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 install and maintain rail bonding systems 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.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1Plan 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, if necessary by site inspection

1.2 Work is prioritised/scheduled including site and relevant electrical permits

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

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

2Prepare 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 Where required, specialist testing and earth equipment is inspected and replaced if defective

2.4 Where required, road signs, barriers and warning devices are positioned

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

3Install 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, where required, electrical permits are issued/accepted/relinquished

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 The system is commissioned following the conduct of a visual inspection, and the completion of other testing

4Conduct post-operational activities

4.1 Worksite is rehabilitated in accordance with workplace procedures

4.2 Work is completed in an agreed time and with a minimum waste

4.3 Notification, records and documentation for updating system data is completed

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

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

Required knowledge:

Applicable legislated rail safety requirements including acts and regulations from each state and territory together with any nationally approved compliance codes and/or guidelines

Relevant OH&S and environmental procedures and regulations

Workplace procedures for the installation and maintenance of rail bonding systems

Problems that may occur during the installation and maintenance of rail bonding systems and action that can be taken to report or resolve the problems

Hazards that may exist during the installation and maintenance of rail bonding systems and ways of controlling the risks involved

Characteristics, capabilities and uses of various types of cables

Cable testing and fault identification/location procedures

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

Traction earthing systems and bonding systems

Basic circuits for signalling and communications systems

Switching operation, isolation and access permit procedures

Electrical principles including OHMs law, voltage and current transformation, voltage drop, cable

Current capacities, inductance and capacitance, protection systems and devices

The responsibilities and rights of other authorities, clients and landowners

Regulatory and workplace traffic control requirements and guidance signals

Relevant workplace documentation and records systems

Required skills:

Communicate effectively with others when installing and maintaining rail bonding systems

Read and interpret technical data, drawings, instructions and manuals relevant to the installation and maintenance of rail bonding systems

Interpret and follow operational instructions and prioritise work

Complete documentation related to the installation and maintenance of rail bonding systems

Operate electronic communication equipment to required protocol

Work collaboratively with others when installing and maintaining rail bonding systems

Adapt appropriately to cultural differences in the workplace, including modes of behaviour and interactions with others

Promptly report and/or rectify any identified problems, faults or malfunctions that may occur when installing and maintaining rail bonding systems in accordance with regulatory requirements and workplace procedures

Implement contingency plans for unplanned events that may arise when installing and maintaining rail bonding systems

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

Organise 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

Select and use relevant equipment and tools

Joint and terminate earthing and bonding cables

Guide, using signals, operators of plant and equipment during the installation and maintenance of cables

Work at heights and in confined spaces

Perform basic and exothermic welding

Adapt to differences in equipment in accordance with standard operating procedures

Select and use required personal protective equipment conforming to industry and OH&S standards

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

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

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

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

Rail bonding systems to be installed and maintained may include all those in service in the Australian rail system, including:

traction bonding (as required in all electrified rail systems)

track circuit continuity bonds

cross bonding

Maintenance may include:

the diagnosis of faults and recommissioning

the repair and replacement of cables and associated hardware

Earthing and bonding systems may include:

permanent systems

temporary systems

grading rings

earth grids

Types of conductors may include:

steel

steel rail

copper

aluminium and steel

bare and sheathed cables

single core

stranded

flexible

Cables may include:

surface mounted

aerial

buried

enclosed

Permanent jointing and terminating materials may include:

polymeric tape materials

polymeric heat shrink and covering materials

exothermic welds

crimped connections

bolted connections

Temporary terminating components may include:

screwed earth/rail/conductor clamps

clipped earth/rail/conductor clamps

sticks

testers

Communications equipment may include:

two-way radios, and/or

telephones

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

high visibility clothing

hearing protection

gloves

sunscreen

sunglasses

safety glasses

insect repellent

safety headwear

safety footwear

portable radios

hand lamps

flags

safety devices

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

company procedures

enterprise procedures

organisational procedures

established procedures

Information/documents may include:

applicable legislated rail safety requirements including acts and regulations from each state and territory together with any nationally approved compliance codes and/or guidelines

operational instructions, policies and workplace procedures

relevant logs or record books

work orders and specifications

technical instructions

manufacturers or workplace equipment instructions and operation manuals

emergency procedure manuals

two-way radio 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:

applicable legislated rail safety requirements including acts and regulations from each 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

This unit contains employability skills.