Course Aims
This course is for candidates who currently act as Points Operators on Network Rail’s infrastructure and wish to be re-certificated.
Who is this course suitable for?
Anyone already qualified to manually operate points as part of their duties and wishes to renew their competency. Anyone over the age of 18 who is required to manually operate power operated points which have failed or have been disconnected. A points Operator works to the instructions of a signaller or Route Setting Agent, according to the complexity of the failure. As a Points Operator is classed as working alone, they must either hold COSS or IWA competency as a pre-requisite. Any COSS with a Red Triangle on their card is prohibited from working alone on the infrastructure and therefore is not eligible to attend.
Course Objectives
At the end of this course the delegates will have refreshed their knowledge of the duties of a Points Operator in accordance with the relevant Network Rail Handbook.
This course aims to instruct delegates on correctly determining their roles and responsibilities of undertaking Point Operator Duties. By the end of the course, delegates will be able to demonstrate their understanding and ability to manually operate power points motors in line with relevant rules and regulations. All applicants must hold a valid Sentinel Track Safety Card endorsed with either Individual working alone or COSS Competence.
Pre-Requisite Requirements
It is the Sponsors responsibility to ensure candidates booked onto the course are eligible for the training they are to receive and in line with any relevant medical level or restriction that may apply, in accordance with NR/L2/OHS/00124 Competence Specific Fitness Medical Requirements.
Please be aware that candidates will be treated on a training event as if they are at work and they must comply with the relevant medical policy and bring their Sentinel card which will be swiped at the start of the course.
Must be a minimum age of 18.
Meet the medical requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124 Competence Specific Fitness Medical Requirements to medical level 1 or 3 (must be eligible to work alone) and Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00120 (Drugs & Alcohol).
Must have sufficient command of English language as detailed in Network Rail Company Specification NR/L2/CTM/021 (Competence & Training in Track Safety).
Must bring Sentinel smart card endorsed with valid PTS, COSS or IWA and Points Operator. If no IWA held, COSS must not be in Probationary status. Please be advised that the competency can only be recertified if it is valid or within the 8 week grace period
Network Rail Handbook module 4 & 6 (we recommend that you revise these modules before attending the course).
Must Bring Photo ID - For British Nationals, one of the following (original hard copy - not electronically): a current and valid branded form of identity token, used for accessing the RMI (Railway Maintained Infrastructure) such as a Sentinel Card; in-date and valid full driving licence; in-date and valid UK Provisional Photo Card Driving Licence; in-date and valid passport, a UK biometric ID Card/Residence Permit (BRP), an Armed Forces Identity Card, a proof of age card recognised under PASS with a unique reference number (this includes the Citizen ID Card), N.I. Electoral Identity Card or a resident permit as per Home Office guidance.
For Non-British Nationals - an in-date and valid passport, Identity Card or Driving Licence from an EU or European Economic Area (EEA) country or a US Passport Card is required (original hard copy - not electronically).
Candidates are required to bring High Visibility Clothing compliant with NR Standard NR/L2/OHS/021 to include High Visibility (HV) orange upper body clothing to BS EN 471:2003 class 2 as a minimum (HV tabard); and HV orange lower body clothing to BS EN 471:2003 class 1 as a minimum (HV trousers or HV over-trousers), PPE incl. Hard Hat, and Safety footwear (Incl ankle protection, not rigger boots) Safety Glasses EN166 2001.
Please advise of any additional needs within a learning environment, such as Dyslexia, amongst candidates in advance of the course.
It is the responsibility of the individual trainees Manager to decide upon their suitability to attend the course in accordance with the current issue of NR/L2/CTM/021 Competence & Training in Track Safety.