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

It involves the application of access provider's policies, procedures and protocols related to applying rail safety requirements to work activities.

Work is performed following established procedures, with accountability and responsibility for self and others in achieving the prescribed outcomes within the limits of responsibility of the worker concerned.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1Access rail track

1.1 Permission to occupy rail track is requested from network control officer

1.2 Permission to occupy rail track is documented in accordance with occupancy authority requirements

1.3 Appropriate personal protective equipment ( PPE) is worn in accordance with access provider's and organisational requirements

1.4 Limits of travel are determined and limits of protection are agreed with network control officer

1.5 Where applicable, points are manually operated to gain access to the track as authorised by network control officer

1.6 A situational awareness is maintained to identify local conditions and any changed circumstances

1.7 Communication with network control officer is maintained using appropriate communication protocols and systems in accordance with workplace procedures

2Travel track vehicle on track

2.1 Speed limit is observed for type and classification of track vehicle and type of track

2.2 Speed limit is varied to meet local conditions

2.3 Permission is obtained to pass signals in accordance with the workplace procedures

2.4 Track vehicle is managed so as to be able to stop short of any workers or obstruction on track

2.5 Position of points are identified and, where applicable, operated to establish correct direction as authorised by network control officer

2.6 Signals are identified and obeyed

2.7 Level crossing protection equipment is operated for the safe passage of track vehicle/s in accordance with workplace procedures

2.8 Where fitted, vigilance unit is operated in accordance with workplace procedures

2.9 Unsafe situations and/or emergencies are identified, and appropriate action is taken in accordance with workplace procedures

3Remove track vehicle from track

3.1 Network control officer is informed when track vehicle is off and clear of track

3.2 Permission to cancel track occupancy is documented as dictated by vehicle operator

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

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

Required knowledge:

Access provider's and organisational policies, procedures and protocols

Rail terminology as defined by the applicable access provider

Access provider's policies, procedures and protocols in the event of identified unsafe situations or emergencies within workplace role

Operational communication protocols and systems

Types of track protection

Recognition of points, signals and location features

Required skills:

Communicate effectively with individuals and work groups

Follow workplace policies, procedures and protocols

Conduct a situational awareness assessment

Use required personal protective equipment conforming to organisational standards

Identify unsafe situations and emergencies

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

the timeframes typically expected for the work function and industrial environment

Compliance with site safety plans, OH&S regulations and other regulatory requirements

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

demonstrating requesting and documenting permission to occupy track

explaining how to determine limits of travel

conducting a situational awareness

demonstrating observing speed limit appropriate for type of vehicle, type of track and local conditions

explaining and demonstrating passing signals in accordance with workplace procedures

demonstrating how to identify position of points and their correct operation

identifying signals

demonstrating operation of a vigilance unit

identifying appropriate response to typical unsafe situations and/or emergencies

demonstrating cancellation of a track occupancy using appropriate procedures and documentation

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 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

Assessment of knowledge must be conducted through appropriate written/oral tests

Practical assessment must occur:

through activities in an appropriately simulated environment, and

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.

Worksites may include:

rail corridor

danger zone:

running line

parallel networks (adjacent access providers, shared corridor)

adjacent lines

sidings/yards

platforms/buildings

structures

Terminology will be:

as defined by the applicable track safeworking system and operating procedures

Work may occur:

by day or night, under varied weather conditions and situations

Situational awareness will be:

as defined within the workplace procedures

as defined in the risk assessment for situational awareness including:

view - line of sight

direction of approaching trains

speed of approaching trains

position of safety

changed local conditions

Network control officer may be:

network controller

train controller

area controller

signaller

Communications may include:

receive and pass on verbal messages/information

report unsafe situations and respond to emergencies

general safety and emergency messages

Communications equipment and systems may include:

hand and audible signals

radios

telephones/mobile phones

signage

Safety clothing and equipment may include:

high visibility clothing

protective footwear

hearing protection

Where applicable, worksite protection equipment may include:

warning devices, whistles and sirens

audible track warning devices

demarcation barriers

lights and flags

electronic devices

signage

Information and documents may include:

workplace procedures, policies and work instructions

worksite safety plan

emergency plan

pre-work briefing

worksite protection plan

Types of track protection may include:

lookout

track occupancy

rail traffic control

planned track possession

blocking protection

Limits of protection may include

signals

signs

block point

Type of vehicle may include:

road/rail

track machines

Type of track may include:

continuously welded rail

jointed rail

Varied local conditions may include:

gradients

line of sight

weather

condition of rail

multiple rail crews

multiple vehicles

Adjustments to track occupancy may include:

extending time

reducing time

varying location

This unit contains employability skills.