Plan telecoms maintenance testing activities

This standard identifies the competences you need to plan telecoms maintenance testing and failure investigation. It includes identifying the operations to be carried out, the timescales, sequence and the resources required. The telecoms equipment in this standard can be for overground or underground rail transportation systems.

You will be required to plan telecoms maintenance testing, which is normally required following the reinstatement of operational telecoms systems or equipment using pre-defined test plans. If this is not feasible due to safety, operational or other factors, then pre-planning is required. When the pre-defined test plans are inadequate or are not available you will arrange for one to be developed in line with your organisation's procedures. Where technical documentation, equipment, tools, materials, spare parts, or components are not available you will be able to deal with the deficiency.

You will be expected to work with a minimum of supervision. Safety is a key theme; you must practice and demonstrate safe working methods, understanding and implementing necessary precautions to protect yourself and others.

P1 maintain safe working practices and comply with all relevant health and safety regulations, directives, and guidelines
P2 identify and source information required for the activity
P3 confirm that the work (immediate and/or predefined) is suitable for maintenance testing
P4 identify health and safety issues and safe working practices and procedures that must be followed
P5 agree and co-ordinate the protection arrangements with the relevant authorities
P6 identify the activities to be carried out and determine their sequence
P7 interpret the information available and establish the type and extent of the tests required
P8 establish what resources are to be used and the required access arrangements
P9 identify the necessary tools and equipment that will required, its availability and serviceability, including calibration if required
P10 identify any special requirements and incorporate them in the plan, such as when independent testing of the telecoms equipment is required and/or whether failure investigation of the telecoms equipment is required
P11 identify where technical documentation, resources, equipment, materials or tools are not available and deal with the deficiency in accordance with your organisation's procedures
P12 estimate the timescales required
P13 prepare and record the plan
P14 ensure all required documentation is in accordance your organisation's procedures
P15 present the plan to the appropriate person(s) when the plan is completed
P16 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 testing process relating to the telecoms equipment (maintenance testing/failure investigation)
K3 the type of information is required and what planning needs to be completed before the work is undertaken
K4 how to prepare for the planning process, record and communicate activity
K5 the requirements to secure the system for testing/investigation purposes without impacting on operational activities
K6 what planning needs to be completed before the work is undertaken
K7 what to do if no test plan is available, what a new test plan should contain and what authorisation procedures apply
K8 how to source and interpret the types of information and documents required, for example, documents detailing line speed and direction
K9 the interfaces between the systems/equipment to be tested and other operational equipment, which may be affected
K10 the types of resources and equipment that will be required to carry out the testing
K11 how to establish whether there is a need for independent maintenance testing
K12 how to identify, evaluate and respond to activities that cannot be achieved
K13 the relevant reporting lines and procedures that are approved by your organisation
K14 the limits of your own authority and responsibility and those of others involved

1. Types of telecoms equipment to plan maintenance testing on include the following:

   • transmission systems
   • bearer circuits
   • telecoms bearers carrying signalling circuits
   • SCADA
   • operational telephones
   • switches and systems (such as telephone exchanges & concentrators)
   • railway operational information systems
   • PA and CCTV
   • operational CCTV (such as OPO/DOO)
   • GSM-R
   • other industry specific telecom equipment

2. Types of resources available to support the planning process, as applicable to the telecoms equipment being tested, include:

   • documentation (current and appropriate)
   • tools, plant and test equipment (calibrated and serviceable)
   • materials, replacement equipment and consumables
   • communications equipment
   • personnel (total required and competence)
   • access arrangements

3. Types of site installation locations include:

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

4. Methods of recording and presenting plans could include:

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