PTS PTS - Personal Track Safety Safe Access and Egress 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What must be confirmed before using a designated access point onto the railway?
- The access point is within 500 metres of the work site
- The access point is included in the site plan and risk assessment, the line protection is in place, and the COSS has authorised access (Correct answer)
- Any gate or gap in the railway fence constitutes a valid access point
- The access point has been used by the team before on a previous shift
Correct answer: The access point is included in the site plan and risk assessment, the line protection is in place, and the COSS has authorised access
Only designated, authorised access points may be used. The access must be included in the site plan and risk assessment, and the COSS must confirm protection is in place before access is given.
Access onto railway infrastructure must be through designated, authorised access points identified in the site plan and risk assessment. Workers must not access the railway through any gap or informal route even if it appears convenient. The COSS must confirm: the access point is the one identified in the plan; all protection arrangements are in place; workers are briefed on the access route and any hazards along it; and authority to access has been given. Improper access bypasses the safety controls designed to protect workers. Access point discipline is a key element of PTS and is regularly emphasised in safety audits.
Question 2: Why must workers not run while on or near the railway track?
- Running is prohibited because it creates excessive noise that disturbs train drivers
- Running on or near the track risks losing footing on uneven ballast, stumbling into the running line, or missing warning signals — all potentially fatal (Correct answer)
- Running is only prohibited when carrying heavy equipment
- Workers may run to their position of safety but must not run at other times
Correct answer: Running on or near the track risks losing footing on uneven ballast, stumbling into the running line, or missing warning signals — all potentially fatal
Running on uneven ballast risks falls and stumbling into the running line. Workers must walk purposefully on the track — only rapid, controlled movement toward a position of safety is appropriate when a warning is given.
Railway ballast is inherently uneven, angular, and unstable underfoot. Running on ballast significantly increases the risk of tripping, ankle injury, and falling. A fall toward a running line could be fatal. Workers must always walk deliberately and carefully on or near the track. When a warning signal is given, workers move quickly and purposefully toward their position of safety — this is controlled, deliberate movement, not running. Workers must also not run when evacuating the track at the end of a shift. The risk of falls on ballast is one of the most common causes of injury in track workers and is addressed specifically in PTS training.
Question 3: What is the correct procedure for stepping over a rail when crossing it on foot?
- Step on the rail as it provides a firm, stable surface
- Step over the rail without stepping on it — rails are slippery and stepping on them risks a fall onto or toward the track (Correct answer)
- Jump over the rail to cross it as quickly as possible
- Crawl under the rail if there is insufficient clearance to step over
Correct answer: Step over the rail without stepping on it — rails are slippery and stepping on them risks a fall onto or toward the track
Workers must step over rails without standing on them. Rails, especially when wet, are extremely slippery and stepping on a rail risks slipping and falling toward the track.
Rail head surfaces, particularly when wet, contaminated with oil, or covered in leaves, are extremely slippery. Standing on a rail to cross it risks slipping, potentially causing a fall onto or toward the running line. Workers must step over rails carefully, placing their foot between the rail and the sleeper, or on the sleeper (which offers better grip). In areas with tight clearances, workers must be particularly careful. This is taught in basic PTS training and is reinforced through track safety refresher modules. Falls on the track — particularly when a train is running — are a significant cause of worker fatalities.
Question 4: What hazard does 'cess vegetation' present to workers accessing the railway?
- It provides camouflage that makes workers invisible to train drivers
- Dense vegetation on the cess can hide trip hazards, obscure edges, conceal drainage ditches, and make footings uncertain — increasing the risk of falls toward the running line (Correct answer)
- Cess vegetation is beneficial as it stabilises the ground for walking
- Vegetation only becomes a hazard during the growing season
Correct answer: Dense vegetation on the cess can hide trip hazards, obscure edges, conceal drainage ditches, and make footings uncertain — increasing the risk of falls toward the running line
Dense cess vegetation hides trip hazards, drainage channels, and unstable ground — increasing the risk of falls that could put workers in danger near the running line.
The cess alongside railway tracks can become heavily vegetated, particularly in summer. Dense grass, weeds, and undergrowth hide: drainage channels and ditches; exposed sleeper ends (trip hazards); unstable or eroded ground; discarded materials and equipment; and changes in ground level. Workers must move cautiously through vegetated cess, testing footing before placing full weight. Site-specific risk assessments should note significant vegetation. In some cases, vegetation clearance may be required before safe access is possible. Workers should not move in cess vegetation at speed, as a fall toward the running line from the cess is particularly dangerous.
Question 5: What must a worker do before stepping off the track at the end of a work period?
- Simply walk to the nearest gate and leave the site
- Confirm with the COSS that it is safe to egress, follow the designated egress route, and ensure the COSS has confirmed all workers are off the track before any protections are surrendered (Correct answer)
- Leave as soon as personal work tasks are complete without waiting for other workers
- Inform the signaller directly that they are leaving the track
Correct answer: Confirm with the COSS that it is safe to egress, follow the designated egress route, and ensure the COSS has confirmed all workers are off the track before any protections are surrendered
Egress must be authorised by the COSS, follow the designated route, and the COSS must confirm all workers are clear before any protections are surrendered to the signaller.
Egress from the railway is a safety-critical activity that must be managed by the COSS. Workers must: obtain the COSS's authority before moving to egress; follow the designated egress route; confirm to the COSS that they are off the track. The COSS must account for all workers before surrendering any line protection — surrendering a blockage while a worker is still on the track would be catastrophic. The COSS maintains a headcount throughout the shift and confirms to the signaller that all workers are clear before the blockage is given up. This end-of-shift discipline is as important as access discipline at the start.
Question 6: What special considerations apply to access and egress through a tunnel?
- Tunnels require no special access arrangements beyond standard PTS procedures
- Access through a tunnel requires specific risk assessment covering restricted escape options, limited visibility, forced air movements, increased noise, and the identification of all tunnel refuges before entry (Correct answer)
- Workers should move quickly through tunnels to minimise exposure to hazards
- Tunnels can only be accessed during train-free possessions
Correct answer: Access through a tunnel requires specific risk assessment covering restricted escape options, limited visibility, forced air movements, increased noise, and the identification of all tunnel refuges before entry
Tunnel access requires a specific risk assessment covering restricted escape, limited visibility, forced air movements, noise, and pre-identification of all refuges — much more demanding than plain line access.
Working in tunnels presents hazards not found on plain line sections: restricted escape routes with limited access to positions of safety; greatly reduced visibility (both workers' vision and train drivers' ability to see workers); tunnel air blast effects from passing trains (much more intense in a confined space); extreme noise levels making verbal communication and warning signals harder to hear; and potential for harmful atmospheres (gases, reduced oxygen). Specific risk assessments must identify all available refuges, verify their condition, establish communication procedures, and define emergency evacuation routes. Workers in tunnels must know the location of all nearby refuges before entering, and warning systems must be proven audible in the tunnel environment.
PTS PTS - Personal Track Safety Safe Access and Egress 2
What must be confirmed before using a designated access point onto the railway?