This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to operate under track protection rules in accordance with safeworking and regulatory requirements, and workplace procedures.

It includes accessing and interpreting information about track protection requirements, carrying out assigned protection and/or work activities, and responding appropriately to safety incidents and abnormal situations.

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.

Work is performed under some supervision, generally within a team environment.

It involves the application of relevant track protection rules and requirements to assigned track work activities across a variety of operational contexts within the Australian rail system.

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 

Access and interpret information about track protection requirements 

1.1

Information about track protection requirements relevant to work activities is sought and obtained/received in accordance with workplace procedures and the requirements of the relevant safeworking system

1.2

Information about relevant track protection requirements is interpreted and applied to work activities in accordance with workplace instructions

2 

Carry out assigned protection and/or work activities 

2.1

Assigned protection and/or work activities are carried out with others in accordance with safeworking rules and workplace procedures

2.2

Protection system and equipment is constantly reviewed in accordance with workplace procedures to ensure ongoing protection

2.3

Liaison is maintained with relevant authority/personnel to ensure maximum protection is maintained

2.4

Documentation and records required under safeworking rules are completed and processed/filed in accordance with workplace procedures

3 

Respond appropriately to abnormal situations 

3.1

Abnormal situations, safety incidents and emergencies are identified in accordance with safeworking rules and workplace procedures

3.2

Identified abnormal situations, safety incidents and emergencies are promptly reported to relevant personnel and action is taken within limits of responsibility, in accordance with workplace procedures

3.3

Reports and records of identified abnormal situations, safety incidents and emergencies together with related action taken, are completed and processed/filed in accordance with safeworking rules and workplace procedures

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

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:

• applying relevant safeworking rules and workplace procedures
• communicating effectively with others
• identifying job hazards and taking required action to minimise, control or eliminate identified hazards
• interpreting and following operational instructions
• monitoring work activities in terms of planned schedule
• reading and interpreting relevant safeworking rules, workplace procedures and terminology, as defined by the Rail Infrastructure Manager
• reporting and/or rectifying identified problems, faults or malfunctions promptly, in accordance with workplace procedures
• working collaboratively with others
• working systematically with required attention to detail without injury to self or others, or damage to equipment.

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:

• rail terminology as defined in the applicable Rail Infrastructure Manager safeworking rules
• relevant state/territory legislated rail safety requirements, codes of practice, rules and/or guidelines
• relevant work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental procedures and regulations
• safeworking rules and workplace procedures as they relate to the work activities concerned.

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 rail 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 rail industry
• applicable documentation with terminology as defined by the relevant Rail Infrastructure Manager safeworking system including workplace procedures, regulations, rules and codes of practice.