Page 1 of 6
Title / Climb, work on, and perform rescues from telecommunications network structures
Level / 3 / Credits / 8
Purpose / This unit standard covers the knowledge and skills required to ascend and work safely on telecommunications network structures and perform a rescue from telecommunications network structures.
People credited with this unit standard are able to:
–demonstrate knowledge of safe climbing principles in terms of climbing on telecommunication network structures;
–demonstrate knowledge of falls and fall prevention;
–assess the status and condition of telecommunications structure to be climbed and identify climbing route in accordance with industry practice;
–select climbing equipment for the ascent of a telecommunications network structure;
–climb telecommunications network structures;
–work safely on telecommunications network structures using climbing and working fall arrest systems; and
–perform rescues from telecommunications network structures.
Classification / Telecommunications > Telecommunications - Service Delivery
Available grade / Achieved
Explanatory notes
1This unit standard has been designed for learning and assessment on-job.
2References
Electricity Act 1992;
Electricity Regulations 1997;
Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 and associated regulations;
Local Body regulations;
Resource Management Act 1991;
Telecommunications (Residual Provisions) Act 1987;
Telecommunications Act 2001;
Approved Code of Practice for Load-Lifting Rigging, ISBN 0-477-03595-7, Occupational Safety and Health Service, Department of Labour, April 2001;
Guidelines for the Prevention of Falls, ISBN 0-477-03614-7, Occupational Safety and Health Service, Department of Labour, April 2000;
NZS 2772.1:1999, Radiofrequency fields – Maximum exposure levels – 3kHz to 300GHz;
AS/NZS 1891.1:2007, Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices, Part 1 Harnesses and ancillary equipment;
AS/NZS 1891.2:2001, Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices, Part 2 Horizontal lifeline and rail systems;
AS/NZS 1891.3:1997, Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices, Part 3 Fall-arrest devices;
AS/NZS 1891.4:2000, Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices, Part 4 Selection, use and maintenance;
AS/NZS 1891.2 SUPP1:2001, Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices - Horizontal lifeline and rail systems- Prescribed configurations for horizontal lifelines, Supplement to AS/NZS 1891.2:2001;
company safety and health procedures;
and their subsequent amendments and replacements.
3Definitions
Fall arrest systems – include but are not limited to – permanent fixed systems, temporary systems erected by the contractor, e.g. rails, static lines, abseil lines, harnesses, attachment devices.
Local instructions – any documented instructions prepared by local management that are specific to a work site.
Industry practice – those practices that competent practitioners within the industry recognise as current industry best practice.
Specifications – any or all of: detailed job specifications, drawings, and instructions;
manufacturers’ specifications and instructions; and industry codes of practice relating to the type of cabling system being installed.
Suspension trauma – a life threatening condition brought on by restricted blood circulation, and can become critical after a few minutes of suspension.
Telecommunications network structures – include poles, towers, masts and any support for radio frequency emitting feeders, and antennae above ground level.
4Outcomes 6 and 7 of this unit standard will be assessed on the basis of evidence of demonstrated and repeatable performance in the workplace or in simulated work situations that demand performance equivalent to that required in workplace situation.
5Range
All work assessed against this unit standard must comply with the requirements of the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, relevant regulations, and applicable site and company occupational safety and health procedures.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Demonstrate knowledge of safe climbing principles in terms of climbing on telecommunication network structures.
Evidence requirements
1.1The reason for maintaining three points of contact while climbing on telecommunications network structures is described in accordance with industry practice.
1.2Safety requirements when working at heights are described in accordance with the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992.
1.3Safe working and minimum approach distances for hazards on telecommunications network structures are described in accordance with standards and regulations.
Outcome 2
Demonstrate knowledge of falls and fall prevention.
Evidence requirements
2.1Fall types are described in accordance with AS/NZS 1891.4:2000.
Rangefree fall, limited free fall, restrained free fall, total restrained fall.
2.2Fall factors are described in accordance with the Guidelines for the Prevention of Falls.
Rangefall factors 1 and 2, maximum allowable fall distances.
2.3Suspension trauma is described in terms of cause, effect, prevention, and treatment in accordance with industry practice.
Outcome 3
Assess the status and condition of telecommunications network structures to be climbed and identify climbing route, in accordance with industry practice.
Rangestructures – wooden poles, lattice towers, monopoles, masts, steel poles, concrete poles, rooftops, buildings, guyed masts.
Evidence of three is required.
Evidence requirements
3.1Inspect and assess the status and condition of telecommunications structures in accordance with industry practice.
Rangestructural integrity, access, access for initial climb, hazardous areas.
3.2Identify optimum climbing route for the avoidance of hazards and the most effective use of selected equipment in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions and industry practice.
Outcome 4
Select climbing equipment for the ascent of a telecommunications network structure.
Evidence requirements
4.1Climbing equipment is selected in keeping with the structures to be climbed in accordance with industry practice.
Rangeequipment – helmets, harnesses, lanyards, fall-arrest devices, static lines, anchors;
structures – wooden poles, lattice towers, monopoles, masts, steel poles, concrete poles, rooftops, buildings, guyed masts.
Evidence of three is required.
4.2Climbing equipment is inspected for damage in accordance with specifications and industry practice.
Rangecracks, deformities, chemical damage, heat damage, wear, abrasions, mechanical failure.
4.3Equipment ratings and applications are described in accordance with specifications.
Rangekarabiners, descenders, lines, anchors, ascenders.
Outcome 5
Climb telecommunications network structures.
Evidence requirements
5.1Permanent attachment is maintained when more than three metres from the ground in accordance with Health and Safety in Employment Regulations 1995.
5.2Three points of contact are maintained at all times in accordance with industry practice while climbing telecommunications network structures.
5.3Ropes are managed to avoid entanglement or fouling on the structure.
5.4Safe working and minimum approach distances from hazards on telecommunications network structures are maintained at all times in accordance with standards and regulations.
Outcome 6
Work safely on telecommunications network structures using climbing and working fall arrest systems.
Evidence requirements
6.1Transfers to and from the climbing system and the working system are performed in a safe manner in accordance with industry practice.
Rangepole straps, static lines, double lanyards, fall arrest systems.
6.2The working system is used in accordance with specifications.
Outcome 7
Perform rescues from telecommunications network structures.
Rangeevidence of three rescues is required.
Evidence requirements
7.1Rescue methods are identified in accordance with situation, industry practice and local instructions.
Rangeabseil rescue, raise and lower systems, personal and team safety.
7.2Rescues are performed in accordance with industry practice and local instructions.
Rangestabilise casualty, abseil rescue, raise and lower systems, personal and team safety.
7.3Medical treatment is obtained in accordance with industry practice and local instructions.
7.4Accidents or incidents are reported in accordance with company procedures and local instructions.
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 / 21 November 2008 / 31 December 2016
Review / 2 / 18 July 2013 / 31 December 2016
Rollover / 3 / 17 April 2014 / 31 December 2016
Rollover / 4 / 16 April 2015 / 31 December 2018
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0003
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.
The Skills OrganisationSSB Code 100401 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018 / / New Zealand Qualifications Aut