Oversee the signal engineering work of a team on site

This standard is about overseeing the signal engineering work of the team and covers the role of an individual supervising or overseeing the role of others thereby ensuring their health, safety, welfare, and the quality and efficiency of their work. The signalling equipment in this standard can be for overground or underground rail transportation systems and can apply to newer systems, such as the European Train Control System (ETCS).

You will be required to oversee the signal engineering work activities of the team while on site. You will understand the complexities of the signalling environment in which you and the team will operate. You will know and understand the level and extent of your responsibility, including both your own safety and that of work colleagues.

You will ensure you and your team have been deemed competent for the activities you are undertaking and hold suitable licenses and certificates for the work you will be undertaking.
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, training, and experience will provide a good understanding of your work and will provide an informed approach to applying problem-solving techniques and procedures when supervising the work of the team.

You will comply with any organisational procedures, and legislative or regulatory health, safety, and environmental requirements applicable when supervising the work of the team.

This standard is for all individuals who are responsible for overseeing or supervising signal engineering activities.

P1 maintain safe working practices and comply with all relevant health and safety regulations, directives, and guidelines
P2 source and interpret work plans and schedules
P3 identify, plan, and record work methods and activities which make optimum use of resources
P4 prioritise and delegate work activities to achieve the planned objectives
P5 agree and record individual roles and group responsibilities
P6 seek advice from others to help resolve problems
P7 identify when changes to the plans may occur
P8 make a record of agreed work plans and communicate the plans to all involved
P9 identify and communicate changes to the plans to the team
P10 ensure all required documentation is complete, accurate, formatted, and processed by the team in accordance with your organisation's procedures
P11 monitor the signal engineering work of a team
P12 ensure all plant, materials and tools are managed and stored in line with your organisation's procedures
P13 prepare appropriate documentation to update on progress and report completion of activities in line with your organisation's procedures
P14 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. This should include 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 types of safety equipment and where to obtain it from
K4 the hazards associated with working on signalling systems and within the railway environment
K5 how to source and interpret relevant work plans and schedules
K6 the methods and techniques for supervising the work activities of the team
K7 the information systems and procedures as approved by your organisation relevant to the work activities of the team
K8 how to develop and maintain working relationships in order to promote good teamwork
K9 your organisation's methods and techniques for effective communication including the appropriate method for communicating changes, including when a plan may need changing
K10 the relevant data management processes and technologies for recording and communicating information
K11 the relevant reporting lines, timeframes, and procedures as approved by your organisation
K12 the interfaces and impact of the work that you are undertaking on others
K13 the allocation of tasks and duties
K14 the benefits of team working and methods to achieve this
K15 the limits of your own authority and responsibility and those of others involved

1. Types of health and safety legislation, regulations and safe working practices and procedures, as applicable to the work location and activities, could include:

   • control of substances hazardous to health
   • safe work plans
   • track access restrictions
   • track work instructions
   • track possession
   • task risk control sheets
   • current rule book
   • regulations for working under OLE and in the vicinity of DC lines (where appropriate)
   • equipment disconnections
   • manual handling
   • reporting of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences
   • safety signage legal requirements
   • PPE

2. Types of signalling equipment for which supervision of engineering work on-site may be required 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

3. Types of site locations could include:

   • trackside
   • internal (such as signal box, equipment room)
   • areas to which the public have access
   • confined spaces
   • elevated structures
   • depots
   • sidings

4. Resources and documents considered when supervising activities could include:

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