Repair a low voltage underground cable fault and restore supply

You are a Cable Jointer authorised for low voltage polymeric cable in Underground Cables.

Simulated workplaceIntermediate missionCAQA Gridworks Networks

What is going on

A low voltage cable fault between pillars P-2231 and P-2232 in Albert Street, Sebastopol, work order WO-26-4402, has left six customers off supply since yesterday. The fault has been located 42 metres from P-2231 by pulse echo and the excavation is open, 1.2 metres deep, with a gas main marked within 500 millimetres on one side. Electrical access authority EAA-26-2204 is held by the Underground Cables Manager with earths E-14 and E-15 applied, and switching program SP-26-0918 has restoration steps 7 to 12 pending. The pillar P-2231 has heat damaged fuse carriers. The pit rescue kit is on site and the weather is fine.

Danielle Fortescue, Underground Cables Manager
Subject: Albert Street low voltage cable fault: repair and restore today

The fault on the low voltage cable between pillars P-2231 and P-2232 in Sebastopol, work order WO-26-4402, has been located 42 metres from P-2231 and the excavation is open under access authority EAA-26-2204. Six customers have been off supply since yesterday. Take the lead on the repair: confirm the excavation is safe, including the hand dig zone near the gas main, cut and joint the cable with a straight joint, test it, then work with the controller on the restoration steps in SP-26-0918. Record everything on the work order and in the registers.

Your brief

Confirm the excavation and the access are safe, cut out the faulted section and install a straight joint on the low voltage polymeric cable to the client standard, test the repaired cable, and coordinate with the network controller to remove earths and restore supply through the switching program, recording every step on the work order and in the registers.

Work through it

You do not need to do it all. Doing a few of these will show you what the work is like. Your ticks and notes stay on this device.

Read the access authority procedure and the network safety rules policy, review EAA-26-2204, SP-26-0918 and WO-26-4402, and confirm with the access recipient that you are signed on under the authority.
Complete the job risk assessment for the excavation, including shoring or benching, the hand dig zone near the gas main, the pit rescue plan and two rescue competent workers, and record hazard INC-2026-056 as addressed.
Confirm at the excavation that the cable is the one under the authority, that earths E-14 and E-15 are applied at both pillars, and spike the cable with the approved spiking tool before cutting.
Cut out the faulted section, prepare the cable ends and install the straight joint to the client standard, recording the joint kit, the cable size and the jointer's name on the work order.
Test the repaired cable for insulation resistance and continuity from the pillar and record the results on the work order.
Inspect pillar P-2231, record the heat damaged fuse carriers in the asset inspection register with a priority, and replace them if they are within the work scope.
Confirm all workers clear and working earths removed, support the access recipient to cancel EAA-26-2204, and work with the controller through restoration steps 7 to 12 in SP-26-0918, confirming each by read back.
Backfill and reinstate the excavation, confirm customers have supply, and update the work order with hours, materials and completion.

My notes: what did I enjoy, and what surprised me?

What someone in this role would produce

Completed job risk assessment for the excavation and pit rescue
Work order entry with joint details and test results
Asset inspection register entry for pillar P-2231
Switching program register execution notes for restoration steps
Updated access and permit register entry showing cancellation

Printing this is a record of what you explored. It is not a certificate or a qualification.