Carry out ground level inspection of overhead line plant and apparatus in the power industry

Overview

This standard is about carrying out ground level inspections of overhead line plant and apparatus in an electricity power utilities environment on wood pole or steel structures.  This could apply to both electrical transmission or electrical distribution networks and could typically apply to voltages from low voltage up to and including transmission voltages such as 400,000 volts. Networks could be aligned with systems using traditional or emerging energy technologies.

This standard includes confirming permissions, safety documents and instructions, carrying out risk assessments, carrying out ground level inspections, carrying out testing before, during and after inspections, identifying and dealing with faults and unexpected test results, checking completed inspections and completing documentation.

This standard is for crafts persons or technicians working for network owners or operators or their sub-contractors who are responsible for carrying out ground level inspections of overhead line plant and apparatus on electrical networks.  This could be carried out by people with different levels of network operational authorisation, but in each case, they will be required to have the degree of supervision which is required for their individual level of authority.

Performance Criteria

You must be able to:

  1. identify work location using system information in line with organisational procedures
  2. carry out all work within the remits of own authority and under the supervision of suitably authorised personnel when required
  3. receive and confirm land access permissions, safety documents and work instructions about inspection activities to be carried out in line with organisational procedures
  4. carry out site specific risk assessments of work areas and condition of plant and apparatus to be inspected, identifying hazards and required control measures in line with organisational procedures
  5. communicate the status of overhead line inspection activities to affected parties and designated people when required and in line with organisational procedures
  6. use approved tools, equipment and consumables for overhead line plant and apparatus inspection in line with organisational procedures
  7. work in line with health and safety, environmental and other relevant regulations, directives and guidance at all times
  8. carry out ground level inspections of plant and apparatus in line with workplan, safety instructions and organisational procedures
  9. carry out testing procedures before, during and after inspections in line with organisational procedures
  10. identify and deal with faults and unexpected test results in line with organisational procedures
  11. check inspections comply with organisational specifications, and no damage has occurred to overhead line plant and apparatus
  12. complete documentation for overhead line plant and apparatus inspection in line with organisational procedures
  13. leave work areas in a safe condition in line with organisational procedures
  14. deal with network issues and complications in line with safety and organisational procedures
  15. escalate issues that you cannot resolve to the designated person in line with organisational procedures when required

 

Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

  1. Electrical power principles including three phase alternating current and direct current theories; voltage; dynamic and static engineering systems; application of electrical and electronic circuit theory and interfaces between the system voltage
  2. Electricity network design, construction, capabilities, complexities, operations, boundaries, topologies and control boundaries
  3. Apparatus which makes up the transmission or distribution network and the design, operation, function and limitations of transmission or distribution plant and equipment, substations, transformers, overhead lines, switchgear and auxiliary equipment
  4. Standard terminology, abbreviations and nomenclature in relation to overhead line plant and apparatus and identification and ground level inspection techniques
  5. The regulatory requirements associated with safety while carrying out ground level inspections of power network overhead line plant and apparatus and how the line is constructed to meet clearance requirements
  6. Required permissions for entering land and property, what they should contain and how to check them
  7. How to assess the location and structure and safe procedures for access and egress and proximity to live equipment
  8. The general and inherent dangers of carrying out work on electrical systems of different voltages under outage and non-outage conditions and required measures to address them
  9. The principles of pre task and point of work dynamic risk assessment, when they are required and how to carry them out and record findings
  10. Operational restrictions, their purpose and actions to be taken and how to recognise and use physical signage and network diagram indicators
  11. Who to notify about network related operations, when to notify them and organisational procedures for doing so
  12. Electricity network principles of operation of overhead networks in normal and fault conditions and associated protective devices and their indicators in the event of system fault scenarios
  13. Sources of system information and how to interpret them to identify overhead lines, points of isolation and earthing arrangements including system diagrams, work instructions, fault logs, protection data
  14. The sequence of processes, procedures, stages and operational safety rules relating to ground level inspection activity
  15. The environmental impact of disposal, organisational decontamination procedures and what to do if things go wrong, including the use of spill kits
  16. The approved plant, apparatus, tools and consumables required for overhead line plant and apparatus inspections and how to obtain, inspect, prepare, carry out pre-use checks, use, maintain and store them
  17. Ground level inspection procedures and techniques for overhead line plant and apparatus including the use of remote and emerging technology
  18. Regulatory specifications for overhead line plant installation including safety signage and line heights
  19. The purpose of checks and tests for overhead line plant and apparatus, when they are required and how to carry them out including visual checks, functional checks, electrical tests
  20. Organisational procedures and systems for recording and storing operational information and to meet cybersecurity and data governance requirements, including role-based access, secure storage, audit logging, data retention
  21. The route to authorisation and supervision at different levels and the training, experience and certification required for your role