UET Powerline Safety
Project Scope
The Powerline Safety project will develop one new Unit of Competency in the Transmission, Distribution and Rail Training Package.
The new unit will address the skills and knowledge required by non-Electricity Supply Industry (ESI) workers to work safely near overhead electrical powerlines.
This work is vital to ensuring awareness and education of non-ESI workers across industries about the risks and hazards associated with working near electrical powerlines. These industries include, but are not limited to agriculture, construction, mining, forestry, arborists, communication, transport, and waste recycling (garbage trucks).
Over recent years deaths and accidents as a result of accidental contact with powerlines have highlighted the inherent dangers for non-ESI workers.
The new unit will focus on powerline identification, planning and management before commencing work near powerlines, and emergency escape requirements. Skills development in these critical components will help to save lives.
The ESI Transmission, Distribution and Rail Industry Reference Committee (IRC) will have oversight of this project, which will be facilitated by Australian Industry Standards (AIS) in consultation with industry stakeholders. A Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) will be formed for this project.
If you have any questions about this project or are a subject matter expert and would like to be considered for the TAC for this project, please contact the Industry Manager.
Project Deliverables
The full list of products included in this project:
New Unit of Competency
UETDRELXXY Work Safely near powerlines
TAC Established
7 JUNE 2022
The ESI Transmission, Distribution and Rail Industry Reference Committee has established a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) for this project.
Comprising of 23 subject matter experts from Industry, RTOs and regulators, the TAC has been tasked with:
- Providing specialist industry subject-matter knowledge regarding the skills and knowledge required by non-Electricity Supply Industry (ESI) workers to work safely near overhead electrical powerlines to the development of a new Unit of Competency.
- Validating the technical content of the Training Package products
- Identifying relevant qualitative and quantitative data sources to inform the development of draft materials
- Reviewing feedback from stakeholders through public consultations
- Assisting in identifying and engaging broader industry networks to participate in consultation and/or validation activities during the duration of the project
- Offering advice and guidance to assist in informing the direction of the project throughout its duration
- Making recommendations on the developed Training Package materials to the relevant IRC, which has the final decision-making authority.
The first meeting of the TAC is scheduled for Thursday, 9 June 2022
Technical Advisory Committee
13 MAY 2022
SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS NEEDED
Work on this project has commenced and the ESI Transmission, Distribution and Rail IRC is forming a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).
Your industry expertise and insight are welcome to help develop Training Package material to address the skills and knowledge required by non-Electricity Supply Industry (ESI) workers to work safely near overhead electrical powerlines.
The new unit will focus on powerline identification, planning and management before commencing work near powerlines, and emergency escape requirements.
Expressions of interest to be a TAC member closed Monday, 30 May 2022.
Consultation
17 JUNE 2022
DRAFT MATERIAL
On behalf of the ESI Transmission, Distribution and Rail Industry Reference Committee, its Technical Advisory Committee has drafted Training Package materials for the Powerline Safety project and would like your feedback.
A new Unit of Competency has been drafted to address the skills and knowledge required by non-Electricity Supply Industry (ESI) workers to work safely around electrical powerlines.
This will enable the education and building of awareness of non-ESI workers across industries about the risks and hazards associated with working around electrical powerlines.
Feedback closed Friday, 15 July 2022.
Feedback will be collated and discussed at the next TAC meeting.
Quality Assurance
12 August 2022
FINAL DRAFT CASE FOR ENDORSEMENT
The draft Training Package material has undergone independent edit and quality assurance and has been updated to include a new Unit of Competency which addresses the skills and knowledge required by ‘ordinary persons’ (non-Electricity Supply Industry workers), to work safely around electrical powerlines.
This will enable training to build awareness of ordinary persons across industries about the risks and hazards associated with working around powerlines.
A Skill Set that incorporates the unit has been developed.
The Case for Endorsement is scheduled to be submitted to the AISC on 30 August 2022.
Validation
18 JULY 2022
FINAL DRAFT MATERIAL
On behalf of the ESI Transmission, Distribution and Rail Industry Reference Committee, its Technical Advisory Committee has considered all stakeholder feedback and revised draft Training Package materials for the Powerline Safety project.
A new Unit of Competency has been drafted to address the skills and knowledge required by non-Electricity Supply Industry (ESI) workers to work safely around electrical powerlines.
This will enable the education and build awareness of non-ESI workers across industries about the risks and hazards associated with working around electrical powerlines.
Feedback closed Tuesday, 2 August 2022.
Feedback will be collated and discussed at the next TAC meeting.
Endorsement
13 DECEMBER 2022
The UET Transmission, Distribution and Rail Training Package Release 5.0 has been endorsed by the Skills Ministers for implementation.
The ESI Transmission, Distribution and Rail Industry Reference Committee (IRC) has led the development of a new Unit of Competency and a new Skill Set which address the skills and knowledge required by ‘ordinary persons’ (non-Electricity Supply Industry workers), to work safely around electrical powerlines.
Over recent years, deaths and accidents resulting from accidental contact with powerlines have highlighted the inherent dangers for non-ESI workers. The new unit focuses on powerline identification, planning and management before commencing work near powerlines, and emergency escape requirements.
Skills development is vital to ensuring awareness and education of non-ESI workers across industries about the risks and hazards associated with working near electrical powerlines. This will help save lives.
To support the delivery of the Training Package, a Companion Volume Implementation Guide (CVIG) has been developed to assist assessors, trainers, Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) and enterprises. The CVIG contains a comprehensive list of all products in the Training Package; mapping information which details the changes that have been made to the materials; regulation and licensing implications; and useful links to other information.
The endorsed Training Package materials are now available on training.gov.au
The following materials were approved:
New Unit
- UETDRCD001 Work safely around powerlines as an ordinary person
New Skill Set
- UETSS00055 Work Safely Around Powerlines as an Ordinary Person Skill Set
Minor Changes to a range of UET Training Package components were made as part of Release 5.0, including:
- UETDREL001 Apply environmental requirements
- UETDREL002 Comply with environmental requirements
- UETDREL003 Identify and apply controls for alternate supplies on the distribution network
- UETDREL004 Operate plant and equipment in the vicinity of live electrical apparatus
- UETDREL005 Work safely in the vicinity of live electrical apparatus
- UETDREL006 Work safely in the vicinity of live electrical apparatus as a non-electrical worker
Approval
27 OCTOBER 2022
At its meeting on 12 October 2022 the AISC approved the UET Training Package Release 5.0 for referral to Skills Ministers for endorsement.
For more information on this project, please contact the Industry Skills Manager.
Submission
12 SEPTEMBER 2022
CASE FOR ENDORSEMENT SUBMITTED TO AISC
The UET Industry Reference Committee has submitted the Case for Endorsement and draft materials for the ESI Transmission, Distribution and Rail Training Package Release 5.0 to the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) for consideration at its meeting on 12 October 2022.
This Training Package release incorporates materials developed through the Powerline Safety project, which includes one new Skill Set and one new Unit of Competency. The new Unit of Competency addresses the skills and knowledge required by ‘ordinary persons’ (non-Electricity Supply Industry workers), to work safely around electrical powerlines.
This will enable training to build awareness of ordinary persons across industries about the risks and hazards associated with working around powerlines.
If approved, this Case for Endorsement will result in:
A new Unit of Competency:
- UETDRCD001 Work safely around powerlines as an ordinary person
A new Skill Set:
- UETSS00055 Work Safely Around Powerlines as an Ordinary Person Skill Set
Thank you to all stakeholders who provided valuable feedback and contributed to this project.
Erin Knudsen
Industry Skills Manager - ESI Transmission, Distribution & Rail
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0418 434 302