Low Voltage Power Line Maintenance Practitioner

This qualification will qualify the learner to maintain and repair low voltage overhead power lines. A Low Voltage Power Line Maintenance Practitioner inspects, maintains and repairs low voltage overhead powerlines.

This occupation includes the skills and knowledge required for the trade of Electrical Line Mechanic, in the context of Low and Medium Voltage infrastructure. This is a key occupation to deliver on the South African Government's Integrated National Electrification Programme (INEP) which was established to provide basic access to electricity for all citizens of South Africa. This occupation includes the following special skills: • Low Voltage Power Line Construction Practitioner. • Medium Voltage Power Line Construction Practitioner. • Low Voltage Power Line Maintenance Practitioner. • Medium Voltage Power Line Maintenance Practitioner. In order to meet this ambitious target of providing electricity to an additional 14 million households, the number of people practising this trade has to be substantially increased. While such electrical line mechanics have been trained in the past, they have not had recognition through a formal qualification or through formal programmes such as apprenticeships or learnerships. Typically, learners will be unemployed youth drawn from the communities which are the focus of the electrification or upgrade programmes. Qualifying learners will generally be employed by Small, Medium and Micro Entrepreneurs (SMME) contractors who carry out the work for the utilities, to build, inspect, maintain, repair and upgrade electrical transmission, distribution and reticulation equipment. Some will be permanently employed by the utilities themselves. Once they have acquired sufficient experience, qualifying learners will be able to select from a number of vertical and horizontal career opportunities including performing more specialised construction and electrical maintenance work, and establishing their own contracting companies. A formal qualification is an essential mechanism to help ensure that the construction, inspection, maintenance and repair of electrical infrastructure is performed according to the relevant design and operational standards and contractual agreements, which includes maintaining the quality and the continuity of electrical supply and ensuring that the impact of such work on the environment is minimised. Rigorous and extensive training is also required in order to ensure the safety of the workers, the public and ultimately the energy consumer.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): RPL for Access to the Integrated Assessment: Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and conform prior learning. Prior learning must be acknowledged by a statement of results. RPL for Access to the Qualification: Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior learning against the relevant access requirements. Entry Requirements: Level 4: Occupational Certificate: Low Voltage Power Line Construction Practitioner.

3. Maintain and repair low voltage overhead electrical infrastructure and equipment.