Section 7: Working in the Danger Zone

Question 1

Work in the danger zone, other than through train running operation must only be done using one the the following five methods

Answer 1

Lookout working (LW), Absolute signal Blocking (ASB)/Controlled Signal Blocking (CSB), Track Work Authority (TWa), Track Occupancy Authority (TOA) or Local Possession Authority (LPA)

Question 2

Train crew members are most likely to use

Answer 2

Lookout Working LW or Absolute/Controlled Signal Blocking (ASB/CSB)

Question 3

Train crew may be required to operate

Answer 3

trains through a Track Work Authority area (TWA) or Worker trains through a Track Occupancy Authorty (TOA) or Local Possession Authority (LPA)

Question 4

Describe the Lookout Working method

Answer 4

working in the Danger Zone using lookouts as the safety measure

Question 5

Lookouts must

Answer 5

keep watch for rail traffic approaching the worksite from any direction, warn workers immediately if rail traffic approaches the worksite and not do any other work other than warn of approaching rail traffic in a timely fashion.

Question 6

The Lookout Working method must not be used for

Answer 6

work on overhead wiring, work that breaks the track, work that alters track geometry or structure

Question 7

Duties of the protection officer

Answer 7

keep the worksite and workers sage, tell workers about the locations of safe places and the kinds and limits of safety arrangements, be the only person to speak to Network Control Officers about safety arrangements

Question 8

When placing lookouts, the protection officer must make sure that

Answer 8

the location of lookouts and the visibility of conditions give lookouts a minimum of 2s (Sydney trains)/5s (ARTC & CRN) to see approaching rail traffic and when it approaches, they can warn workers in time to allow them to reaction to the warning of the approach (move themselves and equipment to a safe place for a full 10s)

Question 9

To ensure safety under lookout working, Protection officers must reassess

Answer 9

safety measure if conditions change and make sure lookouts do not work continuously at the same location for more than 60 mins

Question 10

What do lookouts do?

Answer 10

give warning about rail traffic movements to workers in the danger zone

Question 11

Equipment lookouts need

Answer 11

effective communication with workers and an audible warning device

Question 12

In regards to additional lookouts, the protection officer

Answer 12

decides the number needed to keep watch for rail traffic and give waning, places additional lookouts before the main lookout to give earlier warning about approaching traffic if necessary

Question 13

Demarcation fencing

Answer 13

easily seen, continuous boundary marker used to warn workers that a boundary exists but cannot stop workers leaving worksites

Question 14

Absolute Signal Blocking (ASB)

Answer 14

Excludes rail traffic from a portion of the track in the Sydney Trains Network only

Question 15

Work must not be done using ASB if

Answer 15

the safety assessment shows that a “work on track” authority is necessary

Question 16

ASB may be used only

Answer 16

for work not requiring tools, for work using light powered and light non-powered hand tools, at network access level crossings to allow vehicles to cross the track

Question 17

Restrictions to ASB method of protection

Answer 17

must be applied to controlled absolute signals only, cannot be applied to automatic permissive signals, must not be used for work that breaks/alters the track ow where a “work on track” authority is in place

Question 18

When using the ASB method for “work on track” the protection Officer must

Answer 18

tell the Network Control Officer (the location of the worksite, the intended start and finish times of the ASB requirement) and request permission for ASB

Question 19

Other than when using ASB to protect minor repairs to rail traffic, the Protection Officer must arrange for

Answer 19

at least two consecutive controlled absolute signals at STOP with blocking facilities applied, manual points control mechanisms to be used to set controlled absolute signals at stop or at least one controlled absolute signal at stop with blocking facilities applied and points secured or an easily reached safe place available and a lookout

Question 20

Under ASB, before allowing work to star, the Network Control Officer must make sure that

Answer 20

the protecting controlled absolute signals are at stop, blocking facilities are applied, there is no approaching rail traffic between the protecting signals and the proposed worksite, any rail traffic has passed complete beyond the proposed worksite and will not return and the agreed start and finish time of the ASB

Question 21

To end ASB, the Protection Officer must tell the Network Control officer when

Answer 21

work is completed, workers and their equipment are clear of the Danger Zone, manual points control mechanisms have been returned to normal, points that were secured are available for used. And keep a permanent record of the ASB details

Question 22

When ending an ASB, after being told by the Protection officer that the track is clear, the Network Control Officer may

Answer 22

remover blocking facilities applied for the ASB and must keep a permanent record of the ASB details

Question 23

Controlled Signal Blocking (CSB)

Answer 23

excludes rail traffic from a portion of track in the ARTC and CRN networks only

Question 24

CSB may be used

Answer 24

to allow vehicles and livestock to cross the track, for work using light, powered hand tools or work using light non powered hand tools

Question 25

For a CSB, at the request of the Protection Officer, the Network Control Officer may authorise controlled blocking by

Answer 25

setting and keeping controlled signals at stop with blocking facilities applied to the signal controls or authorising the removal of an ESML handle to set controlled signals at stop

Question 26

Track Work Authority (TWA)

Answer 26

authorises the occupation of a defined portion of track between train movements, does not give exclusive occupancy of lines/sections, MUST be used if rail traffic may be needed to be slowed before reaching the worksite and passing through the worksite, does not need to be advertised and is issued to the Protection Officer

Question 27

Under a TWA, to protect worksites, Protection officers must choose either

Answer 27

HandNetwork Control Officers and ATWDs placed at protecting signals (RVD territory) or without the use of protecting signals (TOW & Token territory)

Question 28

Describe placement of handsignallers under TWA in the Sydney trains area

Answer 28

Inner Handsignaller (500-990m from the worksite), Outer Handsignaller (2500m from inner signaller - CAUTION signal)

Question 29

Describe placement of handsignallers under TWA in the ARTC and CRN area

Answer 29

Inner Handsignaller (500-990m from the worksite), Outer Handsignaller (2000m from inner signaller - CAUTION signal)

Question 30

Advisory Worksite sign

Answer 30

used to remind the Locomotive Driver after passing the outset HandNetwork Control officer than an inner HandNetwork Control officer is located ahead. Black text on a white reflective background (placed at the end or beyond the end of a platform)

Question 31

When there are multiple worksites under a TWA and they are more than 3000m apart, they must be managed

Answer 31

under separate TWAs

Question 32

When there are multiple worksites under a TWA and they are less then 1000m apart, they must be managed

Answer 32

under the same TWA

Question 33

If a signal at stop protects a slip site, Train crew must

Answer 33

follow the directions on the instruction sign on the signal

Question 34

A tonnage signal aggected by work on track, or being used to control rail traffic approaching the worksite must be

Answer 34

held at STOP and a handsignaller placed at the signal. and the site must be fulled cleared before affected vehicles can pass

Question 35

Describe a Track Occupancy Authority (TOA)

Answer 35

Authorises the occupation of track within specified limites for an agreed period, is issued to the protection officer for the agreed period of occupancy, gives exclusive occupancy except for joint occupancy (by mutual agreement, following a train movement, with a disabled train)

Question 36

The limits of a TOA must be stated as being between

Answer 36

one yard limit and another, defined clearance points wholly within one yard’s limits, one yard limit to a defined clearance point within another yard or a defined clearance point within one yard’s limits to a defined clearance point within another yard’s limits

Question 37

A TOA may include more than one section, provided it does not extend

Answer 37

into the yard limits controlled by another Network Control Officers, beyond an unattended junction location, or beyond an unattended location where a train is shunting in the section ahead

Question 38

Before authorising a TOA the Train controller must make sure that

Answer 38

the track is unoccupied and will remain unoccupied except as specified in the TOA, the protection officer knows about any existing obstructions, the PO understands and agrees to the limits of the TOA and Blocking facilities have been applied to prevent the entry of rail traffic into the portion of track within the TOA limits

Question 39

Difference between a TWA and a TOA

Answer 39

TWA allows trains to be managed through a worksite, TOA will not allow any train other than a work train into the TOA area of track

Question 40

Responsibilities of the PO for a TOA

Answer 40

get the TOA, be responsible for the protection of all workers from rail traffic, make sure that the limits of authority are protected against unauthorised entry/exit by rail traffic, tell workers about the kinds and limits of protection in place

Question 41

Work train movements must be piloted within the limits of a TOA if there

Answer 41

are controlled signals: into the TOA from the controlled signals protecting the limits or
No controlled signals: into the TOA from the entry to the section

Question 42

Fixed worksite

Answer 42

one whereby work is taking place at a certain lovation in the section as opposed to a vehicle travelling the length of the section for a track patrol. Must have 3 ATWDs and a red flag/light at least 500m on each side of the site

Question 43

A TOA is only fulfilled when the PO tells the NCO that

Answer 43

worksites have been cleared, Protection has been removed, ordinary/electric train staffs have been returned, the portion of track included in the authority has been certified as available for used

Question 44

Local Possession Authority (LPA)

Answer 44

Closes a defined portion of track for a specified period and is issued exclusively to the PPO for the specified period of the possession

Question 45

Work trains must only work at worksites under

Answer 45

a LPA or a TOA

Question 46

Pilots are to

Answer 46

tell train crew about operating restrictions and conditions in a timely manner, give clear directions, tell train crew about the locations of worksites, tell train crew about local conditions and act under the direction of the Possession PO or PO