Unit of competency details

Unit Descriptor 

This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to grind rail and welds in accordance with approved standards, safeworking and regulatory requirements and workplace procedures. It includes determining job requirements, grinding weld and/or weld repair, grinding rail to repair surface defects, and completing all required documentation. This competency relates to the grinding of new welds and weld repairs, wheel burns, rail batter and overflow in plain track. Licensing or certification requirements are not applicable to this unit.

Application of the Unit 

Persons achieving competence in this unit will need to fulfil the applicable legislated rail safety requirements including acts and regulations from each state and territory together with any nationally approved compliance codes and/or guidelines.

Work is performed under some supervision, generally within a team environment. It involves the application of routine operational principles and procedures to the grinding of rail and welds as part of workplace activities across a variety of operational contexts within the Australian rail system.

Employability Skills 

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 Determine job requirements 

1.1 New welds and weld repairs are located

1.2 Defects relating to wheel burns, rail battering and rail overflow are identified

1.3 Appropriate equipment is selected

1.4 Appropriate repair method and/or profile is selected to ensure completed work will meet specifications

1.5 Site is cleared of obstructions and combustible material

2 Grind weld and /or weld repair 

2.1 Rail is ground to profile using approved equipment in accordance with workplace procedures

2.2 Grinding equipment is operated safely in accordance with OH&S and environmental requirements

2.3 Rail gauge face is ground to match adjacent rail in curves, in accordance with standards and procedures

2.4 Rail profile and vertical and horizontal alignment are measured to ensure compliance with acceptance standards

2.5 Rail surface condition is assessed for compliance with acceptance standards

3 Grind rail to repair surface defects 

3.1 Rail is ground using approved equipment in accordance with workplace procedures

3.2 Grinding equipment is operated safely in accordance with OH&S and environmental requirements

3.3 Finished surface is checked to ensure compliance with specification

4 Complete documentation 

4.1 Documentation on work undertaken is completed in accordance with workplace requirements

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS 

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

Required knowledge :

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

• Workplace procedures for the grinding of rail and welds

• Problems that may occur during the grinding of rail and welds, and action that can be taken to report or resolve the problems

• Hazards that may exist during the grinding of rail and welds, and ways of controlling the risks involved

• Acceptance standards for rail profile and surface condition

• Grinding methods and results

• Relevant communication systems and procedures

• Authorisation/approval processes and procedures

• Documentation and record keeping requirements

Required skills :

• Communicate effectively with others when grinding rail and welds

• Read and interpret technical data, drawings, instructions and manuals relevant to the grinding of rail and welds

• Interpret and follow operational instructions and prioritise work when grinding rail and welds

• Complete documentation related to the grinding of rail and welds

• Operate communication equipment to required protocol

• Work collaboratively with others when grinding rail and welds

• Promptly report and/or rectify any identified problems, faults or malfunctions that may occur when grinding rail and welds in accordance with regulatory requirements and workplace procedures

• Implement contingency plans for unexpected events when grinding rail and welds

• Apply precautions and required action to minimise, control or eliminate hazards that may exist during work activities

• Monitor work activities in terms of planned schedule

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

• Work systematically with required attention to detail without injury to self or others, or damage to goods or equipment

• Operate and adapt to differences in equipment in accordance with standard operating procedures

• Select and use required personal protective equipment

• Select and use hand tools, power tools and equipment

• Apply grinding techniques to achieve rail profile and surface condition to meet requirements of standards and procedures

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

• Assessment must include exercises which demonstrate competent performance of the following in a range of situations:

• identifying job requirements
• operating the grinding equipment safely
• grinding welds and weld repairs using appropriate grinding wheel speed and rate of metal removal
• grinding rail to repair surface defects
• completing documentation correctly

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

• Performance is demonstrated consistently over a period of time and in a suitable range of contexts
• 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 

• Assessment of this unit must be undertaken by a registered training organisation
• As a minimum, assessment of knowledge must be conducted through appropriate written/oral tests
• Practical assessment must occur:

• through activities in an appropriately simulated environment at the registered training organisation, and/or
• 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.

Operations may be conducted:

• by day or night
• in all weather conditions

Work may be conducted in:

• restricted spaces
• exposed conditions
• controlled or open environments

Work may involve exposure to:

• chemicals
• dangerous or hazardous substances
• movements of equipment, goods and vehicles

Type and rate of grinding may vary according to:

• location
• rail mass or type
• purpose of grinding

Equipment may include:

• hand held grinders
• rail profile grinders
• ride on rail profile grinders
• hand tools including gauges, track jacks, spiking hammers and bars

Measuring equipment may include:

• straight edge
• electronic straight edge
• profile gauge

Materials may include:

• grinding wheels

Rail types may vary according to:

• traffic task (head hardened)

Liaison may include:

• internal or external personnel from other work areas (e.g. train controllers, electricians)

Communication equipment systems may include:

• two-way radios
• telephones/mobile phones
• agreed audible or hand signal

Depending on the type of organisation concerned and the local terminology used, workplace procedures may include:

• company procedures
• enterprise procedures
• organisational procedures
• established procedures

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

• high visibility clothing
• hearing protection
• gloves
• sunscreen
• sunglasses
• safety glasses
• insect repellent
• safety headwear
• fire retardant clothing and overgear (aprons, spats etc.)
• face shields
• safety footwear
• portable radios/mobile phones
• hand lamps
• flags
• safety devices

Information/documents may include:

• operational instructions, policies and workplace procedures
• local authority regulations and procedures
• information provided by other workplace personnel
• track inspection reports
• rail inspections and reports
• work orders
• technical instructions
• manufacturers or workplace equipment instructions and operation manuals
• emergency procedure manuals
• two-way radio/mobile phone operation procedures
• QA plans, data and document control
• conditions of service, legislation and industrial agreements including workplace agreements and awards

Applicable procedures and codes may include:

• legislated rail safety requirements including acts and regulations from each applicable state and territory together with any nationally approved compliance codes and/or guidelines
• relevant Australian Standards and related requirements, including AS 4292
• relevant state/territory OH&S legislation
• relevant state/territory environmental protection legislation

Competency Field 

W - Equipment and Systems Operations