Persons achieving competence in this unit will need to fulfil the applicable legislated rail safety requirements including acts and regulations from each state and territory together with any nationally approved compliance codes and/or guidelines.

Work is performed under minimal supervision, generally within a team environment. It involves the application of routine operational principles and procedures to the conduct of a detailed steel structures examination as part of workplace activities across a variety of operational contexts within the Australian rail system.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1Obtain previous reports

1.1 Operational history of structure is reviewed from available sources

1.2 Previous defects identified in reports are noted to enable rechecking of problem areas

1.3 Relevant personnel are contacted to identify any reported complaints or indications of wear or damage

2Perform detailed examination

2.1 Steel structures and components are visually inspected and checked for signs of buckling, cracking, corrosion, deterioration and damage in accordance with workplace procedures

2.2 Connections between steel components are visually inspected and checked for signs of wear looseness, cracking, corrosion, deterioration and damage in accordance with workplace procedures

2.3 Protective coatings on steel structures and components are visually inspected and checked for condition

2.4 Relevant inspection aids are used to perform detailed inspection to identify defects in accordance with workplace procedures

2.5 Defects or deficiencies are identified in accordance with workplace procedures

3Take appropriate actions

3.1 Major defects affecting safe passage are acted on as soon as possible in accordance with workplace procedures

3.2 Defects and deficiencies are reported to enable repairs to be effected in a timely manner

4Complete documentation

4.1 Examination schedule or work report data is completed in accordance with workplace procedures

4.2 Documentation on work undertaken is completed in accordance with workplace requirements

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

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

Required knowledge:

Relevant safety, OH&S and environmental procedures and regulations

Workplace procedures for the conduct of a detailed steel structures examination

Problems that may occur during the conduct of a detailed steel structures examination, and action that can be taken to report or resolve the problems

Hazards that may exist when conducting a detailed steel structures examination, and ways of controlling the risks involved

Steel structures examination methods and techniques

Fault detection techniques

Relevant recording and documentation procedures

Required skills:

Communicate effectively with others when conducting a detailed steel structures examination

Read and interpret plans and specifications relevant to a detailed steel structures examination

Follow operational instructions and work sequences when undertaking steel structures examination

Identify defects

Complete documentation related to a detailed steel structures examination

Operate communication equipment to required protocol

Work collaboratively with others when conducting a detailed steel structures examination

Promptly report and/or rectify any identified problems, faults or malfunctions when conducting a detailed steel structures examination in accordance with regulatory requirements and workplace procedures

Apply precautions and required action to minimise, control or eliminate hazards that may exist during work activities

Plan and organise remedial work

Monitor work activities in terms of planned schedule

Modify activities depending on differing operational contingencies, risk situations and environments

Operate and adapt to differences in equipment in accordance with standard operating procedures

Identify, select and use measuring instruments and equipment

Select and use required personal protective equipment

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

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

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria of this unit and include demonstration of applying:

the underpinning knowledge and skills

relevant legislation and workplace procedures

other relevant aspects of the range statement

Assessment must include exercises which demonstrate competent performance of the following in a range of situations:

examining a range of structure types

taking appropriate action for identified defects

completing documentation of examination results

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Performance is demonstrated consistently over a period of time and in a suitable range of contexts

Resources for assessment include:

a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or other simulated practical and knowledge assessment, and/or

access to an appropriate range of relevant operational situations in the workplace

In both real and simulated environments, access is required to:

relevant and appropriate materials and equipment, and

applicable documentation including workplace procedures, regulations, codes of practice and operation manuals

Method of assessment

Assessment of this unit must be undertaken by a registered training organisation

As a minimum, assessment of knowledge must be conducted through appropriate written/oral tests

Practical assessment must occur:

in an appropriate range of situations in the workplace

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance.

Operations may be conducted:

by day or night

in all weather conditions

Work may be conducted in:

restricted spaces or exposed conditions

controlled or open environments

Work may involve exposure to:

chemicals, dangerous or hazardous substances

movements of equipment, materials and vehicles

Structures may include:

underbridges

overbridges

footbridges

culverts

tunnels

retaining walls

platforms

overhead wiring structures

signal gantries

noise barriers

service crossings

buffer stops

lighting towers

water towers

turntables

elevated roads

Equipment may include:

torch

geologists hammer

measuring tape

wire brush

spirit level with straight edge

plumb bob

camera

binoculars

mirror

vernier calipers

ultrasonic tester

dry film thickness gauge

demec gauge, points and adhesive

scaffolding

extension ladder

elevated work platforms (EWP)

boat or barge

Structures examination methods may include:

visual examination

hammer test

magnetic or electronic gauges

dye penetrant

magnetic particle

ultrasonic testing

x-ray

Liaison may include:

internal/external personnel from other work areas (e.g. train controllers)

road authorities

local councils

landowners

Communication equipment systems may include:

two-way radios

telephones/mobile phones

agreed audible or hand signals

Depending on the type of organisation concerned and the local terminology used, workplace procedures may include:

company procedures

enterprise procedures

organisational procedures

established procedures

Depending on work context, safety and personal protective equipment may include:

high visibility clothing

hearing protection

gloves

sunscreen

sunglasses

safety glasses

insect repellent

safety headwear

safety footwear

portable radios/mobile phones

hand lamps

flags

tripods

harness and ropes

respirator

safety mask

gas detectors

safety devices

Information/documents may include:

local authority regulations and procedures

work orders

examination reports and defect lists

relevant log or record book

local instructions

manufacturers or workplace equipment instructions and operation manuals

emergency procedure manuals

two-way radio/mobile phone operation procedures

emergency procedures manual

conditions of service, legislation and industrial agreements including workplace agreements and awards

Information may be provided:

electronically

in writing, via forms/documents/plans

orally, via face-to-face communications

via trackside signals

Applicable regulations and legislation may include:

legislated rail safety requirements including acts and regulations from each applicable state and territory together with any nationally approved compliance codes and/or guidelines

relevant state/territory regulations, codes of practice and safeworking system requirements

relevant Australian Standards and related requirements, including AS 4292

relevant state/territory OH&S legislation

relevant state/territory environmental protection legislation

This unit contains employability skills.