Contribute to Safe Working Practices in the Rail Engineering Industry

This standard focuses on your responsibilities for maintaining health and safety, as well as implementing good housekeeping practices in the rail engineering environment. It includes meeting health and safety requirements, maintaining safe working practices, and using tools, equipment, and hazardous substances safely.

You will be responsible for equipment safety and ensuring that tools and equipment are cleaned, maintained, and fit for use. Additionally, this standard covers your responsibility for identifying and managing health and safety risks for both yourself and others.

This standard covers inspecting, storing, and safely operating tools and equipment in a rail engineering environment including, but not limited to, sites, maintenance depots, workshops, vehicles, or other similar environments. You will need to comply with regulations and understand the hazards associated with working in an industrial environment, such as fire risks, toxic substances, and electrical hazards.

You will work in accordance with your organisation’s safety policies and be expected to report hazards and incidents, while also ensuring a safe working environment for yourself and others.

This standard also focuses on maintaining clean and hazard-free work areas, safely storing tools, dealing with spillages, and disposing of waste. You will comply with your organisation’s housekeeping procedures and understand how these contribute to overall safety in the workplace.

This standard is for individuals working in rail engineering sites, maintenance depots, workshops, vehicles, or other similar environments.

P1 maintain safe working practices and comply with all relevant health and safety regulations, directives, and guidelines
P2 select, wear and use appropriate personal protective clothing and/or equipment
P3 check that the required safety equipment is fit for purpose and used in accordance with suppliers', manufacturers' and your organisation's procedures
P4 ensure that the work environment is, as far as possible, free from hazards
P5 use equipment, machinery and materials, including gases, in accordance with statutory regulations and the manufacturer's and your organisation's recommendations and instructions
P6 isolate electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic powered tools or equipment before making adjustments
P7 lift and handle equipment and material in accordance with safe working practices, and comply with any requirements for the licensed operation of lifting equipment
P8 control substances hazardous to health of self, other employees and the general public
P9 carry out safe working practices within the limits of your responsibility
P10 communicate health and safety issues in accordance with your organisation's policies and procedures
P11 report potential hazards to the appropriate person(s)
P12 report any incidents, accidents and emergencies in accordance with your organisation's policies and procedures
P13 use emergency equipment within your own area of responsibility and in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions and organisational guidelines
P14 comply with fire alarm and evacuation systems
P15 report used safety equipment for replenishment in accordance with your organisation's policies and procedures
P16 maintain a clean, tidy, and hazard-free work area, reporting any hazards you cannot address in accordance with your organisation's procedures
P17 check that all emergency exits and designated walkways in the immediate work area are free from all obstructions at all times, reporting obstructions you cannot resolve in accordance with your organisation's procedure
P18 deal with spillages in accordance with organisational procedures
P19 store materials, tools, and equipment in the approved locations
P20 ensure hand and power tools are clean and undamaged
P21 report faults to tools and equipment according to your organisation's procedures
P22 isolate machines and equipment from the power source prior to cleaning operations which must be in accordance with manufacturers' recommendations, guidelines and instructions
P23 use appropriate cleaning agents and equipment in accordance with the manufacturers' instructions
P24 dispose of waste material, used cleaning agents and debris in accordance with your organisation's procedures
P25 identify substances and discharges hazardous to health ensuring they are stored or disposed in accordance with COSHH regulations and workshop procedures
P26 carry out housekeeping practices within the limits of your responsibility

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 what constitutes a safe work environment
K3 warning signs and their meanings
K4 what personal protective clothing and/or equipment is available; this may include protection for the head, skin, hands and feet as well as visibility and noise protection
K5 the safe use of personal protective clothing and/or equipment
K6 what safety equipment is available and whether it is designed to protect individual, work colleagues and/or the general public
K7 the relevant supplier and manufacturer instructions for the safe use and storage of tools, equipment, materials and products
K8 the correct safe lifting and handling techniques for the size, mass and shape of the load
K9 the importance of removing pollution including toxic gases and waste
K10 the concept and definition of a hazard and risk in accordance with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations and the manufacturer's and your organisation's recommendations and instructions
K11 the importance of reporting hazards and risks
K12 the differences between an incident, accident and emergency
K13 the importance of communicating health and safety matters and the methods used to do this
K14 the location and types of emergency equipment, including alarms, extinguishers and first aid equipment
K15 your organisation's procedures for emergencies and evacuation
K16 the relevant health and safety legislation, regulations and safe working practices and procedures including emergency procedures as appropriate to the activity and your organisation
K17 the importance of cleaning, calibrating, servicing, storing, and maintaining tools and equipment
K18 how to recognise tool and equipment defects
K19 the importance of storing expensive, fragile and vulnerable tools and equipment in accordance with your organisation’s procedures and guidelines
K20 your organisation's procedures for reporting tool and equipment defects
K21 the importance of keeping all emergency exits and walkways clear from obstructions
K22 the cleaning schedules and types of warnings appropriate for cleaning operations
K23 the importance of dealing with spillages
K24 the range and limitations of cleaning methods, materials and equipment available
K25 the hazards associated with particular cleaning materials and their reporting procedures
K26 the importance of stopping moving parts before cleaning and the circumstances in which this is required
K27 the machinery isolation procedures, including the application or positioning of any relevant safety notices
K28 your organisation's procedures for the safe storage, disposal, discharge or containment of substances used in the rail engineering industry
K29 the relevant supplier and manufacturer instructions for the safe cleaning of tools, equipment, materials and products
K30 the limits of your own authority and responsibility and those of others involved