This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to install and maintain all types of temporary and permanent bonds and bonding cables in use in the Australian rail system, in accordance with safeworking and regulatory requirements, and workplace procedures.

This includes planning the installation and maintenance, preparing the worksite, installing and maintaining the bonds and bonding cables, and conducting all required post-installation activities as a non-electrical rail safety worker.

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, rail industry standards and/or guidelines.

Work is performed under some supervision, generally within a team environment.

Rail bonding systems involve the application of routine operational principles and procedures when fixing cable across a break or joint in one rail, or between two rails to provide a path for traction return current or track-circuits, as part of workplace activities across a variety of operational contexts within the Australian rail system.

Operators of mechanised equipment must have undertaken training and, where appropriate, hold the relevant licence, permit or certificate and be recognised as competent for the class of machinery being used.

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

Plan the installation and maintenance of the relevant bonding systems

1.1

Works order including drawings, plans and material lists is received/accessed, analysed and confirmed as required by site inspection

1.2

Work is assessed and prioritised in accordance with works scheduled

1.3

Site relevant electrical permits are accessed and/or obtained as required

1.4

Hazards are identified, risks are assessed and control measures are implemented

1.5

Resources including personnel, plant, equipment and tools are identified and scheduled

1.6

Liaison and communication issues with other personnel, authorities, clients and landowners are resolved

2

Prepare the worksite

2.1

Personnel participating in the task, including plant operators and contractors, are fully briefed

2.2

Site preparation is completed in accordance with works order

2.3

Specialist testing and earth equipment is inspected as required and replaced if defective

2.4

Road signs, barriers and warning devices are positioned as required

2.5

Safeworking practices are observed on or about the running track/line

3

Install and maintain bonding system cables

3.1

Systems and circuits are isolated as required, proved safe to work on in accordance with work plan and electrical permits are issued/accepted/relinquished as required

3.2

Cable and surrounds, including rail and other surfaces, are prepared to appropriate specifications

3.3

Bonds are attached in accordance with specifications

3.4

Joint and termination procedures are carried out in accordance with authorised work procedures

3.5

Continuity testing procedures are carried out as required

3.6

System is commissioned following visual inspection and the completion of other testing

4

Conduct post-operational activities

4.1

Worksite is rehabilitated in accordance with workplace procedures

4.2

Work is completed in an agreed time and with minimum waste

4.3

Notifications, records and documentation for updating system data are completed

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 three separate occasions and include:

applying relevant safeworking and workplace procedures

communicating effectively with others

completing relevant documentation

guiding operators of plant and equipment and using appropriate signals when installing and maintaining cables

identifying job hazards and taking required action to minimise, control or eliminate identified hazards

implementing contingency plans

interpreting and following operational instructions and prioritising work

modifying activities depending on operational contingencies, risk situations and environments

monitoring work activities in terms of planned schedule

organising activities in accordance with workplace procedures

reading and interpreting relevant technical data, drawings, instructions and manuals

reporting and/or rectifying identified problems, faults or malfunctions, in accordance with workplace procedures

selecting and using relevant equipment and tools

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, capabilities and uses of various types of cables

circuits for signalling and communications systems awareness as a non-electrical rail safety worker

current capacities, inductance and capacitance, protection systems and devices

electrical hazard awareness including voltage and current transformation, voltage drop, cable and traction systems

joint test and fault identification/location workplace procedures

problems that may occur when installing and maintaining rail bonding systems and action that can be taken to report or resolve these problems

rail industry standards for installing and maintaining rail bonding systems

switching operation, isolation and access permit procedures

testing and commissioning procedures, including testing and earth/rail connecting conductors

traction earthing systems and bonding systems

work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental procedures and regulations

workplace documentation and records systems

workplace procedures for installing and maintaining rail bonding systems for non-electrical rail safety workers.

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, regulations, rail industry standards, codes of practice and operation manuals.