50032 Assessment in The Line process queried

May 2011 in Network Rail and Suppliers

Training and briefing Method of working Not Specified

There is concern that the Assessment in The Line (AiTL) process is creating the risk of office staff going lineside unnecessarily to maintain their Personal Track Safety (PTS) certification.

The AiTL process requires that staff with PTS undertake a number of lineside visits each year in order to maintain their certification. Although office based staff are not required to go lineside on a frequent basis as part of their job, they are going on 'unnecessary' lineside visits to maintain their PTS certification. These staff do not undertake any work when they are lineside. The reporter believes that there is a risk to anyone lineside when they do not need to be there.

The reporter is concerned that these staff may have taken their initial PTS training in a very controlled environment which does not provide them with experience of real time situations.

Could Network Rail please consider:

• Reviewing the AiTL process? A suggestion is for staff who wish to go lineside only in order to maintain their PTS, have their need for PTS reviewed.
• Issuing these staff with visitor permits on the infrequent occasions when they need to go lineside as part of their job or allowing them to undertake a refresher course each year if their PTS has expired.

Response from Network Rail

Network Rail would like to thank the reporter for bringing their concerns to our attention.

Could Network Rail please consider reviewing the Assessment in The Line process? A suggestion is for staff who wish to go lineside only in order to maintain their PTS, have their need for PTS reviewed.

The current Assessment in The Line process does not encourage staff to go lineside purely to maintain their certification and allows Managers to review the need for staff to hold the PTS and any other competence.
Could Network Rail please consider issuing these staff with visitor permits on the infrequent occasions when they need to go lineside as part of their job or allowing them to undertake a refresher course each year if their PTS has expired?
All Line Managers are already briefed that should any member of staff be unlikely to go lineside less than four times per year then a Track Visitor Permit (TVP) is more appropriate.