It is not just track staff who are considered 'Rail Safety Workers' under the Rail Safety Act 2012. Project managers and engineers, even if they never leave the office, are also Rail Safety Workers (to find out more, read our article here).
If you are performing project engineering or project managment work for ARTC, you must be assessed for an appropriate role. Competency Australia's assessors have been approved by ARTC to conduct these assessments for contractors.
Click the 'Read More' button for a step-by-step guide to the assessment process.
If you are working within the rail corridor, you will also be required to complete a railway medical, a track safety awareness course (TLIF2080C - Safely Access the Rail Corridor) and hold a construction industry induction card (white card). Along with your project engineering or management role, you will need to hold the role 'Around the Track Personnel'.
You can contact us at any stage for assistance with the process or to conduct the assessment for you.
Process
Step 1 RIW Card
The first step is to ensure you have a Rail Industry Worker (RIW) card. These cards were previously called Rail Safety Worker cards and they are not the same as the TfNSW RISI card.
To obtain an RIW card, go to https://railindustryworker.com.au/
Step 2 Review Requirements
Review the ARTC assessment procedure, PEO-PR-008 Engineering Design & Project Management Procedure. You can find it here.
Step 3 Identify Role
Download the ARTC Competency Matrix. The competency matrix can be found here.
Ensure that you meet the requirements with regard to education and experience for the work you plan to carry out.
Review the relevant areas where you will need to provide evidence as shown in the matrix.
Step 4 Gather Evidence
Download the ARTC 'Record of Relevant Experience', found here.
Complete the experience record, ensuring that you reference relevant and objective evidence against each area. (For assistance, download our guidance document).
Gather evidence against each criteria and organise logically.
Send your record of relevant experience to managers/supervisors for verification signatures.
Step 5 Submit to CA
Email your record of relevant experience, along with your supporting evidence, to your Competency Australia assessor.
Step 6 Initial Review
Your assessor will conduct an initial review of your evidence, and contact you to fill any gaps or advise of any further information required.
Submit any additional or updated information required to your assessor.
Step 7 Assessment
Your Competency Australia assessor will then complete the assessment. This will generally be a desktop exercise however they may contact you to confirm or clarify certain items.
In some cases, when the evidence provided is not sufficient, the assessor may also set up a telephone or face to face interview with you.
Step 8 RIW Uploads
Contact your RIW administrator to select the required role and upload the relevant evidence documentation. Your assessor can provide you with the relevant files for upload if preferred. The assessor's name is selected from a drop down list in the Rail Industry Worker System, and the assessment is submitted to them.
Note that the RIW submission can be made at any stage during the assessment process, however we recommend that this is completed at the end to ensure that the evidence files are uploaded correctly the first time.
Step 9 - Verification and Approval
Your assessor will now verify the evidence in the RIW system, upload the record of relevant experience with assessment comments, and approve you for the role.
