literacy profile: line mechanic trainee

1Literacy profile: Line Mechanic Trainee© Workbase 12/07

Reading tasks

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LiTeRacy pRofiLe:

Line Mechanic Trainee

Recognise and interpret pictures, symbols, abbreviations and codes

• Safetysigns

• Warningsigns

• EquipmentIDs

• Assetnumbers

• Roadsigns

• Measurementse.g.resistancemeter

• WOF&servicestickers

Read and understand very short documents

• Jobboard

• Timesheets

• Leaveforms

• Accidentandincidentforms

• Vehiclechecksheets

• Permits

• Switchinginstructionsheets

• Equipmentrecordingsheets

• Equipmentcodes

• Jobcostingcodes

• Tailgateandhazardmanagementpromptsheet

Read and understand short documents

• Jobinstructions

• Operatingprocedures

• Trafficmanagementplans

• Memosandnotices

• Positiondescriptions

• Employmentcontract

• Trainingagreement

• Trainingmanuals

• Trainingmaterial

• WAP

Read and understand complex documents

• Circuitdiagrams

• Manualsandhandbooks- Safety- Safepractice- EEA- EWRB

• Regulations

• Siteplans

• Maps

NB Reading and numeracy are linked in many of these tasks

Role: The role of a trainee line mechanic is to assist line mechanics carry out construction and maintenance

work on aerial and underground electrical line systems. This profile identifies the literacy tasks and skills that

are part of this role.

Literacy includes reading, writing, speaking and listening, critical thinking, and the use of information

communication technology.

Most of the tasks listed will involve the use of technical language and abbreviations relevant to the electricity

supply industry.


Reading skills

Interpretgraphicsymbols.

Recognisearangeoftexttypes.- Signs- Codes- Forms- Drawings- Procedures- Manuals- Regulations

Recognisenumbersinwrittenformats.

Matchnumbersoridentifiersacrossdifferenttexts.

Understandcommonindustryvocabularyandabbreviations.

Usearangeofstrategiestofindoutinformationorthemeaningofunfamiliarwordsorphrases.- Referencesources □Directory □Dictionary □Trainingtext- Asksomeone- Makeinferencesfrom surroundingtext

Useaguidetodocumentcontents.- Index- Tableofcontents- Key- Legend

Usearangeofstrategiestobuildmeaningfromtexts.- Predictwhatwillbecontained inatext- Scantexttofindspecific information- Skimtextfor“gist”- Readtextthoroughly

Understandwrittenandnumericalinformationfromgraphicalmaterial.- Tables- 2Ddrawings- Maps


Writing tasks

Writing skills

Understandthatdifferentwritingstylesareusedfordifferenttypesofwriting.- Note- List- Checklist- Form- Assignments(training)- Assessments(training)

Completeforms(includingassessmentquestionsintraining)usingnumbers,singlewords,orshortsentences.- Handwritingmustbelegible- Abbreviationscanbeused- Spellingmustbeunderstandable, butcorrectspellingisnotessential- Grammarandpunctuationmust beunderstandable

Drawsketchesthatclearlyrepresentworkdoneorjobrequirements.- Geometricshapesare representedclearly- Dimensionsaredrawnin proportion- Correctabbreviationsareused- Exactoraccuratedimensions areincluded

Summarisewrittentrainingmaterialorinformationfromoralpresentations.

Writeassignments(training).- Planassignmentwriting (beginning,middleandend)- Writesentencesandparagraphs- Usediagramsandsketchesto helpmakeapoint- Spellingshouldbecorrect- Grammarandpunctuation shouldbemostlycorrect- Useeditingskills

Complete simple documentation

• Tailgatesheet,jobsafetyanalysis

• Workdone

• Equipmentrecord

• Switchinginstructionsheet

• Bookingequipment

• Materialsorder

• Vehiclechecklist

• Recordmeasurementse.g.earthtesting

• Odometer&vehicleIDonpetrolcard

• WAP

Write a brief factual statement

• Timesheets

• Drawasketchplan

• Leaveforms

• Logbook

• Trainingnotes

Write a paragraph

• Accidentandincidentforms

• Answerstoassignmentsandassessmentsintraining


Speaking and listening tasks

Speaking and listening skills

Speakclearly.

Usewords,pronunciation,andtoneappropriatetosituationandperson.

Giveinformationinasensibleorder.

Useactivelisteningskills.- Repeatmessagebacktosender- Summariseinstructionsin ownwords

- Usefollowingtechniques e.g.say“aha”or“okay”asyou followwhatsomeoneissaying

Usequestioningtechniquesincludingopenorclosedquestionstogaininformation,checkunderstanding,andencouragefurtherdiscussion.

Usesuitablebodylanguage.

Readbodylanguageofpersonspeakingorbeingspokentoandrespondappropriately.

dRafT v1

Listen to procedures and instructions given orally and respond accordingly

• Jobinstructions

• Tailgateinstructions

• Explanations

• Requestsforassistance

• Oralexplanationsandinstructionsintraining

Give factual information orally and check for understanding

• CellphoneorRT

• Respondtorequestsforassistance

• Orderequipmentormaterialsfromcompanybase

• Communicatewithofficestaffasrequired

• Verbalisestepsinjobsoteamleadercansupervise

• Answeroralassessmentquestionsaspartoftraining

Participate in discussions with work team

• Contributetodiscussionatteammeetings

• Talktoclients,membersofthepublicaboutworktobedoneorinprogress

• Talktosalesreps


Numeracy tasks

Recognisenumbersaspartofacode.

Usenumbers.- Wholenumbers- Decimals- Fractions- Percentages

Donumberproblems.- Addition- Subtraction- Multiplication- Division

Understandplacevalue.

Estimate.- Length- Time- Weight- Number

Measureaccurately.- Length- Time- Weight- Number

Understand12and24hrclock.

Interpretnumericalinformationrepresentedindifferentways.- Graphs- Tables- Scales- Dials

Understandmapgrids.

Extractinformationfroma2Ddrawingof3Dobject.

Numeracy skills

Recognise and understand alphanumeric codes

• EquipmentIDs

• Jobcostingcodes

• Assetnumbers

• Axleweights

• Mapco-ordinates

Record data from workplace observations or measurements

• Meterreadings–digital&analogue

• EquipmentIDnumber(e.g.transformernumber)

• Costcodes

• GLnumbers

• Length

• Time

Carry out simple calculations for specific work tasks

• Estimatequantitiesofmaterialsneededtocompletejob

• Estimatetimeneededtocarryoutjob

• Calculatetimespentonjobs

• Calculatematerialsused

• Manifestweights

• Checkpayslip

Carry out a range of measurements

• Tapemeasure

• Meters(e.g.voltmeter)

NB Numeracy is linked with reading in many of these tasks


critical thinking tasks

Analysewhenactionshouldbetaken.

Evaluatewhatactionshouldbetaken.

Reflectwhenactioncannotbetakenindependentlyandseekassistance.

Useaproblemsolvingmethodology.- Identifyissue- Identifypossiblesolutions- Determinebestoutcome- Decideonplanofaction- Carryoutplan- Reviewresulttoseeifplan worked

Visualise3Dobjectsfroma2Ddrawing.

critical thinking skills

Identify when workplace procedures are not being met and take appropriate action

• Health&safety

• Traffic

assess situation and identify appropriate action to take

• Assesswhatpermitsareneeded

• Workoutbestordertocompleteajob

• Selectcorrectequipmentandtoolstodothejobeffectively

• Understandprinciplethat“timeismoney”andspendappropriateamountsoftimeonajob

• Evaluatetemporaryrepairvsreplacement

• Solveproblems

• Respondtoemergency

• Evaluatewhetherjobiscompletedcorrectly

• Reviewfinishedjob

• Followtrafficregulations,roadrules

assess situation and decide if assistance is needed

• Seekhelpfromotherswhenneeded


information and communications Technology Tasks

Workbase: the New Zealand Centre for Workforce Literacy development2VermontSt,Ponsonby,Auckland,POBox56571,DominionRoad,Auckland,NewZealand.Phone:093613800Fax:093763700www.workbase.org.nz

information and communications Technology Skills

Use information and communications technology with customised software

• Jobcontrol

• Stockcontrol

• Invoicing

Use information and communications technology with commercial software packages

• E-mail

NB Tasks listed here concentrate on the information technology skills needed not the level of reading and writing required.

Understandthenamesandbasicpurposeofcomputerhardwaredevices.- CPU- Keyboard- Mouse- Screen- Printer

Understandhowtooperateacomputertolaunchasoftwareapplication.- Startthecomputer- Log-inifneeded- Startappropriateapplication

Understandandusecommonsoftwarefunctions.- Open- Save- Close

Enterorupdatedataonacomputer.- Keyboard- Mouse- Otherinputdevices

Notes:

Thisprofileisbasedonrolesobservedatanumberofelectricitysupplycompanies.Theprofile,therefore,representsacombinedsetoftasks.Linemechanictraineeswillcarryoutdifferentcombinationsofthetasksidentifieddependingonhowfarthroughtheirtrainingtheyare.Differentcompaniesmayrequiretraineestoundertakeslightlydifferentcombinationsofthesetasks.Thedifferenceswilldependonthecompany’sstructureandsystems.

literacy profile: line mechanic trainee

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