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 some supervision, generally within a team environment. It involves the application of routine operational principles and procedures to the checking and repair of points and crossings as part of workplace activities across a variety of operational contexts within the Australian rail system.

Operators of mechanised equipment must have undertaken training and, where appropriate, hold the relevant licence, permit or certificate and be recognised as competent for the class of machinery being used.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1Determine job requirements

1.1 Faults and deficiencies in points and crossings are identified and work required for restoration of track to required standard is determined

1.2 Appropriate repair methods are identified to enable repairs to be effected

1.3 Job requirements are determined in accordance with workplace procedures, including identification of the scope of work activities and resources required

2Maintain components and tolerances

2.1 Clearances are adjusted to specifications to ensure correct functioning

2.2 Wearing surfaces are cleaned and lubricated as required to minimise wear and ensure correct functioning

3Install components

3.1 New components are prepared to specifications ready for installation

3.2 New components are installed in accordance with standards and workplace procedures

4Conduct post-installation checks

4.1 Functional checks are carried out to ensure correct operation

4.2 Completed work is checked for compliance to acceptance standards in accordance with workplace procedures

4.3 Appropriate operating conditions are applied in accordance with workplace procedures

5Complete documentation

5.1 Required documentation is completed in accordance with workplace procedures

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 checking and repair of points and crossings

Problems that may occur during the checking and repair of points and crossings, and action that can be taken to report or resolve the problems

Hazards that may exist when checking and repairing points and crossings, and ways of controlling the risks involved

Features and principles of operation of points and crossings

Special maintenance requirements for points and crossings

Defects that can occur in points and crossings

Measurement techniques

Types of lubricants

Clearances/tolerances

Tension of fittings

Defect tolerances and maintenance techniques

Component replacement techniques

Installation and maintenance requirements for manual points equipment

Points and crossings acceptance standards

Relevant communication systems and procedures

Authorisation/approval processes and procedures

Documentation and record keeping requirements

Required skills:

Communicate effectively with others when checking and repairing points and crossings

Read and interpret instructions, procedures, information, technical data, standards and drawings relevant to the checking and repair of points and crossings

Interpret and follow operational instructions and prioritise work

Complete documentation related to the checking and repair of points and crossings

Operate electronic communication equipment to required protocol

Work collaboratively with others when checking and repairing points and crossings

Promptly report and/or rectify any identified problems, faults or malfunctions that may be identified when checking and repairing points and crossings in accordance with regulatory requirements and workplace procedures

Implement contingency plans for unexpected events when checking and repairing points and crossings

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

Monitor work activities in terms of planned schedule

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

Work systematically with required attention to detail without injury to self or others, or damage to goods or equipment

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

Select and use required personal protective equipment

Select and use hand tools, power tools and equipment

Identify/locate defects in points and crossings

Use relevant plant and mechanised equipment

Use appropriate equipment and methods to make accurate measurements on points and crossings

Determine work requirements and work methods

Select and use appropriate installation and repair techniques and equipment to correct defects in points and crossings

Select and apply appropriate lubricants

Undertake functional checks after work has been completed

Measure and compare completed work to construction or maintenance acceptance limits

Identify defects in special trackwork affecting safe operation

Complete relevant documentation accurately

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:

identifying faults and appropriate repair methods

cleaning and adjusting components, and/or

preparing and installing replacement components

conducting functional checks on completed works

completing documentation to required workplace standards

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:

through activities in an appropriately simulated environment at the registered training organisation, and/or

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

exposed conditions

controlled or open environments

Work may involve exposure to:

chemicals

dangerous or hazardous substances

movements of equipment, materials and vehicles

Equipment may include:

off-track plant, cranes

mechanical lifting and handling devices

hand tools and small plant

rail saws, rail drills

Maintenance may include:

adjusting switch bearing

adjusting switch set

adjusting switch housings

adjusting clearances at crossings and switches

tightening or replacing fastenings

replacing switches, switch housings, stockrails, closure rails, crossings and checkrail units

drilling switches and stockrails

replacing plates, studs and chocks

adjusting bearer spacing

Points and crossing may include:

turnouts

diamond crossings

slips

catchpoints

expansion switches

Components may include:

switches

crossings

stockrails

closure rails

rail braces

bearer plates

bolts, clips

studs/switch stops

heel blocks

housings

anti-creep devices

chairs

switch rollers

checkrails

chocks

manual points equipment

Crossings may include:

fabricated cant

Rail Bound Manganese

monoblock

Davis

compound crossings

swing nose

spring wing type crossings

single or dual gauge

Bearers may include:

timber

concrete

steel

Fastenings may include:

slip/friction

resilient

Measuring equipment may include:

measuring tapes

stringline

rail gauges (switch, crossing)

gauge boards

Manual points equipment may be:

asymmetrical

conventional

undercut

housed

Heels of switches may be:

fixed

flexible

Operations of switches may be:

manual

interlocked

Communication equipment/systems may include:

two-way radios

computers

telephones/mobile phones

agreed audible or hand signals

Safety and personal protective equipment may include:

high visibility clothing

hearing protection

gloves

sunscreen

sunglasses

dust mask

safety glasses

insect repellent

safety headwear

safety footwear

portable radios/mobile phones

hand lamps

flags

safety devices

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

company procedures

enterprise procedures

organisational procedures

established procedures

Information/documents may include:

operational instructions, policies and workplace procedures

works orders

information provided by other workplace personnel

technical instructions

manufacturers or workplace equipment operation manuals and specifications

emergency procedure manuals

two-way radio/mobile phone operation procedures

QA plans, data and document control

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

Liaison may include:

internal or external personnel from other work areas (e.g. signals staff)

Information may be provided:

electronically

in writing, via forms/documents/plans

orally, via face-to-face communications

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 Australian Standards and related requirements including AS 4292 and AS 3000

relevant state/territory OH&S legislation

relevant state/territory environmental protection legislation

This unit contains employability skills.