Organise local signal engineering activities

This standard identifies the competencies you need to organise local signal engineering activities for the maintenance, fault finding or installation of signalling systems and equipment. It includes planning, prioritising and determining roles and responsibilities. The signalling equipment in this standard can be for overground or underground rail transportation systems and can apply to the European Train Control System (ETCS).

You will be required to gather the relevant information to help you organise the engineering activities. You will be able to identify potential deviations from the allocated tasks and alter the plan as required within the limits of your authority. Any alterations must be recorded and reported and their impact on the allocated tasks monitored.

You will be able to accurately identify tasks and their interdependence, ensuring that work is organised in a logical order. The allocation of activities and responsibilities to staff according to their competencies is also one of your responsibilities and you will be able to provide staff with the required instructions.

You will establish and maintain communications and effective liaison arrangements with relevant person(s), including team members, other teams, operations staff, engineering control staff and peers. Communication will be both remote and face-to-face. You will be able to obtain suitable clarification and assistance where information is unclear, inaccurate or conflicting.

Safety is a key theme; you must practice and demonstrate safe working methods, understanding and implementing necessary precautions to protect yourself and others.

P1 identify, source and confirm information and resources required for the activity
P2 identify, plan and record work methods and activities that make optimum use of resources
P3 prioritise work activities to achieve objectives in accordance with project timelines and resource availability
P4 allocate activities and responsibilities to the relevant person(s) according to their competences, including providing the required instructions
P5 agree and record individual roles and group responsibilities
P6 seek advice from others to help resolve problems
P7 anticipate and show how changes to plans and/or allocated tasks will be accommodated, including providing details of the predicted impact on activities
P8 make a record of agreed work plans and communicate the plans to all involved
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 the relevant methods and techniques for prioritising and planning activities, including, time management and problem solving
K3 the roles and responsibilities of individuals and groups in relation to the activity
K4 how to source and analyse the required equipment and system documentation
K5 how to source, interpret and apply relevant technical information, standards, diagrams, instructions, specifications and schedules for signal engineering activities
K6 how to identify, analyse, and deal with influencing factors whilst carrying out the organising of activities, including environmental factors
K7 how to achieve and the importance of effective working relationships when organising local signal engineering activities
K8 how and when signalling activities cannot be achieved
K9 the impact of any deviations from the allocated tasks
K10 the relevant reporting lines and procedures that are approved by your organisation
K11 the limits of your own authority and responsibility and those of others

1. Types of signalling equipment, for which local signal engineering activities may be organised, could include:

   • points
   • train control (such as signals, balises or other method of authorising train movements)
   • train detection (such as track circuits or axle counters)
   • power supplies
   • ETCS
   • other industry specific signalling equipment

2. Resources and documents considered when organising activities could include:

   • site availability
   • access arrangements
   • operations and engineering notices
   • plans, schedules and procedures
   • diagrams, records and specifications
   • personnel (roles and responsibilities)

3. Methods of recording and presenting the agreed work plans to the appropriate people could include:

   • specific company documentation
   • pre-defined work plan
   • new work plan