This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to conduct track protection assessments, in accordance with Rail Infrastructure Manager, legislative and regulatory requirements.

It includes undertaking track assessment and determining the type of track protection required to perform work activities safely.

People achieving competence in this unit will need to fulfil the applicable state/territory legislated rail safety requirements and to comply with relevant codes of practice and/or guidelines.

The unit includes the application of Rail Infrastructure Manager rules, procedures and protocols for rail safety.

This unit also provides the authority to position lookout protection.

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

ELEMENT S 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

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

1 

Undertake track assessment 

1.1

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

1.2

Impact of the work activity on the network is determined

1.3

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

1.4

Track protection requirements are analysed and identified

1.5

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

2 

Plan 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 type of track protection required

2.2

Worksite protection plan is prepared in accordance with safety assessment outcomes and Rail Infrastructure Manager rules, procedures and protocols for rail safety

2.3

Plan is communicated to relevant personnel

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:

• communicating effectively with individuals and work groups
• communicating with Network Control Officer is maintained using appropriate communications systems
• conducting a visual assessment of track worksite characteristics to identify job hazards and taking required action to minimise, control or eliminate identified hazards
• defining the authority boundaries when conducting track protection assessment
• identifying unsafe situations and emergencies
• identifying safe places when conducting track protection assessment
• identifying positions for handsignaller and lookouts when conducting track protection assessment as required
• identifying level and pedestrian crossings when conducting track protection assessment
• identifying fixed rail infrastructure when conducting track protection assessment
• preparing site protection arrangement plans
• preparing worksite protection plan.

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 of track worksites
• operational communications protocols and systems
• positioning requirements for handsignallers
• Rail Infrastructure Manager policies, procedures, rules and protocols for identified unsafe situations or emergencies within workplace role
• Rail Infrastructure Manager rules and procedures
• Rail Infrastructure Manager rules and procedures for working around electrical infrastructure
• rail terminology as defined by the relevant Rail Infrastructure Manager safeworking system
• railway track signals and their use
• relevant rail danger zones and safeworking systems
• relevant safeworking system workplace rules and procedures
• types of track protection and safeworking systems
• types of worksite protection equipment and their use
• work activity complexity
• worksite protection plans.

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 and terminology as defined by the relevant Rail Infrastructure Manager safeworking system including workplace procedures, regulations, rules and codes of practice.