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Title / Operate power-operated elevating work platforms (EWP) to prune trees around power lines
Level / 4 / Credits / 5
Purpose / People credited with this unit standard are able to: plan EWP operation; establish EWP work site; carry out EWP operations; and report EWP operation to prune trees around power lines.
Classification / Electricity Supply > Electricity Supply - Distribution Networks
Available grade / Achieved
Entry information
Critical health and safety prerequisites / Unit 10507, Use personal protection equipment within an electricity supply environment; or demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills.
Explanatory notes
1This unit standard is intended for, but not restricted to, workplace assessment. The range statements in the unit standard can be applied according to enterprise specific equipment, procedures, and processes.
2Safety 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.
3Performance 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) (2010) Wellington: Electricity Engineers’ Association.
A full list of current legislation and industry codes is available from:
Infrastructure Industry Training Organisation
PO Box 1245
Hamilton 3240.
4The phrase in accordance with industry requirements is implicit in all outcomes and evidence requirements in this unit standard.
5Definitions
Industryrequirementsinclude 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.
6This unit standard is intended for use in the assessment of Distribution and Transmission Line Mechanics, Utility Arborist. All terminology should be related to that sector of the industry.
7The term Elevating Work Platform (EWP) is fully defined in the Occupational Safety and Health Service (OSH)Approved Code of Practice – Power-Operated Elevating Work Platforms, and the Electricity Engineers’ Association (EEA) Guide on the Operation and Maintenance of Elevating Work Platforms.
8Assessment of practical skills against the outcomes in this standard requires three practical observations from three different workplace activities, one of which may be conducted in a simulated electricity supply environment.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Plan EWP operation.
Evidence requirements
1.1Scope of work is determined.
1.2Resources required for operation are determined.
Rangestaff levels, plant and equipment, safety equipment.
1.3Documentation is completed.
Rangeincludes but is not limited to – hazard identification sheet, traffic management plan, job or time sheets, maintenance checklists, procedure forms, notification to OSH, insurance.
1.4Site access requirements are determined.
Rangeroute, weight issues, access keys, bridges, landowner, weather, terrain.
1.5Vegetation zone is determined.
Rangeclose working zone, competent worker zone, any tree working zone, minimum approach distancesUtility Arborist (MAD), vegetation management zone, ordinary person zone, OSH Approved Code of Practice for EWP.
Outcome 2
Establish EWP work site.
Evidence requirements
2.1Work site is reviewed.
2.2Hazards are identified, and eliminated, isolated, or minimised.
2.3Tree measuring is used to determine safe working zones.
2.4Site safety and security measures are determined and implemented.
Rangeclose working zone, competent worker zone, any tree working zone, minimum approach distances, OSH Approved Code of Practice for Elevated Work Platforms, use of safety observer.
2.5EWP earthing and bonding requirements are determined and implemented.
Rangeincludes but is not limited to – earth spike, earth points.
Outcome 3
Carry out EWP operations.
Evidence requirements
3.1EWP operations are carried out.
3.2Minimum approach distances are maintained.
Rangeincludes but is not limited to – visual check, safety observer.
3.3Maintenance checks are carried out.
Rangeincludes but is not limited to – visual inspection, current certification.
3.4Safe working load is determined and kept within load limits.
Rangeincludes but is not limited to – OSH Approved Code of Practice for Power-operated Elevating Work Platforms, manufacturer’s specifications.
3.5Safety equipment is used.
Outcome 4
Report EWP operation to prune trees around power lines.
Rangeincludes but is not limited to – close approach permit, hazard identification, traffic management plan, log book.
Evidence requirements
4.1Reporting documentation is completed to asset owner standards.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – tailgate meeting minutes,job report, check sheet;
evidence of one report to company or asset owner specifications is required.
Planned review date / 31 December 2019Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 27 April 2001 / 31 December 2019
Revision / 2 / 13 September 2004 / 31 December 2019
Review / 3 / 20 November 2009 / 31 December 2019
Review / 4 / 20 November 2014 / N/A
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.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact the Infrastructure Industry Training you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
Infrastructure Industry Training OrganisationSSB Code 101813 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018