Prepare work areas for permanent way engineering activities

This standard is about preparing work areas for permanent way engineering activities and covers the provision of supplies and services to enable work activities to take place thus ensuring the health, safety and welfare of all persons involved.

You will be required to prepare work areas prior to permanent way activities taking place. The work areas could include track, off track and adjacent land.
The preparations must take account of all relevant environmental considerations. The quality standards and accuracy to be achieved will be in line with your organisation's procedures.

The level and extent of responsibility includes both your own safety and that of work colleagues. Where necessary, authorisation must be obtained before work is carried out on permanent way infrastructure.

You will be expected to work within approved procedures and specifications and will work within the limits of your own responsibility.

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 preparing work areas prior to permanent way activities.

You will comply with any organisational procedures, and legislative or regulatory health, safety and environmental requirements applicable when preparing work areas prior to permanent way activities.

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

P1 maintain safe working practices and comply with all relevant health and safety regulations, directives, and guidelines
P2 identify any necessary changes to safety requirements upon site arrival and report to the relevant person(s) without delay
P3 source and follow the appropriate schedules, diagrams and related specifications for the work being carried out as approved by your organisation
P4 ensure that the work environment is suitable for the work activities to be undertaken
P5 ensure that all necessary service supplies are connected and ready for use
P6 prepare the work areas following the correct specifications so that they are ready for the engineering activities to be carried out
P7 make sure that required safety arrangements are in place to protect other workers from activities likely to disrupt normal working
P8 prepare appropriate documentation and report progress/completion of activities in line with your organisation's procedures
P9 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 how to locate and access the site
K5 hazards associated with working on permanent way infrastructure
K6 environmental and safety risks associated with working with hazardous substances and materials
K7 how to source and follow schedules, diagrams and specifications relevant to your role, as approved by your organisation
K8 the methods and procedures for preparing the work area, including:
K8.1 your organisation's procedures
K8.2 local policies and procedures
K8.3 site security and safety
K8.4 surface preparation
K8.5 site access and egress
K8.6 safety signs
K8.7 water provision
K8.8 power and lighting
K8.9 toilets and hygiene facilities
K8.10 storage areas
K8.11 accommodation and welfare
K8.12 identification and protection arrangements for all services including those that are buried
K8.13 notifying neighbouring residents and businesses
K9 the consequences of not preparing work areas in accordance with your organisation's procedures, including:
K9.1 safety to the public
K9.2 safety of other employees
K9.3 operational/performance implications
K10 your organisation's procedures relating to service supply and connection
K11 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 on you
K15 the limits of your own authority and responsibility and those of others involved