PTS - Personal Track Safety COSS Roles and Responsibilities Questions and Answers

Question 1

A COSS is setting up a Safe System of Work (SSOW) before work commences. Which of the following is a mandatory action the COSS must complete with every member of the workgroup?

Accepted Answer

Ensure every individual has personally signed the safety briefing form to confirm their understanding.

Answer

Ask each person to read the work pack individually.

Answer

Verbally list the potential hazards without requiring acknowledgement.

Answer

Check that each person has their own copy of the Rule Book.

Question 2

A new team member arrives at a worksite midway through a shift. What is the COSS's primary responsibility towards this individual before they are allowed to proceed to the work area?

Accepted Answer

Provide them with a full safety briefing, including the SSOW, access points, and hazards, and ensure they understand it.

Answer

Assign them a simple task away from the main work.

Answer

Tell them to get a quick handover from the nearest team member.

Answer

Verify their Sentinel card and send them straight to the site supervisor.

Question 3

During a work task, visibility suddenly and severely deteriorates due to thick fog, making the lookout-based Safe System of Work (SSOW) potentially unsafe. What is the correct and immediate action for the COSS to take?

Accepted Answer

Stop all work immediately and move the group to a position of safety until the SSOW can be re-evaluated.

Answer

Contact the signaller and request that all trains are cautioned.

Answer

Instruct the lookouts to use audible warnings more frequently.

Answer

Tell the team to work faster to finish the job before conditions worsen further.

Question 4

Who holds the sole responsibility for implementing the Safe System of Work (SSOW) and serves as the single point of contact for safety for a workgroup on or near the line?

Accepted Answer

The Controller of Site Safety (COSS).

Answer

The most senior person in the workgroup.

Answer

The Person in Charge of Possession (PICOP).

Answer

The signaller in charge of the section.

Question 5

A COSS must check the Sentinel card of every member of their workgroup. According to Sentinel scheme rules, when must this check be performed?

Accepted Answer

Every time an individual reports for duty with their workgroup for a shift.

Answer

Only on the first day the person works with the group.

Answer

At the end of the shift when signing everyone out.

Answer

Only when instructed to do so by a Network Rail manager.

Question 6

Which of the following documents is the primary record used by a COSS to deliver the site safety briefing and to have each team member physically sign to acknowledge their understanding of the Safe System of Work?

Accepted Answer

The Site Safety Briefing form (e.g., NR3181).

Answer

The Sectional Appendix.

Answer

The Personal Track Safety (PTS) handbook.

Answer

A blank page in the COSS's personal diary.

A COSS is setting up a Safe System of Work (SSOW) before work commences.Which of the following is a mandatory action the COSS must complete with every member of the workgroup?

A COSS is setting up a Safe System of Work (SSOW) before work commences.
Which of the following is a mandatory action the COSS must complete with every member of the workgroup?