PTS Emergency Procedures 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A worker observes a trespasser on the track in the work zone. What is the correct PTS response?
- Physically remove the trespasser themselves
- Warn the trespasser, protect the track, and notify the control center and supervisor (Correct answer)
- Continue working and ignore the trespasser
- Stop all work and wait for police to arrive before notifying the railroad
Correct answer: Warn the trespasser, protect the track, and notify the control center and supervisor
Workers should warn the trespasser to leave, protect the track if necessary, and immediately notify the control center and supervisor.
Question 2: During an emergency, what does 'lining out' a defect mean?
- Painting the rail defect with visible markings for crew awareness
- Removing the defect from service by protecting it with proper flagging and authority (Correct answer)
- Logging the defect coordinates in the maintenance system
- Correcting the defect with a temporary weld
Correct answer: Removing the defect from service by protecting it with proper flagging and authority
Lining out a defect means taking the affected section out of service by applying proper protection and authority until repairs are completed.
Question 3: What is the significance of a 'fogged' or obscured track signal during an emergency?
- It has no safety impact; proceed normally
- It must be treated as the most restrictive indication until the signal aspect can be confirmed (Correct answer)
- It means the signal is functioning correctly on backup power
- Workers should pass the signal and report it at the next station
Correct answer: It must be treated as the most restrictive indication until the signal aspect can be confirmed
When a signal cannot be clearly read, it must be treated as the most restrictive (stop) indication to prevent movement into an unsafe section.
Question 4: Which action is prohibited during an active on-track emergency?
- Moving to a place of safety
- Using personal mobile phones for non-emergency social calls while protective measures are incomplete (Correct answer)
- Notifying the control center
- Waving down an approaching train
Correct answer: Using personal mobile phones for non-emergency social calls while protective measures are incomplete
Personal mobile phone use for non-emergency purposes is prohibited during an active emergency until all protective measures are complete and workers are safe.
Question 5: When releasing track protection after an emergency, what must occur BEFORE trains are permitted to move over the affected section?
- A 30-minute delay for equipment cooling
- An authorized inspection confirming the track is safe and all workers and equipment are clear (Correct answer)
- Supervisor sign-off via email only
- Re-painting of rail markings
Correct answer: An authorized inspection confirming the track is safe and all workers and equipment are clear
An authorized person must inspect the track and confirm it is safe and fully clear of workers and equipment before train movements are permitted.
Question 6: A PTS worker's personal protective equipment (PPE) is damaged during an emergency. When may they continue working?
- Immediately, since the emergency overrides PPE requirements
- Only after replacement PPE meeting the required standard has been obtained (Correct answer)
- After the shift ends and they have filed a report
- If a supervisor verbally approves the damaged PPE for the remainder of the shift
Correct answer: Only after replacement PPE meeting the required standard has been obtained
Work may not resume until replacement PPE meeting the required standard is obtained; damaged PPE provides insufficient protection.
Question 7: What is the correct response if a worker receives conflicting instructions from two supervisors during an on-track emergency?
- Follow the instructions of the senior supervisor by title
- Follow the most safety-conservative instruction and immediately seek clarification from a single authority (Correct answer)
- Ignore both instructions and use personal judgment
- Stop all action until the conflict is formally resolved
Correct answer: Follow the most safety-conservative instruction and immediately seek clarification from a single authority
When instructions conflict, workers must follow the most safety-conservative option and immediately seek unified direction from a single authority.
PTS Emergency Procedures 5
A worker observes a trespasser on the track in the work zone.
What is the correct PTS response?