Carry out monitoring of traction and rolling stock equipment
Overview
This standard identifies the competences you need to carry out monitoring of traction and rolling stock equipment in service, in accordance with approved procedures. You will be required to select the appropriate monitoring equipment to use, based on the type of traction and rolling stock equipment being monitored and the conditions you wish to check. You will be expected to check that the equipment is in a suitable condition to use (such as undamaged, correctly calibrated, appropriate range) and set up the equipment ready for use. You will then use this equipment to carry out diagnostic condition monitoring (fault diagnosis or prognosis) on a range of traction and rolling stock equipment such as mechanical, electrical, process controller, fluid power or communication-electronic systems. The term traction and rolling stock used in this standard applies to passenger, freight and on-track machines (OTM). Where it is relevant these standards also apply to traction and rolling stock that has been fitted with the European Train Control System (ETCS).
Your responsibilities will require you to comply with organisational policy and procedures for the monitoring activities undertaken, and to report any problems with the diagnostic equipment or monitoring activities that you cannot personally resolve, or that are outside your permitted authority, to the relevant people. You will be expected to work with minimal supervision, taking personal responsibility for your own actions, and for the quality and accuracy of the work that you carry out.
Your underpinning knowledge will provide a good understanding of your work, and will provide an informed approach to applying monitoring techniques. You will understand the monitoring methods and procedures used, and their application, and will know about the various monitoring units, and peripheral components, in adequate depth to provide a sound basis for carrying out the monitoring activities safely and correctly.
You will understand the safety precautions required when carrying out the monitoring activities, especially those for isolating the equipment. You will also understand your responsibilities for safety, and the importance of taking the necessary safeguards to protect yourself and others in the workplace.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
P1 maintain safe working practices and comply with all relevant health and safety regulations, directives, and guidelines
P2 set up and check-calibrate the equipment required for the monitoring being carried out
P3 carry out the monitoring activities with the minimum disruption to normal activities
P4 review the outcomes of the monitoring activities and take appropriate actions
P5 record the outcomes of the monitoring activities
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
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 specific health and safety precautions to be applied during the monitoring procedure, and their effects on others
K3 the isolation and lock-off procedure or permit-to-work procedure that applies to the equipment being worked on (such as electrical isolation, locking off switchgear, placing of maintenance warning notices, proving the isolation has been achieved and secured)
K4 the hazards associated with carrying out monitoring activities on traction and rolling stock equipment (such as electrical supplies, moving machinery, electrical/electronic interfaces, using damaged or ill-maintained tools and equipment, not following laid-down procedures), and how to minimise these and reduce any risks
K5 the classification of different voltage levels and the authority requirements for working on them
K6 what constitutes a hazardous voltage/current and how to recognise victims of electric shock
K7 how to reduce the risks of an electric shock (such as insulated tools, rubber matting and isolating transformers)
K8 the importance of wearing protective clothing and other appropriate safety equipment (PPE) during the monitoring activities
K9 how to obtain and interpret drawings, charts, specifications, manufacturers' manuals, history/maintenance reports, symbols used on monitoring instrument documents, and other documents needed in the monitoring/maintenance process
K10 the procedures and precautions to be adopted to eliminate electrostatic discharge (ESD) hazards when working with and handling electronic devices
K11 the principles of how the equipment to be monitored functions, its operating sequence, the working purpose of individual units/components and how they interact with other systems such as ETCS, AWS, or TPWS
K12 the principles of condition/remote monitoring, and how it helps prevent equipment failure
K13 the different types of monitoring component or sensor (such as temperature, force, pressure, vibration, rotational, voltage, current), their fittings, and their application
K14 the various monitoring systems, and the methods that can be employed to make test measurements for the purposes of equipment protection or predictive maintenance
K15 methods of attaching monitoring components to different parts of the equipment or system
K16 the need to check that monitoring instruments are fit for purpose, undamaged, and have a suitable monitoring range and value
K17 the importance of monitoring equipment calibration and authorisation procedures
K18 the need to set up and operate condition/remote monitoring equipment to the correct specifications
K19 care and control procedures for condition/remote monitoring equipment
K20 the problems that can occur during the monitoring activity, and how they can be overcome
K21 recording the results from monitoring, and the documentation to be used
K22 control procedures for reporting the results from condition/remote monitoring
K23 the organisational procedure(s) to be adopted for the safe disposal of waste of all types of materials
K24 the extent of your own authority and to whom you should report if you have a problem that you cannot resolve
Scope/range
Scope Performance
In carrying out monitoring activities, individuals will:
- plan and communicate the monitoring activities so as to minimise disruption to normal working
- adhere to procedures or systems in place for risk assessment, control of substances, personal protective equipment and other relevant safety regulations and procedures to realise a safe system of work
- select the appropriate monitoring equipment for the intended purpose
- check the calibration of the monitoring equipment before use
- set up the monitoring equipment in accordance with the appropriate procedures
- check that the monitoring equipment is functioning
- carry out the monitoring activities, using appropriate techniques and procedures
- apply safe working practices and procedures at all times
Monitoring techniques may be used to set up equipment protection systems, or predictive maintenance system monitoring techniques, on the following types of equipment:
- engines (such as coolant, temperature, emissions, oil)
- mechanical equipment (such as brakes, gearboxes, drivetrain, wheel sets, suspension, axle boxes)
- rotating electrical machinery (such as generators, traction motors)
- stationary electrical equipment (such as inverters, rectifiers, transformers, switchgear)
- emergency standby or alarm/warning systems and equipment
- fluid power equipment (such as filters, cylinders, actuators, pumps, compressors, air receivers, accumulators)
- process controller (such as program controller, input/output interfacing, wiring/cabling, monitoring sensors)
- electrical components (such as batteries, power supplies, switchgear and distribution panels, protection devices)
- environmental systems (such as air conditioning, ventilation, heating)
- control systems (such as AWS, ATP,TPWS, ETCS)
Monitoring methods could include:
- off-line/portable monitoring
- protection monitoring
- sampled monitoring
- human sensory monitoring (sight, sound, touch, smell)
- continuous monitoring
Monitoring techniques could include:
- vibration analysis
- pressure analysis
- temperature analysis
- voltage/current analysis
- flow analysis
- radio telemetry analysis
- particle analysis
- thickness analysis
- crack detection analysis
- specific gravity analysis
- coolant analysis
- oil analysis
- leak detection analysis
- corrosion detection
- humidity analysis
- environmental pollutant analysis
- system interrogation
- data monitoring
- other specific monitoring technique
Monitoring activities may need to comply with the following:
- organisational guidelines and codes of practice
- equipment manufacturer's documents
- BS, ISO and/or BS EN standards
- company standard operating procedures (SOP's)
- documents such as technical procedures, vehicle maintenance instructions, vehicle overhaul instructions, workshop overhaul standards specifications
Types of paperwork/records that need to be completed and passed to the appropriate people could include:
- job cards
- predictive maintenance log or report
- permit to work/formal risk assessment and/or sign on/off procedures
- company-specific documentation
- electronic records