NZQA registered unit standard / 18032 version 4
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Title / Measure trees and lines for vegetation control around power lines to minimum approach distance
Level / 3 / Credits / 4
Purpose / People credited with this unit standard are able to: select and maintain tree measuring equipment for vegetation control around power lines; measure trees and power lines; and report measuring for tree and vegetation control around power lines.
Classification / Electricity Supply > Electricity Supply -Distribution Networks
Available grade / Achieved

Explanatory notes

1This unit standard is intended for assessment off-job. The range statements can be applied according to industry specific equipment, procedures, and processes as applied in the electricity supply industry.

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, the 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 (EEA).

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 includes vegetation control work and procedures which must be carried out in accordance with the following Codes of Practice and Guide –

Approved Code of Practicefor Safety and Health in Tree Work – Part 1:Arboriculture;

Approved Code of Practice for Safety and Health in Tree Work – Part 2:Maintenance of Trees Around Power Lines;

Approved Code of Practice for Power-Operated Elevating Work Platforms;

Guide for Safety with Underground Services;

EEA Guidefor Safety and Health in Tree Work around Power Lines

These codes and guide are available from regional offices of the Department of Labour, Occupational Safety and Health Service (OSH) and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).

BS 3998:1989Recommendations for Tree work is available from Standards New Zealand, Private Bag 2439, Wellington 6140–

ANSI Z133.1-2006American National Standards for Arboricultural Operations – Safety Requirements is available from Wes Spur –

Code of Practice for Temporary Traffic Management, 2012 available from the New Zealand Transport Agency–

Outcomes and evidence requirements

Outcome 1

Select and maintain tree measuring equipment for vegetation control around power lines.

Evidence requirements

1.1Method of measuring tree and power lines is determined.

Rangeincludes but is not limited to – accessibility, topography, tree height, power line height.

1.2Measuring equipment is selected in accordance with measuring method.

Rangemay include but not limited to – telepole, clinometer;

evidence of two is required.

1.3Use of routine testing and inspection of tools and equipment used in tree work is described.

Outcome 2

Measure trees and electrical lines.

Evidence requirements

2.1Measurement of treesand power lines is completed using height measuring equipment.

Rangemay include but not limited to–telepole, clinometer;

evidence of two methods is required.

Outcome 3

Reportmeasuring for tree and vegetation control around power lines.

Rangeincludes but is not limited to – tree height, conductor height, horizontal distance to line from tree to line, slope angle, tree approach distance.

Evidence requirements

3.1Reporting documentation is completed.

Range may include but is not limited to – tailgate meeting minutes, job report, check sheet;

evidence of one report to company or asset owner standardsis required.

Planned review date / 31 December 2019

Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions

Process / Version / Date / Last Date for Assessment
Registration / 1 / 27 April 2001 / 31 December 2019
Review / 2 / 22 October 2003 / 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 Organisation if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.

Infrastructure Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101813 /  New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018