply lines.
People credited with this unit standard are able to prepare for and carry out tree work near electricity supply lines, and demonstrate emergency procedures.
Classification / Electricity Supply > Electricity Supply - Distribution Networks
Available grade / Achieved
Entry information
Critical health and safety prerequisites / Unit 17151, Demonstrate knowledge of safety requirements for tree work near electrical supply lines,or demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills.
Explanatory notes
1This unit standard is intended for, but not restricted to, workplace assessment.
2Safety of personnel and plant must be a priority throughout the assessment. If the safety requirements are not met the assessment must stop.
3Performance and work practices in relation to the outcome statements and evidence requirements must comply with all current legislation, especially the Electricity Act 1992, and any regulations and codes of practice recognised under that statute; the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992; and the Resource Management Act 1991. Electricity supply industry codes of practice and documented industry procedures include the current version of the Safety Manual – Electricity Industry (SM-EI) (Wellington: Electricity Engineers’ Association). A full list of current legislation and industry codes is available from the Electricity Supply Industry Training Organisation, PO Box 1245, Hamilton 3240.
4The phrase in accordance with industry requirements is implicit in all outcome statements and evidence requirements in this unit standard.
5Industry 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.
6This 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 Practicefor 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.
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
BS 3998:1989Recommendations for Tree work is available from Standards New Zealand, Private Bag 2439, Wellington 6140;
ANSI Z133.1-2006 American National Standards for Arboricultural Operations – Safety Requirements is available from Wes Spur
Code of Practice for Temporary Traffic Management, 2004 available from any office of the NZ Transport Agency.
7Company procedures are written plans detailing how the company will meet the requirements of the health and safety legislation.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Prepare to carry out tree work near electricity supply lines.
Evidence requirements
1.1Tree work terms are explained in terms of their relevance to line trimming tasks.
Rangeincludes but is not limited to – clearance, crown lift, fall distance defect, fall to grade, maximum sag defect, reduction, swing clearance.
1.2Paperwork is completed and checked by the contractor and asset manager.
Rangeincludes but is not limited to – hazard identification sheets, job or time sheets, maintenance checklists, procedure forms, notification to Occupational Safety and Health Service (OSH), Department of Labour (DOL) notification.
1.3Public and personal liability insurance is checked to ensure it is valid for the work and is current.
1.4Network management liaison requirements are met.
Rangeincludes but is not limited to – circuit and voltage confirmation, taking out 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 4 metres of lines.
1.5Hazards are identified according to company procedures.
Rangeincludes but is not limited to – hazard identification sheets, equipment and machinery checklists, crew briefings and task allocations, work plan and strategies.
1.6Hazards involved in the work are controlled according to company procedures.
Rangeincludes but is not limited to – hazards involved with manual climbing, using elevated working platforms (EWP), groundwork, working above ground, working near electricity supply lines.
Outcome 2
Carry out tree work near electricity supply lines.
Evidence requirements
2.1Network is logged on to and network operator is advised of work details prior to commencement.
Rangeincludes but is not limited to network operator advised of – contractor, work commencement date and time, location, feeder being worked on, work authority taken out for HV lines, estimated duration of work.
2.2Equipment is selected, checked for safe operation, and used according to the Codes of Practice and company procedures.
Rangeequipment includes but is not limited to – ancillary equipment, chainsaws, climbing equipment, friction devices, non-conductive ladders, non-conductive loppers and/or pole saws, non-conductive equipment, lowering lines and devices, personal equipment, spikes, flip lines.
2.3Tree work completed meets the site specifications, company procedures, and Codes of Practice requirements.
Rangeincludes but is not limited to – manual work and EWP – side trimming, maximum sag, fall distance, over the top, felling.
2.4Job is finished according to site specifications and company procedures.
Rangeincludes but is not limited to – site cleaned up, work authority returned at the end of the job, log-off completed.
Outcome 3
Demonstrate emergency procedures.
Evidence requirements
3.1Emergency procedures are demonstrated as specified in company procedures and by the network owner or network operator.
Rangeincludes but is not limited to – near miss, damaged lines, damaged hardware, injured personnel, inadvertent contact with climber and EWP.
3.2Services to contact in the event of an accident or emergency are listed with contact details and method.
Rangeincludes but is not limited to – network owner, contractor, ambulance service, fire service, OSH, police, DOL.
3.3Aerial rescues are demonstrated according to company procedures.
Rangetwo and three person rescues using EWP.
3.4First aid procedures are demonstrated according to company procedures, and site specifications.
Rangeincludes but is not limited to – burns, unconscious victim, cuts, slips, trips, falls.
Replacement information / This unit standard has been replaced by unit standard 28493 and unit standard 28494.This unit standard is expiring. Assessment against the standard must take place by the last date for assessment set out below.
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 23 November 1999 / 31 December 2019
Revision / 2 / 13 February 2002 / 31 December 2019
Revision / 3 / 24 February 2006 / 31 December 2019
Review / 4 / 19 November 2010 / 31 December 2019
Review / 5 / 20 November 2014 / 31 December 2019
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0120
This CMR can be accessed at
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.
Infrastructure Industry Training OrganisationSSB Code 101813 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018 / / New Zealand Qualifications Aut