Powerline Technician Red Seal Examination Weightings

Powerline Technician - Pie Chart

MWA A - Performs common occupational skills 26%

MWA B - Installs structures 13%

MWA C - Installs conductor systems 15%

MWA D - Installs auxiliary equipment 21%

MWA E - Performs operation, maintenance and repair 25%

This pie chart represents a breakdown of the interprovincial Red Seal examination. Percentages are based on the collective input from workers from the trade from across Canada.

The following is the list of all of the Major Work Activities, Tasks and Sub-tasks. The percentages represent how the questions are assigned to each Major Work Activity and Task. Interprovincial examinations for this trade have 125 questions.

MWA A – Performs common occupational skills 26%

1. Task A-1 Performs safety-related functions 23%

  • A-1.01 Uses personal protective equipment (PPE) and safety equipment
  • A-1.02 Controls powerline hazards
  • A-1.03 Controls environmental hazards
  • A-1.04 Performs lock-out and tag-out procedures
  • A-1.05 Performs temporary grounding and bonding procedures

2. Task A-2 Uses and maintains tools and equipment 19%

  • A-2.01 Uses hand, power and powder-actuated tools and equipment
  • A-2.02 Uses electrical measuring and testing equipment
  • A-2.03 Uses rigging, hoisting and lifting equipment

3. Task A-3 Organizes work 16%

  • A-3.01 Interprets plans, drawings and specifications
  • A-3.02 Prepares worksite
  • A-3.03 Plans job tasks and procedures

4. Task A-4 Accesses work area 12%

  • A-4.01 Climbs poles and steel lattice structures
  • A-4.02 Uses access equipment
  • A-4.03 Uses on- and off-road equipment

5. Task A-5 Uses live-line methods 23%

  • A-5.01 Uses cover up
  • A-5.02 Uses rubber gloves
  • A-5.03 Uses bare-hand methods (Not Common Core)
  • A-5.04 Uses fibreglass reinforced plastic (FRP) tools (hot sticks)

6. Task A-6 Uses communication and mentoring techniques 7%

  • A-6.01 Uses communication techniques
  • A-6.02 Uses mentoring techniques

MWA B – Installs structures 13%

7. Task B-7 Installs pole structures 79%

  • B-7.01 Frames pole structures
  • B-7.02 Sets pole structures
  • B-7.03 Installs pole structure guys and anchors

8. Task B-8 Installs steel lattice structures 21%

  • B-8.01 Assembles steel lattice structures
  • B-8.02 Erects steel lattice structures
  • B-8.03 Installs steel lattice structure guy wires and anchors

MWA C – Installs conductor systems 15%

9. Task C-9 Installs overhead conductors and cables 67%

  • C-9.01 Strings overhead conductors and cables
  • C-9.02 Sags overhead conductors and cables
  • C-9.03 Ties-in overhead conductors and cables
  • C-9.04 Installs splices and connections to overhead conductors and cables

10. Task C-10 Installs underground and underwater cable 33%

  • C-10.01 Installs conduit and cable
  • C-10.02 Places direct buried cable
  • C-10.03 Splices underground and underwater cable
  • C-10.04 Terminates underground and underwater cable

MWA D – Installs auxiliary equipment 21%

11. Task D-11 Installs lighting systems 13%

  • D-11.01 Installs street lights
  • D-11.02 Maintains street lights

12. Task D-12 Installs voltage control equipment 33%

  • D-12.01 Installs transformers
  • D-12.02 Installs capacitors
  • D-12.03 Installs voltage regulators
  • D-12.04 Installs switches
  • D-12.05 Installs reactors (Not Common Core)

13. Task D-13 Installs protection equipment 29%

  • D-13.01 Installs reclosers
  • D-13.02 Installs sectionalizers
  • D-13.03 Installs fuses
  • D-13.04 Installs lightning arrestors

14. Task D-14 Installs metering equipment 17%

  • D-14.01 Installs primary metering equipment
  • D-14.02 Installs secondary metering equipment

15. Task D-15 Installs communication devices 8%

  • D-15.01 Installs cellular antennas
  • D-15.02 Transfers communication lines

MWA E – Performs operation, maintenance and repair 25%

16. Task E-16 Operates distribution and transmission systems 26%

  • E-16.01 Operates transmission systems
  • E-16.02 Operates distribution systems
  • E-16.03 Performs station switching

17. Task E-17 Maintains distribution and transmission systems 28%

  • E-17.01 Inspects distribution and transmission systems
  • E-17.02 Maintains pole structures
  • E-17.03 Maintains steel lattice structures
  • E-17.04 Maintains system components
  • E-17.05 Trims trees

18. Task E-18 Repairs distribution systems 27%

  • E-18.01 Troubleshoots overhead distribution systems
  • E-18.02 Troubleshoots underground and underwater distribution systems
  • E-18.03 Repairs overhead distribution systems
  • E-18.04 Repairs underground and underwater distribution systems

19. Task E-19 Repairs transmission systems 19%

  • E-19.01 Troubleshoots overhead transmission systems
  • E-19.02 Troubleshoots underground and underwater transmission systems
  • E-19.03 Repairs overhead transmission systems
  • E-19.04 Repairs underground and underwater transmission systems