Lightning protection operative
Construction and the built environment
Level 2 -
Install and maintain lightning protection and earthing systems.
Reference: OCC0651
Status:
SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 5319/04 Industrial climbers
Technical Education Products
Employers involved in creating the standard:
Cuttings London, BEST Services, Churchill SC, Delta International, J Redpath Buchanan, Omega Red Group, Orion LP, PTSG Electrical Services, Rafferty International, Sentinel
Summary
This Lightning Protection Operative occupation is found in the construction, facilities management, heritage, infrastructure, transportation, utilities, petrochemical and energy production/distribution sectors.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to install and/or maintain lightning protection and earthing systems to buildings and infrastructure to minimise damage to structures and their contents and to reduce the risk of injury to people in, or working on, the equipment that is being protected. The core element of an operative’s work is the installation of lightning protection systems but most will also undertake some power earthing work to provide a safe earth for electrical systems. This is a growing element of employers’ activities and some operatives will specialise in power earthing duties.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with internal stakeholders such as company project managers, supervisors and safety representatives; and external stakeholders such as contractors, site management and safety teams, clients representatives, materials and equipment suppliers and training providers. The work is typically undertaken on construction sites or on client-owned premises or equipment and usually involves working on the outside of building structures on the roof or walls, or on equipment that is open to the atmosphere. It is an occupation that is often conducted outside in all weathers and at height.
An employee in this occupation typically works in small teams overseen by a senior operative or supervisor. They will be required to complete basic tasks, such as product installation, routine testing and maintenance, without supervision and make accurate records of work undertaken. They will also be required to assist with more complex tasks, such as specialist testing, with the support of their team and under direct supervision.
Employers involved in creating the standard:
Cuttings London, BEST Services, Churchill SC, Delta International, J Redpath Buchanan, Omega Red Group, Orion LP, PTSG Electrical Services, Rafferty International, Sentinel
Keywords:
Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)
Duties
Duty D1
Establish systems and equipment to create a safe working environment in line with organisational procedures, site requirements and budgets.
Duty D2
Assess the site or workplace for hazards and identify/implement the necessary control measures.
Duty D3
Implement necessary pedestrian controls and traffic management.
Duty D4
Control manual and assisted handling of materials.
Duty D5
Ensure compliance with British Standards BS EN 62305 (Lightning Protection) and BS EN 7430 (Earthing) is maintained at all times.
Duty D6
Install air termination rods and isolated masts.
Duty D7
Install an air termination network, jointing of conductors and bonding of extraneous metalwork.
Duty D8
Install a down conductor network either by the use of conductor tape or by the use of a building structure, testing and verifying acceptability.
Duty D9
Safely install an earth network by the use of earth electrodes, earth mats or the use of building foundations including the identification and avoidance of buried services.
Duty D10
Undertake appropriate resistance testing of lightning protection and earthing system individual electrodes plus earth and down conductor networks.
Duty D11
Undertake conductor jointing techniques including pressure clamps, exo-thermic welding, brazing and crimping.
Duty D12
Undertake specialist testing - low resistance electrical continuity tests for earthing system joint connections.
Duty D13
Carry out maintenance and inspection duties, including fault finding and rectification.
Duty D14
Keep accurate records and have an understanding of reporting procedures.
Occupational Progression
This occupational progression map shows technical occupations that have transferable knowledge and skills.
In this map, the focused occupation is highlighted in yellow. The arrows indicate where transferable knowledge and skills exist between two occupations. This map shows some of the strongest progression links between the focused occupation and other occupations.
It is anticipated that individuals would be required to undertake further learning or training to progress to and from occupations. To find out more about an occupation featured in the progression map, including the learning options available, click the occupation.
Progression decisions have been reached by comparing the knowledge and skills statements between occupational standards, combined with individualised learner movement data.
Construction and the built environment