The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Assessment must be carried out in a manner that recognises the cultural and literacy requirements of the assessee and is appropriate to the work performed.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of ability to:

prepare the locomotive and related equipment such as brake vans for operation

operate the locomotive and associated equipment such as brake vans

assess equipment faults to determine appropriate corrective action

communicate with the traffic officer and rail personnel

use appropriate communication methods and equipment

maintain workplace records.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must occur in a real or simulated workplace where the assessee has access to:

Locomotive and related equipment such as brake vans

Cane railway system

Relevant services and equipment required to carry out inspections, checks and monitoring

Workplace information including running slips and daily schedule, to advise of driving requirements

Operating procedures and related advice on equipment operation

Personal protective clothing and equipment

Communication systems and equipment

Housekeeping standards and procedures

Workplace information recording systems, requirements and procedures.

Method of assessment

Other units of competency relevant to the work role should be assessed in conjunction with this unit.

Guidance information for assessment

To ensure consistency in one's performance, competency should be demonstrated on more than one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, cases and responsibilities, and where possible, over a number of assessment activities.

Required skills include:

Ability to:

access workplace information such as running slips to identify driving requirements

select, fit and use personal protective clothing and/or equipment

prepare the locomotive and related equipment such as brake vans for operation including conducting visual inspection of equipment, pre-start checks and warm up procedures and pre-departure checks

operate the locomotive and associated equipment such as brake vans according to work procedure to achieve work requirements including demonstrating manual and automatic control procedures

monitor locomotive and equipment condition including monitoring operating status of the locomotive and related equipment and monitoring condition of bins in the rake

take corrective action in response to abnormal or unacceptable quality of bins, rolling stock or equipment performance

assess equipment faults to determine appropriate corrective action

follow procedures to drop off and tag damaged bins including identifying an appropriate location, shunting bins and notifying appropriate personnel

follow procedure to notify a locomotive breakdown

communicate with the traffic officer and rail personnel as required

use appropriate communication methods and equipment

maintain workplace records

maintain work area to meet housekeeping standards

Required knowledge includes:

Knowledge of:

relevant state OHS legislation, standards and codes of practice relating to work responsibilities

safe work procedures including awareness of health and safety hazards related to driving a locomotive and associated control measures

purpose and limitations of protective clothing and equipment

functions and basic operating principles of a locomotive and related equipment such as brake vans including the layout and purpose of the principal mechanical, pneumatic and electrical systems and of all equipment components

function of all instruments and controls

safe operating capacities of equipment

methods used to render equipment safe to inspect, maintain and/or clean including lock-out, tag-out and isolation procedures

cane rail system layout to identify the location of points, signals and crossings including crossover of non-company rail lines

options for responding to unplanned events such as derailments, breakdowns, accidents or track damage including an understanding of the impact of different options on efficient performance and safety issues when parking/dropping off damaged bins or locomotives

safe operating conditions and speeds including awareness of typical conditions and situations that are hazardous and appropriate preventative action

typical faults to be able to assess severity and risk in order to determine appropriate corrective action

acceptable bin and rake condition

communication procedures, methods and equipment including an understanding of warning devices and signals

meaning of hand and audible signals, including use of lights

procedures for responding to emergency situations including use of two-way radio system to report emergencies

environmental issues and controls

requirements to liaise/advise related work areas and personnel

housekeeping standards

reporting and recording systems and responsibilities

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Policies and procedures

Work is carried out in accordance with company policies and procedures, licensing requirements, legislative requirements, codes of practice and industrial awards and agreements.

Codes of practice

Codes of practice include the Sugar Milling Operations Industry Code of Practice and sugar industry codes of practice related to cane railway and transport operations.

Workplace information

Workplace information can include:

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

manufacturer's specifications.

Hazard

Typical hazards include working with moving machinery, manual handling and working in exposed conditions.

Workplace documentation

Documentation and recording requirements may include:

marshalling strategy

documentation relating to the traffic schedule such as run slips, loco running sheets and log books

tags to identify damaged bins

maintenance request forms.

Visual inspection and pre-departure checks

Visual inspection may include checking:

wheels and braking equipment, hoses and fittings for signs of wear or damage

fuel, oil, water and coolant levels

emergency and safety equipment

condition of the rake

Pre-departure checks may include checking:

lubrication system

water and oil leaks

brake testing

communications equipment

traction systems

battery charging

sand boxes

gear changes.

Cane transport network

Cane transport network features and their characteristics may include:

main and branch lines

yards

sidings

loops

dump points and pads.

Information systems

Information systems may be print or screen based.

Equipment

Equipment may include:

control systems

braking systems

manual and remote control systems

communication systems.

Equipment status

Confirming equipment status involves:

conducting relevant pre-start checks

determining equipment is ready and safe to operate.

Teamwork

Work may require the ability to work within a team environment.

Communication methods

Communication methods include:

use of two-way radios used in accordance with workplace requirements and state authority protocols

hand and audible signalling.