Unit of competency details

This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to safely enter and navigate around the rail corridor and danger zone with the permission of the access provider, in accordance with legislative and regulatory requirements. It includes following the policies, procedures and protocols of the access provider for situational awareness and rail safety.

Licensing or certification requirements are not applicable to this unit. Persons achieving competence in this unit will need to fulfil applicable legislated rail safety requirements, including acts and regulations from the applicable state or territory, together with any nationally approved compliance codes and/or guidelines.

The unit involves applying the access provider’s policies, procedures and protocols related to rail safety requirements to all activities in the rail corridor.

Activities are performed using established procedures, with accountability and responsibility for self and others in achieving the prescribed outcomes within the limits of responsibility of the person concerned.

This unit applies to all persons accessing the rail corridor and those who may need to enter the danger zone.

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 Take appropriate safety precautions to access the rail corridor 

1.1 Authority to enter the rail corridor is confirmed

1.2 Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is worn consistent with role in accessing the rail system, including the rail corridor

1.3 Rail corridor is visually assessed to determine if it can be accessed clear of the danger zone

1.4 Rail corridor is entered and a visual assessment is maintained to identify potential risks

2 Take appropriate safety precautions to access the danger zone 

2.1 A line of sight is established

2.2 Direction of approaching trains and maximum speed are determined

2.3 A safe place is identified

2.3 Types of warning provided are recognised and understood

2.4 Situational awareness is maintained to identify changed local conditions

2.5 Communication with other personnel is maintained in accordance with workplace procedures

2.6 Unsafe situations and/or emergencies are identified, and appropriate action is taken in accordance with workplace procedures

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS 

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

Required knowledge: 

• Extent of rail corridor

• Access provider’s defined entry requirements and limitations

• Basic rail terminology as defined by the applicable network

• Access provider’s policies, procedures and protocols, including those in the event of identified unsafe situations or emergencies within the limits of the role being undertaken

• Required skills:

• Communicate effectively with individuals and groups

• Follow workplace policies, procedures and protocols

• Recognise hazards that may arise and take appropriate action

• Conduct a situational awareness assessment

• Use PPE conforming to required 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
• compliance with site safety plans, OH&S regulations and other regulatory requirements

• Assessment must include exercises that demonstrate competent performance of the following:

• safely accessing the rail corridor
• recognising the danger zone
• identifying position of safety and safe place
• maintaining a situational awareness to identify potential risks
• identifying unsafe situations in the rail system

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

• Performance is demonstrated in a suitable context
• Resources for assessment include:

• relevant exercises and/or other simulated practical and knowledge assessments, and/or
• access to an appropriate relevant location in the rail corridor

• In both real and simulated environments, access is required to:

• applicable documentation, including procedures, regulations and codes of practice

Method of assessment 

• Assessment of knowledge must be conducted through appropriate written/oral tests
• Practical assessment must occur:

• through activities in an appropriately simulated environment, and/or
• in a rail corridor

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.

Rail corridor may include: 

• danger zone
• main line
• adjacent networks
• adjacent lines
• sidings and/or yards
• platforms and/or buildings
• structures
• safe places

Access provider may also be known as: 

• network owner

Terminology may be as defined by: 

• national rail body
• access provider

Situational awareness will be: 

• as defined within the workplace procedures and instructions
• as defined in the risk assessment for situational awareness, including:

• view and line of sight
• direction of approaching trains
• maximum speed of trains
• safe places
• changed local conditions

Communication may include: 

• give or receive verbal messages and information, including emergency messages and general safety messages
• report unsafe situations
• respond to emergencies

Communications equipment and systems may include: 

• hand signals
• audible signals

Safety clothing and equipment may include: 

• high visibility clothing
• protective footwear
• hearing protection
• eye protection
• gloves
• head protection

Information and documents may include: 

• workplace procedures, policies and work instructions
• site safety plan
• emergency plan
• safety briefing
• emergency contact details
• access contact details

Unsafe situations may include: 

• risks to:

• individual
• public
• rail traffic
• physical assets of the network

F - Safety Management