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Title / Carry out in-service visual inspections on substation equipment for safe operation
Level / 3 / Credits / 4
Purpose / People credited with this unit standard are able to: prepare for a visual inspection on substation equipment; carry out inspection of substation equipment; complete the requisite equipment inspection report; and initiate requests for corrective action.
Classification / Electricity Supply > Electricity Supply - Power System Maintenance
Available grade / Achieved
Entry information
Critical health and safety prerequisites / Unit 14287, Use and maintain test instruments used within the high voltage electrical industry, or demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills.
Core electrical theory is essential knowledge underpinning the performances required by this unit standard.
Explanatory notes
1This unit standard can be assessed against in a workplace environment, or in a training or educational environment if simulated equipment response and examples are able to be provided, or in a combination of both environments.
2Performance and work practices in relation to the outcomes and evidence requirements must comply with all current legislation, especially the Electricity Act 1992, and any regulations and codes of practice recognised under that statute; the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992; and the Resource Management Act 1991. Electricity supply industry codes of practice and documented industry procedures include the Safety Manual – Electricity Industry (SM-EI)(Wellington: Electricity Engineers’ Association, 2010). A full list of current legislation and industry codes is available from the Electricity Supply Industry Training Organisation, PO Box 1245, Hamilton 3240.
3The phrase in accordance with industry requirements is implicit in all outcomes and evidence requirements in this unit standard.
4Industry requirements include 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.
5All work practices shall meet documented enterprise maintenance standards, including the quality management requirements, and the documentation of activities, events, and decisions.
6The range of this unit standard is limited to in-service visual inspections, from a safe situation, of equipment for safe operation. Inspections are normally applied at electricity supply substations.
7The following terms and abbreviations related to this unit standard:
AS/NZS=Australian/New Zealand Standard.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Prepare for a visual inspection on substation equipment.
Evidence requirements
1.1The appropriate ‘check list’ for inspection of substation equipment is selected in terms of enterprise requirements.
Rangemay include but is not limited to AS/NZS 3017:2007Electrical Installations – Verification guidelines; AS/NZS 3019:2007Electrical Installations – Periodic verification – bus bars, clamps, disconnectors, circuit breakers, transformers, disconnection, earth switches, capacitor banks, current transformers (CTs), voltage transformers (VTs), injection equipment, pumps, fans, compressors, battery banks, control, protection equipment, metering, auxiliary generators.
1.2Operational reports are reviewed and any abnormal incidents are noted in terms of enterprise standard requirements.
Rangemay include documented equipment problems, especially those associated with design or material defects.
1.3Operational status of substation equipment is determined before inspection and entry permit (or its approved equivalent) is obtained.
Rangeincludes the completion of the requisite entry requirements to carry out the inspection.
Outcome 2
Carry out inspection of substation equipment.
Evidence requirements
2.1Equipment being inspected is identified with the associated ‘check list’ and enterprise standards.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – recognise the equipment, system item number, recognise components of main equipment.
2.2The visual inspection of the substation equipment is completed in accordance with the ‘check list’ and enterprise standards.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – enterprise inspection requirements, client standards, AS/NZS 3017:2007Electrical Installations – Verification guidelines;AS/NZS 3019:2007Electrical Installations – Periodic verification.
2.3The visual inspection observations are analysed for servicing needs.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – corrosion signs, damage, signs of over-heating, incorrect indication, low oil levels, too high or low pressures, flash arc over damage, pollution productions, operation cyclo counter.
Outcome 3
Complete the requisite equipment inspection report.
Evidence requirements
3.1Recorded results of visual inspection are analysed to identify any features that will require maintenance.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – the completion of the requisite equipment inspection forms, an analysis of the inspection results, trends are analysed.
3.2Any important report items are noted as requiring urgent attention, and action is taken to notify the relevant authority of the situation and advise them that prompt remedial action is required.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – items which will cause danger to life if not corrected urgently and may cause damage to equipment and loss of supply, environmental issues, danger to public.
Outcome 4
Initiate request for corrective action.
Evidence requirements
4.1The necessary documentation, with details of the equipment affected and the problem identified, is completed in terms of client requirements.
Rangemay include but is not limited to completion of all documentation prescribed by the equipment owner or the owner’s representative.
4.2Documentation of the corrective action required is provided for each defect.
Rangecompletion of all prescribed documentation, including a meaningful assessment of all defects found, and the timing of corrective action to maintain reliability of the equipment.
4.3Documentation is transmitted to the approving officer.
Rangeincludes compliance with prescribed notification requirements, correct categorisations of defects.
Planned review date / 31 December 2015Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 27 April 1998 / December 2012
Revision / 2 / 11 February 2004 / December 2012
Rollover and Revision / 3 / 20 June 2008 / December 2012
Review / 4 / 21 July 2011 / 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 (CMRs). 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 Electricity Supply Industry Training you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
Electricity Supply Industry Training OrganisationSSB Code 101813 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018