Section 2: Working in the Rail Corridor

Question 1

The rail corridor consists of

Answer 1

rails, ballast and sleepers, points, fixed signals and signal posts/gantries, the area either side of the rail up to the boundary fences (15m), bridges, tunnels, cuttings and curves, level crossings and associated warning devices including pedestrial crossings, electrical overhead wiring

Question 2

Danger Zone

Answer 2

all space within 3m horizontally from the nearest rail and any distance above or below the 3m, unless a safe place exists or can be created

Question 3

Walking in the danger zone is defines as

Answer 3

walking from place to place in the Danger zone, doing no work other than placing or removing Audible Track Warning Decives and red flags/lights or track circuit shorting clips

Question 4

Workers must not walk in the Danger Zone unless

Answer 4

an easily reached safe place is available, there is no practicable alternative

Question 5

If working in the danger Zone, workers must

Answer 5

Wear approved high vis clothing, look frequently in both directions for approaching rail traffic, carry a light at night/in tunnels and when visibility is limited, not step on or within points

Question 6

Audible Track Warning Device (ATWDs)

Answer 6

Detonators that warn train crew of on track danger

Question 7

Typical uses of ATWD include

Answer 7

A warning of a train stopped on the line ahead by an incident/accident (train crew usually responsible), a warning of ongoing track work ahead of the passage of a train, when a Network Control Officer or other railway employee requires to stop approaching trains in an emergency

Question 8

With one ATWD, the train crew must

Answer 8

sound one long whistle, reduce speed, look for any warning signals

Question 9

With two ATWD, the train crew must

Answer 9

Sound one long whistle, reduce train speed to 25 km/h, be prepared to stop short of any obstruction

Question 10

With three ATWD, the train crew must

Answer 10

sound one long whistle, stop train immediately

Question 11

Procedure for the placement of ATWD by Qualified Workers

Answer 11

place ATWD on the right-hand rail in the expected running direction at least 75m before the HandNetwork Control Officers position, place 20 m apart, place centrally on the railhead, face the ATWD clasps toward the expected direction of rail traffic approach, bend clasps around the railhead

Question 12

Do not place ATWDs on lines that are

Answer 12

underground, in tunnels, in steep sided cuttings or within 75m of workers or a passenger platform

Question 13

How do you handle/store Audible Track Warning Devices

Answer 13

With care, do not drop or strike them, Return unused ATWDs to their plastic containers, Keep in emergency kit on Locos, check and replace if necessary

Question 14

Minimum number of ATWDs in the Locomotive’s kit

Answer 14

24

Question 15

Procedure for dealing with ATWD that do not explode when run over by a train

Answer 15

Leave on the rail, report failure immediately to a supervising officer, fix new ATWD on the rail head if needed

Question 16

Why would you leave a failed ATWD on the railhead

Answer 16

It may detonate at any time and cause personal injury

Question 17

Work planned for the rail corridor must be assessed for

Answer 17

safety and its potential to intrude on the Danger Zone

Question 18

Conditions that must be met for working in the rail corridor

Answer 18

there must be a safe place that can be easily reached, carried out using one of the five methods for working safely on the track, the level of safety must not be reduced, wear approved high vis. clothing, effective communication with Network Control Officers maintained

Question 19

For work on track, Protection officers must:

Answer 19

Make a safety assessment, make sure that the work is done safely, and keep records of protection arrangements

Question 20

Methods of Safeworking in order of Least to most affects on rail traffic

Answer 20

Lookout working, Controlled/absolute Signal block, Track Work Authority, Track Occupancy Authority, Local Possession Authority

Question 21

What are safe places that you can create near the Danger Zone in your area of operation?

Answer 21

Infront or behind a stopped train, Behind infrastructure/signals