Coordinate working parties in the utilities sector

This standard is about coordinating working parties in the utilities sector.  It can apply to any utility. Utility networks could be aligned with systems using traditional or emerging energy technologies.

This standard includes reviewing the content and sequence of tasks, carrying out risk assessments, briefing working party members, monitoring and coordinating work activity and the use of resources, dealing with issues and complications, providing guidance to working party members, checking completed work, completing documentation and reporting findings and outcomes.

This standard is for crafts persons or technicians working for network owners, network operators or sub-contractors.  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. establish and verify details about the work 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. review the content and sequence of tasks needed to complete work activity in line with work plans, work schedules and organisational procedures
  4. carry out site specific risk assessments of work areas and condition of plant and apparatus to be worked on, identifying hazards and required control measures in line with organisational procedures
  5. inform individual group members of their assigned work tasks and responsibilities in line with work plans and organisational procedures
  6. coordinate and monitor working party activities throughout the duration of the work in line with risk assessments, control measures and procedures, regulations, work schedules and work plans
  7. coordinate, adjust and maximise the use of resources as required to meet work plans, work instructions and safety requirements
  8. provide guidance to working party members when required so that assigned work is conducted in accordance with the work plan and meets work specification
  9. communicate the status of working party activities to affected parties and designated people when required and in line with organisational procedures
  10. check that completed work complies with safety requirements, organisational quality assurance standards and criteria and utility asset operating specifications
  11. complete documentation for allocated work in line with organisational procedures
  12. deal with network issues and complications in line with safety and organisational procedures
  13. escalate issues that you cannot resolve to the designated person in line with organisational procedures when required
  14. report findings and outcomes once work is completed in line with organisational procedures

 

Knowledge and understanding

You need to know and understand:

  1. the regulatory requirements, directives, guidelines, policies and procedures for health, safety and the environment that are associated with working on utility plant and apparatus
  2. how to carry out risk assessments of sites and work activities
  3. how to read, interpret and complete authorisation procedures and documentation
  4. the link between work plans, work schedules, work objectives, work instructions and assigned activities and how to plan working party activities effectively, efficiently and safely
  5. organisational reporting lines, authorisation roles and responsibilities
  6. your own responsibilities in relation to coordinating working parties and how to allocate, monitor and check work carried out by others
  7. how to communicate and provide individuals and groups with accurate, precise and concise information, support and guidance
  8. approved plant, apparatus, tools, equipment and consumables resources and how to obtain, inspect, prepare, carry out pre-use checks, use, maintain and store them and monitor their use
  9. issues and complications that may occur when coordinating working parties, how to deal with them and procedures for escalation
  10. organisational procedures and systems for reporting, recording and storing operational information and to meet cybersecurity and data governance requirements, including role-based access, secure storage, audit logging, data retention
  11. the route to authorisation and supervision at different levels and the training, experience and certification required for your level of responsibility