E17K RAILWAY TRACK SIGNALS - DETONATORS

Transcription

1 E17K RAILWAY TRACK SIGNALS - DETONATORS PURPOSE AND SCOPE The purpose of this Procedure is to advise Laing O Rourke personnel involved in safeworking duties what they need to apply to ensure the safe and controlled handling, use, storage, carriage and disposal of Railway Track Signals during Laing O Rourke s railway operations. This Procedure covers all site and project offices, work locations for the stopping of trains and other items of rolling stock and the protection of the worksites by qualified safeworking personnel. PROCEDURES Handling Railway Track Signals are an explosive device and must be handled with care and as per Safety Data Sheet issued by the manufacturer. Placing Railway Track Signals- WARNING Except in emergencies, do not place Railway Track Signals on lines that are: underground, or in tunnels, or in steep-sided cuttings, or within 20m of workers, or a passenger platform. Qualified Worker a) Place Railway Track Signals on the right-hand rail in the expected running direction of rail traffic b) If used at a fixed signal, STOP sign or BLOCK POST sign, the first Railway Track Signal must be placed within 20m beyond the signal, STOP sign or BLOCK POST sign c) If using more than one Railway Track Signal at a location, place the Railway Track Signals 20m apart. d) Place Railway Track Signals centrally on the rail head. Face the detonator clasps towards the expected direction of rail traffic approach. e) Bend the clasps around the rail head. Wash hands after handling railway track signals especially before eating, drinking or smoking, or wear disposable plastic gloves during handling.

2 Do not place detonators near a naked flame or hot object, this includes not smoking when handling. Use Railway Track Signals should be used in the following circumstances only: When a train or track vehicle has to be stopped as a result of an incident, failure, obstruction or other exceptional cause When a line is under possession or protection of worksites within a possession area To give a warning to train or track vehicle operators of temporary restrictions due to work in progress As quoted in the Rail Infrastructure Manager s Network Rules and Procedures Number of Explosions One Two Three Drivers and track vehicle operators Reduce speed. Look for any warning sign. Immediately reduce speed to 25km/h. Be prepared to stop short of obstructions. Stop immediately. Dealing with failed Railway Track Signals If Railway Track Signals do not explode when run over by rail traffic: leave failed Railway Track Signal on the rail, and report the failure immediately to a supervisor, and

3 if necessary, fix new Railway Track Signal on the rail head. Examination All Railway Track Signals must be examined regularly to ensure they are in a safe condition and within 5 years from date of manufacture. All Railway Track Signals are embossed with the month and year of manufacture and are coloured red with a non-abrasive pad which is affixed to the rail. During examination any Railway Track Signals found to be out of date or showing damage or decay must be returned to the Qualified Worker immediately for disposal. Stock Holding and Issue Stock holding of Railway Track Signals is limited as follows: There shall be no more than 10kg of Railway Track Signals stored in any one facility. Laing O Rourke does not hold a dangerous goods license for amounts in excess of 10kg. The Project Leader will only arrange for sufficient quantities to be ordered when requested by the Qualified Worker. Railway Track Signals will be delivered direct from the manufacturer or supplier to the intended facility for distribution and acknowledgement of such deliveries will be conveyed to the supplier. The storage area must be labelled with an Orange Hazard Diamond not less than 200mm x 200mm square (see figure 1). Railway Track Signals will be stored in sealed lockable boxes while at the main Project or Site office prior to distribution. The strorage area shall be locked outside of normal working hours and the storage container shall be locked at all times (including an emergency event), other than when being accessed by authorised persons. A serviced Water Fire Extinguisher shall be located near to Stock Holidng. The Qualified Worker will sign to acknowledge receipt of the Railway Track Signals on form E-T K. Railway Track Signals are classified as an explosive of Class 1.4S, but only if they are supplied, stored and handled in original packaging from the supplier.

4 Storage and Security Qualified Worker is responsible to: 1. Return unused Railway Track Signals to their plastic containers. 2. Keep packed Railway Track Signals in one of the secured locations. 3. Keep the door of the storage location locked when the location is unattended. 4. Do not use Railway Track Signals after their expiry date. Note: Under no circumstances must Railway Track Signals be left unsecured in either the carrying cylinder or elsewhere. Theft or Loss of Audible Track Warning Signals Any theft, attempted theft or stock discrepancy of Railway Track Signals must be reported to the Project Leaader as soon as it is detected. In the case of a stock discrepancy the applicable Manager / Supervisor shall organize an audit to locate the missing stock. If the stock is not located or if a theft or attempted theft has occurred, the Project Leader shall advise LORAC HSE Lead, the Rail Safety & Compliance Manager, the Police and the Worksafe Australia. Transportation by Users Railway Track Signals are classified under the Transport of Dangerous Goods as: Articles of Class 1, Division 1.4, Compatibility Group S Railway Track Signals are classified as an explosive under relevant legislation such as the NSW Explosives Regulations Classification code 1.4 S 1. Carriage of Railway Track Signals must be under the following conditions: Railway Track Signals must be retained within their existing packaging (i.e. in plastic tubes) until they are used. Non-friction material, such as paper, may be used to pack excess space in containers. Under no circumstances must Railway Track Signals be allowed to move within tubes/boxes whilst in transit. Railway Track Signals are to be kept in their packaging and stowed for carriage in a lockable steel box. Depending on the type of vehicle, the lockable box may require to be mounted (fixed). Railway Track Signals conveyed in private vehicles must be carried in approved containers and the total number of Railway Track Signals must not exceed 10Kg. Railway Track Signals must not be left loose and on no account be left on vehicle seats or in glove compartments or in direct access to sunlight. Railway Track Signals may be left in the vehicle provided they are left secured and that the vehicle is regularly checked. Where Railway Track Signals need to be retained on track vehicles where the machine is left unattended, the Railway Track Signals must be kept in a secure box within the driving cab and the cab must be secured when unattended.

5 Emergency Procedures for the transportation of Railway Track Signals must be applied in terms of the Safework NSW or similar Fact Sheet. Transportation for Disposal The Qualified Worker is responsible for ensuring that all out of date, damaged or surplus Railway Track Signals are transported safely to an arranged storage facility, until a suitable amount of Railway Track Signals are ready for disposal. The Railway Track Signals must be transported in non-friction lined steel boxes and marked clearly with the Orange diamond 1.4S EXPLOSIVE label and notification of the contents being unservicable. The total number of Railway Track Signals must not exceed 10kg. The total number of Railway Track Signals in each box must not exceed 550. Disposal A secure holding point will be provided at the Project or Site office for all Railway Track Signals awaiting disposal. The safe disposal of Railway Track Signals will be arranged via the Qualified Worker, by transfer back to the manufacturer, using a transmittal notice. The Qualified Worker is responsible for ensuring the Railway Track Signal issue Form E-T K is completed. REGULATIONS, GUIDES AND STANDARDS Rail Safety National Law Explosives Act 2003 & Explosives Regulation 2005 (Example NSW) Safety Data Sheet Railway Track Signals Safework NSW Explosives Fact Sheet 12 Railway Track Signals Network Owners Rules and Procedures FORMS and TEMPLATES E-T K Railway Track Signals Issue and Return Form