Overhead Distribution
Constructs and maintains 22 kilovolt and low voltage overhead networks and public lighting for the distribution client, replacing poles and crossarms, installing services, maintaining energised apparatus with live line techniques and running the asset inspection and vegetation programs.
What the team is accountable for
- Replace poles, crossarms, insulators and conductors
- Install and maintain low voltage overhead services and public lighting
- Maintain energised apparatus using glove and barrier and stick techniques
- Inspect poles, hardware and apparatus on the inspection program
- Assess and control vegetation near powerlines
- Respond to faults and storm damage on the overhead network
How we know it is working
Who works here
Warwick Ngata
Manages the overhead crews, live line program and asset inspection contract from Ballarat, after twenty years as a line worker and crew leader.
Josh Tanumafili
Leads a four person overhead crew, acts as access recipient on most jobs and has been with Gridworks for eight years.
Riley Chen
Is in the third year of a distribution overhead apprenticeship and spends two days a week on the pole inspection program, having joined Gridworks in 2024.
Where the work is recorded
Work Orders and Crew Allocation
Records every planned and reactive job on the networks with the client, apparatus, allocated crew, access requirements, hours worked and completion status.
Access Authority and Permit Register
The operations centre record of every access authority, vicinity authority, test permit and rail traction access requested, issued and cancelled, with the isolation and earthing state confirmed.
Pole and Asset Inspection Register
The record of every pole, structure, substation item and vegetation span inspected, with findings, residual strength, defect classification, priority and treatment.
Assessment tasks in this department
Complete a pole inspection route in a bushfire risk area
You are an Asset Inspector working under the Overhead Distribution Manager's vicinity authority.
IntermediateAct as access recipient for a 22 kV pole replacement
You are a Line Worker authorised as a high voltage access recipient in Overhead Distribution.
Documents the scenarios use
- Access Authority and Permit to Work Procedure Procedure
- Electrical Access Authority Form Form
- Environmental and Powerline Vegetation Management Policy Policy
- Elevated Work Platform, Pole and Tower Rescue Procedure Procedure
- Tailgate Briefing and Job Risk Assessment Template Template
- Network Safety Rules and Access Policy Policy
- Pole and Overhead Asset Inspection Procedure Procedure