PTS PTS - Personal Track Safety Risk Assessment and Method Statements 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When conducting a dynamic risk assessment on track, which factor should MOST immediately cause you to stop work and reassess?
- The scheduled train frequency increases by one service per hour
- A line speed change is implemented that was not identified in the original method statement (Correct answer)
- The site supervisor takes a scheduled break
- Your PPE becomes slightly uncomfortable due to temperature
Correct answer: A line speed change is implemented that was not identified in the original method statement
An unplanned line speed change fundamentally alters the risk profile and invalidates assumptions in the original method statement, requiring immediate reassessment before work continues.
Question 2: A method statement specifies work between 10:00 and 14:00. At 13:45 the work is incomplete. What is the correct course of action?
- Continue until work is finished since you are nearly done
- Stop work at 14:00 regardless, then obtain a revised possession or safe system if continuation is required (Correct answer)
- Request a verbal extension from the nearest trackworker
- Complete only the safety-critical tasks and leave the rest
Correct answer: Stop work at 14:00 regardless, then obtain a revised possession or safe system if continuation is required
Work must stop at the agreed time boundary; continuing beyond the method statement's time window without formal authorization creates unauthorized exposure to train movements.
Question 3: Which of the following BEST describes residual risk in the context of a PTS risk assessment?
- The risk that remains before any control measures are applied
- The risk that cannot be quantified due to insufficient data
- The risk that remains after all reasonably practicable control measures have been implemented (Correct answer)
- The risk identified by workers that was overlooked by the assessor
Correct answer: The risk that remains after all reasonably practicable control measures have been implemented
Residual risk is the level of risk remaining after control measures have been applied; it must be reduced to an acceptable level before work is authorized to proceed.
Question 4: Who holds primary responsibility for ensuring a method statement is suitable and sufficient before track work commences?
- Each individual trackworker who signs the document
- The Contractor's Responsible Manager or appointed competent person (Correct answer)
- Network Rail's safety team at national level
- The train operating company whose services run on the line
Correct answer: The Contractor's Responsible Manager or appointed competent person
The contractor's Responsible Manager or appointed competent person is accountable for producing, reviewing, and approving the method statement before work begins.
Question 5: A risk assessment identifies a hazard as HIGH likelihood and HIGH severity. Under the hierarchy of control, what should be the FIRST consideration?
- Issue enhanced PPE to all workers on site
- Eliminate the hazard entirely from the scope of work if possible (Correct answer)
- Add an additional lookout to the lookout chain
- Increase the warning time provided to workers
Correct answer: Eliminate the hazard entirely from the scope of work if possible
The hierarchy of control places elimination at the top; before considering PPE or procedural controls, the assessor must first determine whether the hazard can be removed completely.
Question 6: A method statement review reveals that the assumed possession hours conflict with the actual operational pattern. What must happen BEFORE work starts?
- Workers may start and the discrepancy can be corrected during the shift
- The method statement must be revised, re-approved, and re-briefed to all workers (Correct answer)
- Only the site manager needs to be aware of the discrepancy
- The original document remains valid if the majority of assumptions are still correct
Correct answer: The method statement must be revised, re-approved, and re-briefed to all workers
Any material change to the conditions under which work was planned invalidates the method statement; it must be formally updated, re-approved, and all workers rebriefed before work begins.
Question 7: When is a DYNAMIC risk assessment specifically required during track work?
- Only when the original method statement was produced more than six months ago
- Whenever site conditions differ from those anticipated in the pre-planned risk assessment (Correct answer)
- At fixed two-hour intervals regardless of site conditions
- Only when a near-miss has been reported on the same section of track
Correct answer: Whenever site conditions differ from those anticipated in the pre-planned risk assessment
A dynamic risk assessment must be performed whenever actual on-site conditions (weather, track state, personnel, train movements) differ from those described in the pre-planned assessment.
PTS PTS - Personal Track Safety Risk Assessment and Method Statements 4
When conducting a dynamic risk assessment on track, which factor should MOST immediately cause you to stop work and reassess?