Unit of competency details

This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to travel a medium or heavy self-propelled track vehicle on a rail network in accordance with the network owner’s policies and procedures.

Persons achieving competence in this unit will need to meet organisational requirements to operate each individual piece of equipment.

Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements are applicable to this unit.

This unit involves the application of operational principles and procedures to travel a medium or heavy self-propelled track vehicle as part of workplace activities across a variety of operational contexts.

Operators will need to have fulfilled licence and certification requirements for the type of equipment being used.

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the required performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1 Perform pre-operational checks 

1.1 Detailed pre-operational checks are conducted in accordance with manufacturer specifications and organisational procedures

1.2 Log books are checked and completed in accordance with organisational requirements and manufacturer specifications

1.3 Problems are identified and rectified in accordance with organisational procedures

1.4 Identified problems are reported and documented in accordance with organisational procedures

2 Obtain appropriate authority to travel 

2.1 Authority is obtained from the appropriate person to travel from siding or on/off tracking location to designated location in accordance with network owner’s procedures

3 Travel vehicle 

3.1 Vehicle is travelled in a safe and efficient manner in accordance with relevant codes of practice, safeworking systems, manufacturer specifications, and organisational and network owner’s procedures

4 Stable medium or heavy self-propelled track vehicle 

4.1 Approval is requested from appropriate person to direct when and where to stable self-propelled track vehicle

4.2 Vehicle is moved to nominated stabling location

4.3 Appropriate person is contacted and informed that vehicle is at nominated location and intact

4.4 Vehicle is stabled as directed and left in appropriate manner to ensure security and protection of the vehicle and ancillary equipment

5 Perform post-operational procedures 

5.1 Post-operational checks are conducted according to manufacturer specifications and organisational procedures to identify defects and maintenance requirements

5.2 Identified problems are reported in accordance with organisational procedures

5.3 Post-operational service schedules are conducted according to organisational procedures

6 Complete documentation 

6.1 Required documentation is completed in accordance with organisational procedures

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS 

This describes the essential knowledge and skills and their level required for this unit.

Required knowledge: 

• Relevant rail safety OH&S and environmental procedures and regulations

• Organisational procedures for travelling medium or heavy self-propelled track vehicles

• Problems that may occur during the travel of medium or heavy self-propelled track vehicles, and action that can be taken to report or resolve them

• Hazards that may exist when travelling medium or heavy self-propelled track vehicles, and ways of controlling the risks involved

• Emergency procedures

• Network owner’s rules and regulations applicable to the job role

Required skills: 

• Communicate effectively with others when travelling medium or heavy self-propelled track vehicles

• Follow operational instructions

• Complete documentation related to travelling medium or heavy self-propelled track vehicles

• Work collaboratively with others when travelling medium or heavy self-propelled track vehicles

• Report and rectify within limits of own role identified problems, faults or malfunctions when travelling medium or heavy self-propelled track vehicles in accordance with regulatory requirements and workplace procedures

• Apply precautions and required action to minimise, control or eliminate potential hazards during work activities, particularly maintaining separation distance

• Modify activities depending on differing operational contingencies, risk situations and environments

• Select and use required personal protective equipment conforming to industry and OH&S standards

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

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

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

• Performance is demonstrated by consistently meeting the requirements of the critical aspects for assessment over a period of time by means of evidence of work performed in a log book or similar documentation.
• Resources for assessment include:

• a range of relevant exercises, case studies 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 

• As a minimum, assessment of knowledge must be conducted through appropriate written/oral tests
• Practical assessment must occur:

• in an appropriate range of situations in the workplace

RANGE STATEMENT  

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance.

Medium or heavy self-propelled track vehicles may include: 

• rail crane
• spot tamper
• ballast regulator
• inserter/remover (TR10)
• track recorder
• tamper
• dynamic stabiliser
• rail grinder
• ballast cleaner
• track layer

Liaison may include:  

• protection officer
• person in charge of work (PICOW)
• fellow workers

Communication systems may include: 

• two-way radios
• radio headsets
• telephones, including mobile phones
• agreed audible or hand signals

Appropriate person may include: 

• network control officer
• traffic officer
• possession officer
• PICOW
• track protection officer

Travel in a safe and efficient manner may include: 

• route knowledge
• time of day
• prevailing weather conditions
• track conditions
• safe braking distances
• separation between vehicles
• communication between vehicles
• reading and/or interpreting on-board controls
• vigilance systems
• warning systems

Depending on work context, safety and personal protective equipment may include: 

• high visibility clothing
• hearing protection
• gloves
• sunscreen
• safety glasses
• insect repellent
• safety headwear
• safety footwear
• portable radios and mobile phones
• hand lamps
• flags
• safety devices

Depending on the type of organisation concerned and the local terminology used, organisational procedures may be known as: 

• company procedures
• enterprise procedures
• workplace procedures
• established procedures

Information and documents may include: 

• relevant legislated rail safety requirements, including acts and regulations from each applicable state or territory
• operational instructions
• organisational policies and procedures
• relevant log and/or record book
• maintenance notices, records and requests
• local authority regulations and procedures
• technical instructions
• manufacturer’s or workplace equipment instructions and operation manuals
• emergency procedure manuals
• two-way radio and/or mobile telephone operation procedures
• legislation and industrial agreements, including workplace agreements and awards