SA001 – Overhead Safety

The SA001 accreditation covers three modules over a three day course:

• Ladder safety
• Pole checking and climbing
• Joint user poles

What will you learn?

The SA001 course provides learners with the knowledge and skills of the hazards and potential risks involved in working safely on ladders and wooden poles in a telecommunications environment. It also helps learners’ awareness of compliance with health and safety legislation. The accreditation tests learners’ knowledge, skills and understanding of dangers associated with these works and the safety precautions required while working on ladders and wooden poles.

This accreditation ensures that leaners involved in working on ladders and poles are suitably trained and accredited to the National Occupational Standard (NOS). This accreditation is aimed at those working on ladders and wooden poles in a telecommunications environment.

This accreditation does not cover roof top working.

Overhead Safety Course Learning Objectives

1. Be able to work safely
2. Be able to access a pole using a ladder
3. Know relevant health and safety legislation and industry good
4. practice
5. Know how to access a pole using a ladder
6. Know how to carry out pole checking
7. Know how to work safely on joint user poles

Streetworks

Please be aware the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA) requires at least one person on site to hold a Street Works card to work on the highway.

This Smart Awards accreditation is based on a pre-requisite that any work on the highway requires appropriate Street Works accreditation to be held by an individual working on site, and that this individual is qualified to check that the planned provision of footways, traffic lanes and safety zones determined by the site survey meets with the requirements of the site location and approved procedures and practices required by the NRSWA 1991.

Some companies’ policies may vary where more than one person on site is required to hold a valid Street Works card.

The SA001 accreditation covers three modules over a two day course:

• Ladder safety
• Pole checking and climbing
• Joint user poles

Assessment Criteria

1.1. Identify the hazards and risks associated with the working area and the proposed work.
1.2. Work in a way which maintains health and safety and is consistent with relevant legislation and industry good practice.
1.3. Use correct manual handling techniques
1.4. Use climbing equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE).
1.5. Complete safety checks for all ladders and steps to be used
1.6. Carry out work to minimise environmental damage.
2.1 Perform a hazard evaluation and Work at Height assessment of the pole prior to commencing the work.
2.2 Inspect access equipment to ensure it is safe and fit for use under manufacturer’s instructions and relevant legislation.
2.3 Use access and positioning methods appropriate to the assessed risk.
2.4 Use appropriate positioning techniques
2.5 Carry out safe climbing of a ladder
2.6 Descend pole in a controlled manner and remove equipment appropriately.
3.1 Outline the key health and safety legislation and industry good practice.
3.2 Outline the key health and safety regulations that need to be observed when working at height
3.3 Describe how to use and maintain tools, equipment, and personal protective equipment.
3.4 Outline the emergency planning procedures relevant to the work area.
4.1 Describe different methods used to safely access a pole
4.2 Describe different positioning techniques
4.3 Describe how to ensure that access equipment and systems are in safe working order.
4.4 Describe how to work safely on ladders and step ladders
4.5 Describe how to erect and guard a ladder
4.6 Outline how to secure a ladder against a solid structure
4.7 Outline how to correctly check that the ladder is stable and is safe for working on
4.8 Outline how to secure a ladder with a knot, raise tools to the working position and adopt a safe drilling position
5.1 Identify pole markings
5.2 Identify sterile poles
5.3 Outline pre-works check
5.4 Describe the pole test process
5.5 Describe the low wire procedure
5.6 Outline how to overcome obstacles on poles
5.7 Describe how to turn on a pole
5.8 Outline safe climb zone
6.1 Outline how to recognise low and high voltage poles
6.2 State how to access joint user poles Describe how to work safely on joint user poles

Entry Requirements

There are no formal entry requirements and Smart Awards will not restrict access on the grounds of prior academic attainment, age, employment, geographic location or any other grounds.
There are no barriers that restrict access or progression, thereby promoting equality. It is expected however that learners will have a level of literacy adequate to cope with both the theory and practical assessments.

Assessment

The course includes both practical and theory assessment.

• Practical Assessment
• Theory/Multiple choice questions