GERT8000-HB7 Iss 10

This handbook is for those personnel who have the general duties of a controller of site safety (COSS).

A new instruction has been added at section 6.1 ‘Remaining with your group’ giving more detail on observing the group. In the same section, there is a new instruction concerning members not leaving the group to work as a separate group until under the supervision of another COSS.

The changes to section 6.1 form part of the suite of general updates issued annually which are intended to improve understanding and application of the content of the Rule Book and provide opportunities for duty holders to operate more efficiently.  

Changes have also been made to the situations in which unassisted lookouts can be used as a safe system of work, and this handbook has been amended to reflect those changes.

Section 5.1 ‘Before starting to walk with a group’ has been changed to state that lookouts cannot be used as a safe system of work. 

Section 6.8 ‘Safe system of work using lookouts (lookout warning)’ has been revised in several places:

• The conditions for using lookouts have been strengthened. 
• References to distant and intermediate lookouts have been removed, as they can no longer be used. 
• The definition of an approaching train has been revised as a result of the limitations on which lines a train can approach on. 
• Calculation of the required warning time has been simplified as distant and intermediate lookouts can no longer be used.

The ‘Aid to working out warning times’ has been amended, as distant and intermediate lookouts can no longer be used, and an emergency or temporary speed restriction can no longer be taken into account.

A new sentence has been added to explain that the sighting distance charts include speeds in excess of 25 mph as these may be required when equipment warning is to be used.
The changes to reduce the use of the lookout competency would be expected to contribute to a reduction in trackside risk and support the work of the Network Rail Safety Task Force.