PTS - Personal Track Safety COSS Roles and Responsibilities Flashcards

What is the maximum number of workers that a COSS can directly control on a railway worksite?

Answer: The number is determined by the nature of the work, the site conditions, and the risk assessment — but a COSS must always be able to directly supervise and communicate with all workers under their control

There is no fixed numerical limit, but the COSS must be able to directly supervise and communicate with every worker under their control — site conditions and risk assessment determine the effective maximum.

What happens to the COSS's responsibilities when they temporarily hand over control of the site to another COSS?

Answer: A formal documented handover must take place, including briefing the incoming COSS on all hazards, protections, and workers — responsibility only transfers once the handover is complete and confirmed

COSS handovers must be formal and documented — the incoming COSS must be fully briefed on all hazards, protections, safe working limits, and workers before taking over responsibility.

What is the COSS's duty if they believe the site conditions make the planned safe system of work no longer adequate?

Answer: Immediately suspend work, withdraw workers to a position of safety, and not resume until a revised safe system of work is in place and agreed with the relevant authority

If site conditions render the safe system of work inadequate, the COSS must immediately suspend work and withdraw workers — work must not resume until a revised, adequate safe system is in place.

What must a COSS do when a worker refuses to follow a safety instruction given during the site brief?

Answer: Do not allow the non-compliant worker to access the track — workers who refuse to comply with safety instructions must be removed from the site

A worker who refuses to comply with safety instructions must not be allowed onto the track. The COSS cannot permit access to workers who will not follow the safe system of work.

What ongoing record-keeping responsibilities does a COSS have during a work shift?

Answer: The COSS must maintain a site record including workers present, protection arrangements obtained and surrendered, key communications with the signaller, and any safety events or changes to the safe system of work

The COSS must maintain a contemporaneous site record of workers, protections obtained and surrendered, signaller communications, and any safety events — this provides an audit trail and supports incident investigation.

What is the COSS's responsibility regarding workers' fitness to work at the start of a shift?

Answer: The COSS must carry out a visual and verbal assessment of each worker's fitness at the start of the shift and must not allow any worker who appears unfit onto the track

The COSS must carry out a fitness assessment of all workers at the start of each shift — any worker appearing unfit (intoxicated, unwell, or impaired) must be denied access to the track.