Application
Rail vehicles are shunted for loading/unloading, making up or breaking up trains and placing vehicles for operational and/or maintenance purposes. This activity also includes coupling, uncoupling and securing rail vehicles.
Prerequisites
Nil
Elements and Performance Criteria
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 | Allocated motive power unit is confirmed as appropriate for intended activities | ||
2 | Shunt rail vehicles | 2.1 | Where required, points, levers, switches and signals are operated in accordance with organisational policies and procedures for the control of 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 | Where required, defect/fault cards are checked and appropriate action is taken in accordance with organisational policies and procedures | ||
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 attached/removed in accordance with organisational policies and procedures |
Required Skills
This section describes the knowledge and skills required for this unit. |
Required knowledge: |
Characteristics and features of wagons and other rail vehicles |
Communication protocols |
Emergency procedures |
Identifying equipment defects and assessing for appropriate action |
Identifying and reporting hazards |
Operation of signals and points |
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 information/documents such as: cards conditions of service, legislation and industrial agreements including workplace agreements and awards emergency procedures manual incident reports noticeboards periodical circulars special train notices yard orders timetables train consist |
Relevant legislated rail safety requirements including state and territory acts and regulations, and nationally approved compliance codes and/or guidelines |
Relevant WHS/OHS legislation, regulations, codes of practice, policies and procedures |
Safe working systems and requirements |
Required skills: |
Apply precautions and required action to minimise, control or eliminate hazards that may exist during work activities |
Communicate effectively with others when shunting rail vehicles, in accordance with organisational protocols |
Modify activities depending on operational contingencies, risk situations and environments |
Operate and adapt to differences in equipment in accordance with standard operating procedures |
Operate electronic communication equipment to required protocol |
Read and interpret instructions, procedures, information and signs relevant to shunting rail vehicles |
Report and/or rectify any identified problems, faults or malfunctions when shunting rail vehicles in accordance with regulatory requirements and organisational procedures |
Select and use required personal protective equipment conforming to industry and WHS/OHS standards |
Evidence Required
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: required knowledge and skills relevant legislation and organisational procedures other relevant aspects of the range statement. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Performance is demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts. Resources for assessment include access to: a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or other simulated practical and knowledge assessment, and/or 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 organisational procedures, regulations, codes of practice and operation manuals. |
Method of assessment | 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, and/or in an appropriate range of situations in the workplace. |
Range Statement
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. | |
Rail vehicles may include: | carriages diesel or electric motive power units diesel or electric railcars electric passenger trains road/rail vehicles shunting tractors track machines wagons |
Line of sight communication includes: | fixed signals flags hand signals light signals verbal |
Personal protective equipment may include: | gloves hearing protection high visibility clothing insect repellent sunglasses sunscreen safety: devices footwear glasses headwear |
Organisational procedures may include: | company procedures enterprise procedures established procedures workplace procedures |
Sectors
Not applicable.
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills.
Licensing Information
Refer to Unit Descriptor.