Provide safe working systems for permanent way maintenance or renewal activities

This standard is about providing safe working systems for permanent way using technical knowledge and experience in renewal and maintenance activities.

You will be required to provide safe working systems and procedures to protect those working on permanent way during maintenance or renewal of the permanent way. It also involves protecting other people from the effects of the engineering work and from the movement of rail vehicles.
The type and complexity of the environment will be that associated with being on or about the permanent way.

You will know and understand the level and extent of your responsibility, including both your own safety and that of work colleagues. You will work within the limits of your own responsibility and where necessary, authorisation must be obtained before work is carried out and you will be expected to work within your organisation's approved procedures and specifications.

During this work, you must take account of the relevant worksite operational requirements, procedures and safe working practices as they apply to you.

Your underpinning knowledge will provide a good understanding of your work and will provide an informed approach to applying problem-solving techniques and procedures when assisting in providing safe working systems for permanent way maintenance or renewal activities.

You will comply with any organisational procedures, and legislative or regulatory health, safety and environmental requirements applicable when assisting in providing safe working systems for permanent way maintenance or renewal activities.

This standard is for all skilled operatives carrying out permanent way engineering activities.

P1 maintain safe working practices and comply with all relevant health and safety regulations, directives, and guidelines
P2 source and follow the approved system procedures to gain access to the work area/site
P3 identify any necessary changes to safety requirements upon site arrival and report to the relevant person(s) without delay
P4 source and follow the appropriate schedules, diagrams and related specifications for the work being carried out as approved by your organisation
P5 identify the access controls to meet agreed and approved system procedures
P6 deliver safe working systems and procedures to protect those working on permanent way
P7 confirm safe working systems are in place
P8 confirm all information is accessible and understood by each individual
P9 prepare appropriate documentation to update on progress and report completion of activities in line with your organisation's procedures
P10 address problems within your control and report unresolved issues

K1 the relevant health and safety regulations, directives, guidelines, and safe working practices and procedures defined by your organisation, as appropriate to the activity and your working area
K2 your responsibilities in respect of health, safety and environment, including the limits of your personal responsibility, your legal responsibility for your own health and safety and the health and safety of others
K3 the importance of wearing protective clothing and other appropriate type of safety equipment (PPE) and where to obtain it from
K4 the hazards associated with working on permanent way infrastructure
K5 how to source and follow your organisation's approved system procedures
K6 how to source and follow information and document systems relating to the work area/site
K7 the types of access controls that may be required
K8 the type and complexity of the environment associated with being on or about the permanent way, taking account of:
K8.1 timescales for preparation
K8.2 lines open/closed to operational traffic
K8.3 maintenance or renewals activities
K8.4 requirements for depots, sidings, and the mainline including bi- directional operations
K8.5 day/night working
K8.6 noise
K8.7 weather
K9 how to confirm safe working systems are in place during maintenance or renewal activities
K10 the implications of not having safe working systems in place
K11 the planning arrangements and mitigation to minimise disruptive effect on normal operations and neighbours
K12 the relevant data management processes and technologies for recording information
K13 the relevant reporting lines, timeframes and procedures as approved by your organisation
K14 the impact of your work on the operations of other departments and the impact of their work for you
K15 the limits of your own authority and responsibility and those of others involved