Purpose

The purpose of this competence is to define the competence requirements for candidates who are required to undertake Protection Controller (PC) activities.

This competence is made up of 2 units.

Scope

These competence units apply in all circumstances where any individual is required to undertake the activities of a PC on the Network Rail managed infrastructure.

The level and extent of responsibility shall include their own safety and that of others who might be affected by their work. The candidate shall be expected to refer to others for authorisation when required, is be responsible for the implementation of the instructions and shall work within set procedures and specifications. The candidate is responsible for the quality of their completed work.

Competence units

This competence is made up of 2 units.

Unit 1: Implement and withdraw protection arrangements for more than one group of workers.

Unit 2: Support safe and effective engineering activities across more than one group of workers.

 

Unit 1: Implement and withdraw protection arrangements for more than one group of workers.

This competence unit comprises four elements:

Element 1: Review overall protection arrangements for more than one site of work.

Element 2: Brief all COSSs on the overall protection arrangements.

Element 3: Protect the blocked line from trains.

Element 4: Restore the line to operational status.

The first element is concerned with the review of the overall protection arrangements planned to protect all groups under the control of the Protection Controller, the second deals with the briefing of personnel on the protection arrangements.

The third element is concerned with protecting the line from traffic and the fourth relates to restoring the line to operational status after the completion of the activities

 

Unit 2: Support safe and effective engineering activities across more than

one group of workers.

This competence unit comprises three elements:

Element 1: Authorise the setting up of sites of work.

Element 2: Monitor the progress of activities across more than one group of workers.

Element 3: Adapt overall protection to meet changing conditions.

The first element is concerned with the authorisation to set up the sites of work when the protection has been implemented, the second deals with monitoring the progress of activities safely and effectively.

The third element is concerned with adapting the protection arrangements as required to deal with changing conditions confirm the safety of all personnel is maintained

 

B.10.4 Assessment

B.10.4.1 Initial assessment.

Evidence shall be used from satisfactory completion of training and shall be gathered

from an end of training assessment which shall include:

• Practical demonstrations of competence where indicated in the competence requirements;
• A test of the knowledge essential for Protection Controller;
• A means of assessing the candidate’s ability to apply the essential knowledge in a range of conditions and practical situations appropriate to their activities which does not always occur normally during the assessment process.

B.10.4.2 Re-assessment

Competence shall be re-assessed at least once every 24 months and an interim assessment shall be completed between 9 and 15 months.

The interim assessment shall be used to confirm:

• That the competence has been used on sufficient occasions for it to remain valid;
• There have been no incidents, or accidents as a result of the candidate completing the activities;
• The candidate has the knowledge defined in the relevant units of competence.

If the candidate has not carried out the role of Protection Controller at least twice over the previous 9 to 15 months the competence shall be considered withdrawn or no longer valid.

The results of the initial, interim assessments and re-assessment shall be recorded together with any actions taken to remedy deficiencies.