PTS PTS - Personal Track Safety Safe Systems of Work 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What must a COSS confirm before establishing a safe system of work at a new worksite?
- That all workers are wearing high-visibility orange vests
- That the limits of the safe system have been agreed and are understood by all workers (Correct answer)
- That a Form B has been submitted to the control office
- That at least two Lookouts are available on site
Correct answer: That the limits of the safe system have been agreed and are understood by all workers
The COSS must establish and communicate the exact limits of the safe system so every worker knows where they may work safely.
Question 2: If a train approaches outside its booked path while workers are on site, the first priority is to:
- Photograph the train for incident reporting
- Ensure all workers are clear of the line before the train passes (Correct answer)
- Contact the signaller to halt the train
- Record the train's headcode for investigation
Correct answer: Ensure all workers are clear of the line before the train passes
Worker safety takes absolute priority; everyone must be in a place of safety regardless of whether the train movement was expected.
Question 3: Which of the following would INVALIDATE a Lookout-Warned safe system?
- Workers using powered tools that produce noise masking the Lookout's warning (Correct answer)
- Workers wearing standard Class 2 high-visibility clothing
- The worksite being located on a straight section of track
- The Lookout being positioned in the cess on the same side as the workers
Correct answer: Workers using powered tools that produce noise masking the Lookout's warning
If noise from tools prevents workers from hearing the Lookout's warning, the system cannot function and must be replaced with a higher level of protection.
Question 4: A 'Line Blockage' safe system guarantees worker safety by:
- Instructing drivers to pass the worksite at reduced speed
- Arranging for all train movements on the relevant line to be suspended (Correct answer)
- Requiring a pilot driver to escort all movements
- Placing detonators at 250 m intervals either side of the site
Correct answer: Arranging for all train movements on the relevant line to be suspended
A Line Blockage suspends train movements through the block section containing the worksite, making the line train-free.
Question 5: The term 'engineering possession' means that:
- Engineers own the track infrastructure in that section
- Responsibility for a section of line has been formally transferred from the signaller to the Engineering Supervisor (Correct answer)
- A train is held at signals while workers cross the line
- The section is closed to freight traffic only
Correct answer: Responsibility for a section of line has been formally transferred from the signaller to the Engineering Supervisor
An engineering possession formally hands control of a defined track section from the signal operator to the Engineering Supervisor for the duration of the work.
Question 6: Workers must NOT foul the line (step onto or over the running rail) unless:
- They have been on site for more than one hour without incident
- A safe system is in place that specifically permits it (Correct answer)
- The nearest train is confirmed to be more than 5 km away
- They are accompanied by the COSS at all times
Correct answer: A safe system is in place that specifically permits it
Fouling the line is only permissible when a valid safe system explicitly covers that activity.
Question 7: What record must the COSS keep to demonstrate that the safe system of work was properly established?
- A photographic log of all workers on site
- A written record including worker briefing, system limits, and times (Correct answer)
- An oral statement given to the Engineering Supervisor at handback
- A weekly summary submitted to Network Rail's safety team
Correct answer: A written record including worker briefing, system limits, and times
The COSS must maintain a written record of the briefing, the limits of the safe system, and the times it was established and closed.
PTS PTS - Personal Track Safety Safe Systems of Work 5
What must a COSS confirm before establishing a safe system of work at a new worksite?