This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to manage a rail yard or terminal, in accordance with legislative, regulatory and organisational requirements.

It includes preparing to manage the rail yard or terminal, overseeing rail yard or terminal operational requirements, overseeing resourcing, implementing the safety management system, and developing and implementing rail yard or terminal emergency procedures.

This unit can be applied to freight yards, marshalling yards, intermodal terminals, maintenance yards or private sidings.

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 yard/terminal 

1.1

Purpose of rail yard/terminal operations is identified and explained

1.2

Principal factors involved in rail yard/terminal operations are identified and explained

1.3

Methods by which rail yard/terminal operations can be measured are identified and implemented

1.4

Functionality and operability of rail yard/terminal layout is explained

1.5

Interfaces between rail transport operators who access or connect with the rail yard/terminal are explained

1.6

Chain of responsibility requirements are explained

2 

Oversee rail yard/terminal operational requirements 

2.1

Factors that contribute to optimal rail yard/terminal capacity and operational requirements are identified and communicated to appropriate personnel

2.2

Strategies for developing and maintaining optimal rail yard/terminal operational requirements are developed and implemented

2.3

Methods by which optimal rail yard/terminal operational requirements can be measured are developed and applied

2.4

Factors that could impact on scheduled activities are outlined and optimal rail yard/terminal operations and strategies to manage them are developed and implemented

2.5

Relevant communications systems and protocols are identified and implemented

2.6

Protocols for rolling stock arrivals or departures from the rail yard/terminal are developed and applied

3 

Oversee rail yard/terminal resourcing requirements 

3.1

Equipment required for rail yard/terminal operations is identified and obtained in accordance with organisational policies and procedures

3.2

Contractor/external service requirements are documented and their work is supervised as required, in accordance with organisational policies and procedures

3.3

Rail yard/terminal maintenance requirements are identified, arranged and supervised in accordance with organisational policies and procedures

3.4

Responsibilities at interfaces with other rail transport operators are defined and allocated in accordance with regulatory and organisational policies and procedures

4 

Implement the organisational safety management system 

4.1

Organisational safety management system (SMS) local safety requirements are identified and managed in accordance with organisational policies and procedures

4.2

Rail yard/terminal safety plans are identified, confirmed as appropriate and communicated to relevant personnel in accordance with organisational policies and procedures

4.3

Required safety equipment is confirmed and arranged in accordance with organisational policies and procedures

4.4

Movement of vehicles within rail yard/terminal is monitored to ensure compliance with SMS

4.5

Integrity of vehicles programmed for movements is monitored and suitable risk controls are applied to enable movements to proceed

4.6

Individual worksite areas within rail yard/terminal are protected to ensure they can be isolated safely

4.7

Stabling of vehicles within rail yard/terminal is monitored to ensure compliance with SMS

4.8

Contractor/visitor access protocols are implemented and communicated to relevant personnel in accordance with organisational policies and procedures

4.9

Security systems and protocols are identified, implemented and monitored in accordance with organisational policies and procedures

5 

Develop and implement rail yard/terminal emergency procedures 

5.1

Rail yard/terminal emergency equipment requirements are confirmed and documented

5.2

Rail yard/terminal hazards are identified, risks are assessed, and risk controls are developed and documented

5.3

Rail yard/terminal emergency response procedures are communicated to relevant personnel in accordance with organisational policies and procedures

5.4

Evacuation drills and debriefings are arranged in accordance with organisational policies and procedures

5.5

Issues arising from evacuation drills and/or debriefings are identified and addressed

Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment.

Non-essential conditions can be found in the Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

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
• applying relevant safeworking system and workplace procedures
• communicating effectively with others and interpreting complex information relating to rail yard/terminal operations and interfacing rail network/s
• developing and implementing rail yard or terminal emergency procedures
• identifying job hazards and taking required action to minimise, control or eliminate identified hazards
• implementing the safety management system
• overseeing rail yard or terminal operational and resourcing requirements
• preparing to manage the rail yard or terminal
• 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:

• changes in rail industry operations and technology with implications for rail yard/terminal operations
• key principles and practices associated with rail yard/terminal operations
• rail industry terminology, including terminology used in rail industry standards and codes of practice
• rail infrastructure capacities related to rail yard/terminal operations
• relevant rail safety management system (SMS), work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental legislation related to rail yard/terminal operations
• rail regulatory framework, rail industry standards, rules, codes of practice and guidelines
• safety management system
• safeworking systems used within and interfacing with, rail yard/terminal operations
• stop boards and speed boards related to rail yard/terminal operations
• types of rail yard/terminal operations being carried out
• types of vehicles within rail yards/terminals
• yard/terminal limits related to rail yard/terminal 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 workplace operational situations or, where this is not available, in simulated workplace operational situations that replicate rail yard or terminal 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, rules, codes of practice, guidelines and operation manuals.