This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to develop emergency management plans for response and recovery of rail networks.

It includes identifying factors that contribute to degraded rail operations, and developing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating emergency response and recovery strategies, in accordance with regulatory and organisational requirements.

This unit can be applied to freight, heavy haul or metropolitan and regional passenger rail systems.

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

Identify factors that contribute to degraded rail operations

1.1

Types of rolling stock and typical failures are identified

1.2

Track and trackside equipment failures are identified and explained

1.3

Operational factors that contribute to degraded rail operations are identified

1.4

Control or safety critical system failures that contribute to degraded rail operations are identified

1.5

External occurrences that contribute to degraded rail operations are identified

1.6

Power supply systems and problems that contribute to degraded rail operations are identified

2

Develop emergency response and recovery strategies

2.1

Risk assessments are included in developing emergency response and recovery strategies

2.2

Policy and procedures are developed to implement emergency response and recovery strategies in accordance with organisational and regulatory requirements

2.3

Emergency response and recovery strategies are planned with internal and external stakeholders to ensure compliance with organisational and regulatory standards and requirements

2.4

Emergency response and recovery plans are disseminated to appropriate managers and to regulators as required, for approval

2.5

Emergency response and recovery plans are amended in response to comments received from managers and regulators, as required

2.6

Emergency response and recovery procedures are documented and communicated to appropriate personnel in accordance with organisational requirements

3

Implement emergency response and recovery strategies

3.1

Emergency response and recovery strategies are implemented in accordance with organisational and regulatory requirements

3.2

Effective induction and supervision are provided to support individuals in meeting their organisational and regulatory responsibilities

4

Monitor, adjust and report emergency response and recovery strategies

4.1

Emergency response and recovery strategies are monitored and deficiencies are identified

4.2

Identified deficiencies are assessed against organisational standards and prioritised for action

4.3

Recommendations for improvements to meet organisational and regulatory standards are developed and submitted to designated persons/groups

4.4

Agreed improvements and alterations to emergency response and recovery strategies, policies and procedures are implemented in accordance with organisational and regulatory requirements

4.5

Individuals/groups are informed of improvements and alterations to emergency response and recovery strategies

4.6

Systems, records and reporting procedures are maintained in accordance with organisational and regulatory requirements

5

Evaluate emergency response and recovery strategies

5.1

Effectiveness of emergency response and recovery strategies and related policies, procedures and programs is assessed in accordance with organisational and regulatory requirements

5.2

Improvements are identified, developed and implemented to ensure more effective achievement of emergency response and recovery strategies

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:

accessing and using rail industry standards, rules, codes of practice and guidelines

applying relevant legislation and workplace procedures when developing plans for emergency response and recovery

communicating effectively with others, particularly in relation to emergency response procedures and recovery planning

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

identifying appropriate emergency response procedures for rail operational

producing well researched, documented and supported emergency response and recovery policies, procedures and plans

researching relevant rail network, emergency response procedures and recovery planning information

reviewing changing regulatory information

reviewing current emergency response procedures and making recommendations for improvement.

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:

changes in rail industry operations and technology with implications for degraded operations

emergency management plan and workplace procedures

key principles and practices associated with railway operations

rail industry

rail industry terminology, including terminology used in rail industry standards

relevant rail safety, emergency management plan, work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental legislation related to rail operations

safety management system.

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 rail workplace operational situations or, where this is not available, in simulated workplace operational situations that replicate rail 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, rail industry standards, regulations, codes of practice, safety management system and operation manuals.

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