This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to safely shunt rolling stock in accordance with safeworking and regulatory requirements, and workplace procedures.

It includes controlling and directing the physical movement of rolling stock and operating relevant equipment to carry out planned shunting strategy.

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 routine operational principles and procedures when carrying out shunting activities as part of workplace 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 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

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

1 

Plan and prepare for shunting operation 

1.1

Shunting requirements are interpreted and clarified, and vehicles and equipment are obtained and prepared in accordance with shunting strategy

1.2

Rolling stock movements, availability and locations are established to determine appropriate siding and/or track locations for vehicle placement

1.3

Relevant work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) legislation, codes of practice, organisational policies and procedures, and safeworking systems and requirements related to shunting are identified

2 

Carry out shunting control procedures 

2.1

Points, levers, switches, signals and line of sight communications are used to assist the control of rolling stock movement

2.2

Uniform hand signals, light and radio shunting commands that conform with operational rules and statutory requirements are used

2.3

Relevant WHS/OHS requirements are followed to prevent injury and damage

2.4

Wagon cards are checked and wagons are obtained and sorted to comply with shunting requirements

2.5

Shunting control techniques are applied to prevent damage of rolling stock and loads/contents

3 

Shunt rolling stock 

3.1

Workplace procedures for shunting are identified and applied

3.2

Rolling stock is positioned to meet shunting requirements

3.3

Coupling systems are identified and applied to attach and detach rolling stock

3.4

Connecting brake hoses, electrical couplings and hand brakes are connected/disconnected and applied/released in accordance with operational and WHS/OHS requirements

3.5

Rolling stock is shunted with the minimum of necessary moves within governing safety requirements and limitations

4 

Finalise train consist 

4.1

Train consists are made up in accordance with operational procedures and timetabling requirements

4.2

Irregularities and defects with rolling stock equipment are reported in accordance with operational requirements

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:

• checking draw gear, vehicle and equipment in terms of service schedule and operating procedures
• communicating effectively with others
• completing relevant documentation
• displaying and correctly interpreting hand, light and radio signals in accordance with workplace procedures
• identifying job hazards and taking required action to minimise, control or eliminate identified hazards
• implementing contingency plans
• interpreting and following operational instructions and prioritise work
• modifying activities depending on operational contingencies, risk situations and environments
• monitoring condition and performance of equipment and taking appropriate action as required
• monitoring work activities in terms of planned schedule
• operating and adapting to differences in equipment in accordance with operating procedures
• operating electronic communications equipment to required protocol
• reading and interpreting relevant instructions, procedures, information and signs
• reporting and/or rectifying identified problems, faults or malfunctions promptly, in accordance with regulatory requirements and workplace procedures
• working collaboratively with others
• working systematically with required attention to detail without injury to self or others, or damage to goods or 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:

• applicable state/territory legislated rail safety requirements, relevant codes of practice and/or guidelines
• characteristics and features of wagons and other rolling stock
• defects that can occur on a shunting gear and equipment and related action that should be taken
• draw gear capacities and related operating procedures
• emergency procedures
• loading and unloading procedures
• location and operation of signals and points
• principles of operation of protective devices, air brakes, handbrakes, derailers
• procedures for coupling and uncoupling rolling stock
• procedures for identifying and reporting hazards
• procedures for operating points and signals
• radio communications protocol
• relevant work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental procedures and regulations including codes of practice
• safeworking systems and rule requirements
• shunting plan and instructions
• shunting signals and commands and line of sight communications systems
• track and signal layouts and features in yard.

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 including workplace procedures, rules, regulations, Australian Dangerous Goods (ADG) Code, codes of practice and operation manuals.