PTS PTS - Personal Track Safety Emergency Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the first action a COSS must take if a worker is struck by a train or seriously injured on site?
- Complete an accident report form
- Ensure the area is safe, call emergency services (999), and inform the signaller to stop trains (Correct answer)
- Continue work to prevent delay to the railway
- Notify the company safety manager before taking any action
Correct answer: Ensure the area is safe, call emergency services (999), and inform the signaller to stop trains
The immediate priority is to ensure safety of remaining workers, call 999 for emergency services, and contact the signaller to stop train movements in the area.
In the event of a serious injury or fatality on track, the COSS must: immediately ensure remaining workers are in a position of safety; call 999 for emergency services; contact the signaller to stop train movements; and provide first aid if safe to do so. The site must be preserved as far as possible for investigation purposes. Reporting to management and completing paperwork comes later. All PTS holders should know the emergency procedures specific to their working site, including the emergency contact numbers and the location of first aid equipment.
Question 2: What is 'SPT' and when would a COSS activate it?
- Senior Protection Technician — the person in charge of site safety
- Stop Protection Train — an emergency signal to the signaller to stop all trains if an emergency occurs on a line with approaching trains (Correct answer)
- Site Protection Timing — the schedule for look-out positions
- Safety Protocol Test — a routine check of warning equipment
Correct answer: Stop Protection Train — an emergency signal to the signaller to stop all trains if an emergency occurs on a line with approaching trains
SPT (Stop Protection Train) is an emergency call to the signaller to stop all trains when a dangerous situation arises on a line that is not blocked, such as a person fouling the line.
Stop Protection Train (SPT) is an emergency communication to the signaller requesting that all train movements be stopped immediately due to an emergency on or near the line. A COSS would activate SPT if a worker is struck by a train, someone falls onto the line, a dangerous object fouls the line, or any situation where trains must be stopped immediately to prevent further casualties. The signaller responds by placing signals to danger and stopping all approaching trains. All COSSes must know the SPT procedure and have the signaller's contact details ready at all times.
Question 3: What must be done with a casualty on or near a running line before medical treatment can begin?
- Medical treatment can begin immediately at the point where the casualty fell
- The casualty must be moved to a position of safety away from the line before treatment, provided this does not worsen their injuries (Correct answer)
- Treatment should wait until paramedics arrive on scene
- The COSS must seek permission from the signaller before moving the casualty
Correct answer: The casualty must be moved to a position of safety away from the line before treatment, provided this does not worsen their injuries
If safe to do so, the casualty should be moved to a position of safety away from the running line before treatment begins, to protect both the casualty and those giving first aid.
On a live railway, providing first aid directly beside a running line places both the casualty and the first aider at risk. Where it is safe to move the casualty (i.e. moving them would not worsen a spinal or serious injury), they should be moved to a position of safety before treatment begins. In practice, the COSS should also be attempting to stop trains via SPT or the signaller simultaneously. Emergency services must be called and guided to the nearest safe access point. The priority is always to prevent further casualties while providing care.
Question 4: What information must the COSS provide when calling 999 after an on-track incident?
- Their employee number and company name only
- Location on the railway (including ELR/mileage if known), nature of incident, number of casualties, and access point for emergency services (Correct answer)
- The time of the incident and the train number involved
- The contact details of the nearest station manager
Correct answer: Location on the railway (including ELR/mileage if known), nature of incident, number of casualties, and access point for emergency services
When calling 999 the COSS must provide precise location information including ELR/mileage, the nature and severity of the incident, number of casualties, and the best access point for emergency services.
Emergency services responding to a railway incident need precise information to reach the scene quickly. The COSS must provide: the exact railway location using Engineer's Line Reference (ELR) and mileage, or nearest landmark; the nature of the emergency (e.g. person struck by train, electrocution, cardiac arrest); number and condition of casualties; and the nearest road access point for emergency vehicles. They must also notify the signaller and Network Rail's 24-hour National Operations Centre. Good emergency communication can save lives and must be practised as part of PTS training.
Question 5: What should a PTS holder do if they become separated from their COSS and hear a train approaching?
- Stand still and wait for the COSS to find them
- Immediately move to the nearest position of safety and remain there until the train has passed and the situation is assessed (Correct answer)
- Try to flag down the train to warn the driver
- Run towards the nearest station for assistance
Correct answer: Immediately move to the nearest position of safety and remain there until the train has passed and the situation is assessed
If separated from the COSS, a worker must immediately move to the nearest position of safety and stay there until the train has passed and they can safely contact the COSS.
If separated from the COSS and a train is heard, the PTS holder must immediately move to the nearest identified position of safety and stay there until the train has passed. They must then remain in that position and not attempt to move to another location until contact with the COSS is re-established. Moving around on or near the track without COSS control is dangerous. Once the train has passed and the situation is assessed, the worker should re-establish contact with the COSS and confirm they are safe. This scenario highlights why positions of safety must be identified and communicated in the site brief.
Question 6: What is the purpose of the 'emergency procedures' section in the COSS site brief?
- To satisfy a legal requirement for documentation
- To ensure all workers know what actions to take in the event of an emergency before work starts (Correct answer)
- To remind workers about general health and safety law
- To record the names of qualified first aiders on site
Correct answer: To ensure all workers know what actions to take in the event of an emergency before work starts
The emergency procedures section of the site brief ensures every worker knows the exact actions to take in an emergency before they start work, not during the emergency itself.
Emergency procedures must be communicated before work begins because in a genuine emergency there is no time to explain what to do. The COSS brief must cover: the warning and withdrawal signal; positions of safety; action if a worker is injured (SPT, 999); location of first aid kit and nearest first aider; emergency contact numbers (signaller, NOC, company emergency line); and access routes for emergency services. Pre-briefed emergency procedures enable all workers to respond correctly and quickly under pressure, significantly improving outcomes in genuine emergencies.
PTS PTS - Personal Track Safety Emergency Procedures 2
What is the first action a COSS must take if a worker is struck by a train or seriously injured on site?