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.

This unit also provides the authority to position lookout protection.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1Undertake track assessment

1.1 Track work activity to be performed and its complexity is identified

1.2 The impact of the work activity on the network is determined

1.3 Track protection requirements are analysed and identified

1.4 Visual assessment is conducted to assess the characteristics of the track worksite

2Determine the type of track protection required to perform work activity safely

2.1 Outcomes of the visual assessment and the complexity of the track work activity are analysed to determine the type of track protection required

2.2 A site protection arrangements plan is prepared in accordance with the outcomes of the track assessment and policies, procedures and protocols of the access provider

2.3 Plan is communicated to relevant personnel

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

Types of worksite protection equipment and their use

Audible track warning devices and their use, if applicable

Site safety plans

Positioning requirements for handsignallers

Operational communication protocols and systems

Work activity complexity

Characteristics of track worksites

Types of track protection

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

Analyse track work activities for complexity

Visual assessment of a track worksite

Prepare site protection arrangements plans

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:

identifying complexity of track work activity

conducting a visual assessment of the characteristics of track worksite

determining type of track protection required

preparing site safety plan

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/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.

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

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

two way radio

telephone/mobile phone

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

Information and documents may include:

workplace procedures, policies and work instructions

worksite safety plan

emergency plan

pre-work briefing

worksite protection plan

Complexity of work activity may include:

type of work to be undertaken

hand tools to be used

track vehicles/track machines

machinery

number of work groups

rail traffic within or between worksite/s

Characteristics of track worksite may include:

location

cuttings and embankments

speed and density of adjacent traffic

parallel networks

electrified network

track circuits

level and pedestrian crossings

limits of worksite

visibility

how the work may affect track under the control of other access providers

multiple work activities

Types of track protection may include:

lookout

track protection occupancy

rail traffic control

track possession

blocking

Site protection arrangements plans may include:

defining the boundaries

identifying positions of safety

identifying positions for inner/outer handsignaller and lookouts

identifying level and pedestrian crossings

identifying fixed rail infrastructure including:

signals

overhead structures

bridges/tunnels

turn outs

minimum sighting distances

This unit contains employability skills.