9) The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

The Evidence Guide forms an integral part of this unit. It must be used in conjunction with all components parts of this unit and performed in accordance with the Assessment Guidelines of this Training Package.

Overview of Assessment

9.1)

Longitudinal competency development approaches to assessment, such as Profiling, require data to be reliably gathered in a form that can be consistently interpreted over time. This approach is best utilised in Apprenticeship programs and reduces assessment intervention. It is the industry-preferred model for apprenticeships. However, where summative (or final) assessment is used it must include the application of the competency in the normal work environment or, at a minimum, the application of the competency in a realistically simulated work environment. In some circumstances, assessment in part or full can occur outside the workplace. However, it must be in accordance with industry and regulatory policy.

Methods chosen for a particular assessment will be influenced by various factors. These include the extent of the assessment, the most effective locations for the assessment activities to take place, access to physical resources, additional safety measures that may be required and the critical nature of the competencies being assessed.

The critical safety issues inherent in working with electricity, electrical equipment, gas or any other hazardous substance/material present a challenge for those determining competence. Sources of evidence need to be ‘rich’ in nature to minimise error in judgment.

Activities associated with normal everyday work influence decisions about how/how much the data gathered will contribute to its ‘richness’. Some skills are more critical to safety and operational requirements while the same skills may be more or less frequently practised. These points are raised for the assessors to consider when choosing an assessment method and developing assessment instruments. Sample assessment instruments are included for Assessors in the Assessment Guidelines of this Training Package.

Critical aspects of evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

9.2)

Before the critical aspects of evidence are considered all prerequisites must be met.

Evidence for competence in this unit shall be considered holistically. Each Element and associated performance criteria shall be demonstrated on at least two occasions in accordance with the ‘Assessment Guidelines – UEE11’. Evidence shall also comprise:

A representative body of work performance demonstrated within the timeframes typically expected of the discipline, work function and industrial environment. In particular this shall incorporate evidence that shows a candidate is able to:

Implement Occupational Health and Safety workplace procedures and practices including the use of risk control measures as specified in the performance criteria and range statement

Apply sustainable energy principles and practices as specified in the performance criteria and range statement

Demonstrate an understanding of the essential knowledge and associated skills as described in this unit. It may be required by some jurisdictions that RTOs provide a percentile graded result for the purpose of regulatory or licensing requirements.

Demonstrate an appropriate level of skills enabling employment

Conduct work observing the relevant Anti Discrimination legislation, regulations, polices and workplace procedures

Demonstrated consistent performance across a representative range of contexts from the prescribed items below:

Install and maintain power operated trackside signal and train protection equipment as described in 8) and including:

Interpreting specifications and circuit diagrams correctly

Using appropriate fault finding techniques

Installing and maintaining trackside signal and train protection equipment to operational requirements

Organising work to minimise traffic disruptions

Using tools and test equipment correctly

Following relevant codes of practice and environmental protection procedures and requirements

Completing relevant technical reports and documentation, and

Dealing with unplanned events by drawing on essential knowledge and skills to provide appropriate solutions incorporated in the holistic assessment with the above listed items

Note:

Successful completion of relevant vendor training may be used to contribute to evidence on which competency is deemed. In these cases the alignment of outcomes of vendor training with performance criteria and critical aspects of evidence shall be clearly identified.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

9.3)

This unit should be assessed as it relates to normal work practice using procedures, information and resources typical of a workplace. This should include:

OHS policy and work procedures and instructions.

Suitable work environment, facilities, equipment and materials to undertake actual work as prescribed by this unit.

These should be used in the formal learning/assessment environment.

Note:

Where simulation is considered a suitable strategy for assessment, conditions must be authentic and as far as possible reproduce and replicate the workplace and be consistent with the approved industry simulation policy.

The resources used for assessment should reflect current industry practices in relation to installing and maintaining power operated signalling equipment.

Method of assessment

9.4)

This unit shall be assessed by methods given in Volume 1, Part 3 ‘Assessment Guidelines’.

Note:

Competent performance with inherent safe working practices is expected in the Industry to which this unit applies. This requires assessment in a structured environment which is intended primarily for learning/assessment and incorporates all necessary equipment and facilities for learners to develop and demonstrate the essential knowledge and skills described in this unit.

Concurrent assessment and relationship with other units

9.5)

For optimisation of training and assessment effort, competency development in this unit may be arranged in combination with other competencies required by a given enterprise installation, maintenance and repair functions.

Concurrent assessment may include:

UEENEEN118A Find and repair rail signal system faults

UEENEEN114A Install and maintain computer based interlocking systems

8) This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Evidence shall show that knowledge has been acquired of safe working practices and installing and maintaining trackside signal and train protection equipment.

All knowledge and skills detailed in this unit should be contextualised to current industry practices and technologies.

KS01-EN111A Trackside signal and train protection equipment installation and maintenance

Evidence shall show an understanding of trackside signal and train protection equipment installation and maintenance, applying safe working practices and relevant Standards, Codes and Regulations to an extent indicated by the following aspects:

Rail signalling principles, electrical

Overview of electrical rail signalling encompassing:

Types of rail signalling / safeworking systems

Note:

Systems include: CTC, automatic, controlled and interlocked signalling.

Advantages of electrical over mechanical signalling

Advantages of CBI over electrical signalling systems

Effects of overhead traction systems on electrical signalling systems (where applicable).

Purpose of elements of an electrical rail signalling systems.

Note: Elements include signals and aspect systems, train protection systems, point actuating systems, mechanical locking, relay interlocking, computer based interlocking, train detection systems, control input devices, indicators, diagrams and monitors, and safe working systems.

Rail signalling principles, mechanical

Overview of mechanical rail signalling encompassing:

Types of mechanical rail signalling systems for different rail traffic

Note:

Rail traffic may include: passenger train, freight train, maintenance vehicles, heritage/tourism train.

Deficiencies of mechanical signalling systems

Note:

Mechanical systems may include: automatic, controlled and interlocked signalling.

Effects of overhead traction systems on mechanical signalling systems (where applicable)

Effects of external factors on the mechanical rail signalling system.

Note:

Factors may include: rail overhead , gradients/terrain, environmental and civil configuration.

Purpose of elements of a mechanical rail signalling systems encompassing:

Note: Elements include signals, point actuating systems, locking and train detection systems, control input devices, indicators, diagrams and monitors, mechanical interlocking frames, safe working systems and electro-mechanical interfaces.

Rail signalling, signal equipment

Equipment and their components encompassing:

Incandescent lamps

LED lamps

Electro-Mechanical

Mechanical.

Note:

Including interfacing to different interlocking systems, E.g. relay and CBI

Operating principles and parameters encompassing:

Automatic signal control circuits

Controlled signal control circuits

Approach control circuits

Bi-directional block control circuits

Lamp proving circuits

Failure mode

Interpreting circuits diagrams to evaluate correct operation and relationship to other signalling circuits

Correct operation in accordance with control and locking tables.

Servicing procedures encompassing:

Maintenance documentation

Coordination/planning sequence

Operational test procedures

Scheduled/corrective maintenance

Unscheduled/preventative maintenance

Certifying signal equipment (commission and de-commission).

Note:

Certifying procedures are only applicable for compliance with rail operator and/or enterprise standards.

Rail signalling, train protection equipment

Equipment and their components encompassing:

Electro-mechanical (E.g. trainstops)

Electro-magnetic (E.g. AWS)

Electronic (E.g. TPWS)

ATP system - Balise/beacon based (E.g. ETCS Level 1, and Westect).

Note: include concept of interface to on-board system.

Operating principles encompassing:

Permissive operation

Restrictive operation

Failure modes

Interpreting circuits diagrams to evaluate correct operation and relationship to other signalling circuits

Correct operation in accordance with control and locking tables.

Servicing procedures and parameters encompassing:

Maintenance documentation

Coordination/planning sequence

Operational test procedures

Scheduled/preventative maintenance

Unscheduled/corrective maintenance

Certifying train protection equipment (commission and de-commission).

Note:

Certifying procedures are only applicable for compliance with rail operator and enterprise standards.

10) This relates to the unit as a whole providing the range of contexts and conditions to which the performance criteria apply. It allows for different work environments and situations that will affect performance.

This unit shall be demonstrated in relation to:

The relevant State/Territory codes of practice and safe working requirements.

Equipment relevant to a particular rail network.

Code of practice for the defined interstate rail network.

Activities may include: procedures for the installation and maintenance of trackside signal and train protection equipment and may also include; the use of plans and drawings, manufacturer’s / enterprise specifications and manuals.

Maintenance activities may include: finding and repairing faults on signals and train protection equipment in a rail network and may also incorporate safe working, working according to regulatory requirements and following work procedures, adjust, test and verifying operational integrity and completing report documentation.

Installing equipment may include: components and wiring as well as connecting, checking and testing wiring and equipment.

Plant may include: elevated work platforms and crane trucks

Electrical equipment may include: searchlight signal indicating devices, LED signal indicating devices, incandescent signal indicating devices, electro-mechanical rail traffic protection devices, and electronic rail traffic protection devices.

Mechanical equipment may include: signal masts

Test equipment may include: multimeter, frequency meter and rail traffic protection gauges

Technical report may include: Signal passed at danger incident report, site survey and data log report

Generic terms used throughout this Vocational Standard shall be regarded as part of the Range Statement in which competency is demonstrated. The definition of these and other terms that apply are given in Volume 2, Section 2.1.