This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to safely shunt rail vehicles in accordance with safeworking and organisational, policies and procedures.

It includes preparing to shunt rail vehicles for loading/unloading, making up or breaking up trains and placing vehicles for operational and/or maintenance purposes. It also includes coupling, uncoupling and securing rail vehicles.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1

Prepare to shunt rail vehicles

1.1

Shunting instructions are interpreted and confirmed

1.2

Location of rail vehicles and required movements are identified

1.3

Hazards are identified, risks are assessed and risk control measures are implemented

1.4

Allocated motive power unit is confirmed as appropriate for intended activities

2

Shunt rail vehicles

2.1

Points, levers, switches and signals are operated as required, in accordance with organisational policies and procedures to control rail vehicle movement

2.2

Uniform line of sight and radio shunting commands are used in accordance with organisational policies, procedures and requirements

2.3

Rail vehicles are positioned in accordance with operational requirements

2.4

Relevant work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements are followed to prevent injury and to avoid damage to equipment

2.5

Defect/fault cards are checked and appropriate action is taken in accordance with organisational policies and procedures as required

2.6

Rail vehicle movements are controlled to prevent damage of rail vehicles and loads/contents in accordance with organisational policies and procedures

3

Couple, uncouple and secure rail vehicles

3.1

Rail vehicles are positioned to meet coupling requirements in accordance with organisational policies and procedures

3.2

Coupling systems are identified and applied appropriately to couple and/or uncouple rail vehicles in accordance with manufacturer and organisational requirements

3.3

Handbrakes and other securing devices are applied/released and attached/removed in accordance with organisational policies and procedures

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria on at least one occasion and include:

identifying job hazards and taking required action to minimise, control or eliminate identified hazards

modifying activities depending on operational contingencies, risk situations and environments

operating and adapting to differences in equipment in accordance with operating procedures

operating signals and points in accordance with operating procedures

reading and interpreting relevant instructions, procedures, information and signs

reporting and/or rectifying identified problems, faults or malfunctions promptly, in accordance with regulatory requirements and organisational procedures

shunting, coupling, uncoupling and securing rail vehicles.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and include knowledge of:

characteristics and features of wagons and other rail vehicles

communications protocols and organisational procedures

emergency workplace procedures

principles of operation for protective devices, air and electrical couplings, handbrakes, derailers and coupling equipment

procedures for getting on and off rail vehicles in an appropriate manner

relevant documents

relevant state/territory legislated rail safety requirements, codes of practice and/or guidelines

relevant work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) legislation, regulations, codes of practice, policies and procedures

safeworking systems and workplace requirements.

As a minimum, assessors must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

As a minimum, assessment must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment must occur in workplace operational situations or, where this is not available, in simulated workplace operational situations that replicate rail corridor workplace conditions.

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.

Resources for assessment include:

a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or simulations

relevant and appropriate materials, tools, equipment and personal protective equipment currently used in industry

applicable documentation including workplace procedures, regulations, rail industry standards, codes of practice and operation manuals.

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.