This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to manage rail freight operations, in accordance with legislative, regulatory and organisational requirements.

It includes preparing to manage rail freight operations, optimising rail freight operations, incorporating rail safety requirements into the organisational safety management system (SMS), and developing and implementing rail freight operations emergency response procedures.

This unit covers applying knowledge of rail freight operations. It can be applied to both interstate and local freight 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 

Prepare to manage rail freight operations 

1.1

Goals of rail freight operations are identified and explained

1.2

Principal factors involved in rail freight operations are identified and outlined

1.3

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

1.4

Resources, equipment and relevant information for rail freight operations are identified and obtained

1.5

Methods by which rail freight operations can be measured are identified and implemented

1.6

Australian and international standards used in rail freight operations are identified, explained and followed

2 

Optimise rail freight operations 

2.1

Factors that contribute to optimal rail freight operations are identified and explained

2.2

Strategies for ensuring optimal rail freight operations are maintained, are developed and implemented

2.3

Methods by which optimal rail freight operations can be measured are developed and applied

2.4

Information and decision support systems that aid optimal rail freight operations are identified, explained and used

3 

Incorporate rail freight safety requirements into organisational safety management system 

3.1

SMS elements that contribute to rail freight operations are identified and explained

3.2

Plans used to implement staff safeworking practices in freight operations are identified and explained

3.3

Communications protocols used to implement plans for safe freight operations are identified, explained and applied

3.4

Hardware equipment used in pro-active safe freight operations is identified, explained and accessed

3.5

Staff resources used in safe freight operations are identified, explained, obtained and maintained

4 

Develop and implement rail freight operations emergency response procedures 

4.1

Emergency equipment used in event response is confirmed and documented

4.2

Rail freight operations emergency response procedures are communicated to relevant personnel in accordance with organisational policies and procedures

4.3

Post event reporting requirements are identified, explained and documented

4.4

Rail freight operations emergency response training requirements are planned and actioned 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:

• accessing and using rail industry standards and codes of practice
• applying relevant safeworking and workplace procedures
• communicating effectively with others, particularly in relation to interpreting complex information relating to rail freight operations
• developing and implementing rail freight operations emergency response procedures
• identifying job hazards and taking required action to minimise, control or eliminate identified hazards
• incorporating rail safety requirements into the organisational safety management system (SMS)
• optimising rail freight operations
• preparing to manage rail freight operations
• reviewing regulatory information changes.

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:

• emergency management workplace procedures
• key concepts and definitions relating to rail freight operations
• key principles and practices associated with rail freight operations
• key rail industry regulatory requirements and standards
• rail industry terminology, including terminology used in rail industry standards and codes of practice
• rail regulatory framework
• relevant operational factors
• relevant rail safety management system (SMS), work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental legislation related to rail freight operations
• safety management system
• train planning and management systems for freight operations.

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 freight 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, regulations, rail industry standards, codes of practice and operation manuals.