PTS PTS - Personal Track Safety COSS Roles and Responsibilities 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following best describes the relationship between a COSS and a Safe Work Leader (SWL)?
- They are interchangeable roles with identical competence requirements
- The SWL manages a sub-group within the overall work site, reporting to the COSS (Correct answer)
- The SWL holds higher authority than the COSS for on-track decisions
- The COSS reports to the SWL when working within a possession
Correct answer: The SWL manages a sub-group within the overall work site, reporting to the COSS
An SWL manages a sub-group and reports to the COSS, who retains overall safety responsibility for the entire work site.
Question 2: Before a work group moves between work locations within the same possession, what must the COSS do?
- Notify the signaller of the new location automatically via the TRUST system
- Brief the group on changed hazards, escape routes, and places of safety at the new location (Correct answer)
- Simply lead the group to the new location without delay to preserve working time
- Submit a revised risk assessment to the infrastructure manager
Correct answer: Brief the group on changed hazards, escape routes, and places of safety at the new location
Moving to a new location changes the risk profile, so the COSS must re-brief the group on new hazards, escape routes, and places of safety.
Question 3: What is the maximum group size a single COSS may supervise on or near the line without additional Safe Work Leaders?
- There is no defined maximum — the COSS uses professional judgment
- Up to 5 workers in any circumstance
- The number stated in the approved safe system of work for that task (Correct answer)
- Always 10 workers, regardless of site complexity
Correct answer: The number stated in the approved safe system of work for that task
The approved safe system of work specifies the maximum group size the COSS may manage; exceeding this requires additional SWLs or a revised plan.
Question 4: A worker tells the COSS they have not worked on or near the line for 13 months. What must the COSS consider?
- Nothing — a valid PTS certificate means the worker is fully competent
- Whether the worker needs a site-specific induction before being allowed near the line
- Whether the gap in track work requires the worker's competence to be revalidated (Correct answer)
- Whether the worker should be assigned administrative duties only for this task
Correct answer: Whether the gap in track work requires the worker's competence to be revalidated
A gap of more than 12 months in track work may require revalidation of competence before the worker can safely return to the line.
Question 5: During a possession, the COSS receives a report that a lookout's radio has failed. What is the immediate priority?
- Replace the radio battery and continue working while the lookout remains in position
- Withdraw the work group to a place of safety until an effective warning system is re-established (Correct answer)
- Ask a nearby worker to act as a second lookout using hand signals only
- Reduce the speed of work and report the fault at the end of the shift
Correct answer: Withdraw the work group to a place of safety until an effective warning system is re-established
A failed lookout radio removes the agreed warning method; the work group must immediately withdraw to safety until effective protection is restored.
Question 6: Which document gives a COSS the authority to take a work group onto the line within a possession?
- The COSS's own competence certificate
- A written authority from the PICOP, such as a T3 or equivalent possession document (Correct answer)
- A verbal authority from the site manager
- The company's generic trackside working procedure manual
Correct answer: A written authority from the PICOP, such as a T3 or equivalent possession document
The COSS must receive written authority from the PICOP (e.g., a T3 form or equivalent) before taking any workers onto the line within a possession.
Question 7: At the end of a shift, a COSS must confirm that the line is clear before withdrawing protection. Which step is critical to this process?
- Counting all workers back and confirming all tools and equipment are accounted for (Correct answer)
- Photographing the track to document the cleared state for records
- Obtaining a signed clearance certificate from each individual worker
- Informing the nearest station supervisor that work has finished
Correct answer: Counting all workers back and confirming all tools and equipment are accounted for
The COSS must physically account for every person and all equipment before declaring the line clear, ensuring nothing has been left on or near the track.
PTS PTS - Personal Track Safety COSS Roles and Responsibilities 5
Which of the following best describes the relationship between a COSS and a Safe Work Leader (SWL)?